Brazil Launches AI Plan with Supercomputers and National Cloud

The Brazilian government has launched a new plan to reduce the country's dependence on foreign technology and boost its artificial intelligence capabilities. The plan, which includes the acquisition of two supercomputers and the development of a national cloud storage system, aims to promote scientific research and support the productive sector.

Introduction to the Plan

The plan, known as the Plano Brasileiro de Inteligência Artificial (PBIA), includes a range of measures to promote the development and use of artificial intelligence in Brazil. The government has announced an investment of R$ 2.3 billion in the plan, which will be implemented over the next few years. The plan includes the acquisition of two supercomputers, one of which will be installed in the state of Rio Grande do Norte and will have a processing capacity of 7.2 petaflops.

Supercomputers and National Cloud

The supercomputers will be used to support scientific research and promote the development of artificial intelligence in Brazil. The national cloud storage system, known as the Nuvem Brasileira, will be developed in partnership with private companies and will provide a secure and reliable storage system for data. The system will be coordinated by the Ministry of Management and Innovation, in partnership with the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) and the Brazilian Agency for Industrial Development (ABDI).

Partnerships and Investments

The plan also includes partnerships with other countries, including China, to promote the development of artificial intelligence. The government has announced a partnership with Chinese companies Huawei and iFlytek to develop a supercomputer in the state of Rio de Janeiro, which will be used to develop language models for Portuguese. The government has also announced investments in the development of open architecture chips, known as RISC-V, which will be developed in partnership with Spain. The investments will total R$ 125 million over four years.

Other Measures

The plan also includes the creation of a National Center for Algorithmic Transparency and Reliable AI at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG). The center will be responsible for developing research and guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence in Brazil, and will have a budget of R$ 50 million over two years. The government has stated that the center will not have any regulatory powers, but will instead focus on promoting best practices and supporting the development of artificial intelligence in Brazil.

The following table summarizes the investments and partnerships announced by the government: