China Builds the World’s Largest AI Computing Hub, Set to Supercharge AI Development

China has launched the world’s largest AI computing hub, a massive high-speed network that promises to revolutionize the way AI models are developed and deployed. Spanning 2,000 kilometers and connecting multiple major computing centers across different cities, the hub functions as a single, super-powerful computer thanks to an advanced optical network. According to Science and Technology Daily, the system operates 98% faster than traditional data centers, allowing distributed supercomputers to work together in real time.

Faster, Smarter, Real-Time AI
The hub is designed to handle tasks where every second counts, including training massive AI models, performing telemedicine surgeries, and real-time industrial automation. Previously, such operations were slow and expensive over conventional internet networks, but this new system reduces processing times from minutes to mere seconds.

Months of Work, Completed in Weeks
Training large AI models often involves running hundreds of billions of parameters over 500,000 iterations. With the new network, each iteration now takes just 16 seconds, compared to 36 seconds using older methods. This efficiency reduces the training time from months to weeks, while significantly cutting electricity and operational costs.

Part of China’s East Data, West Computing Project
The AI hub is a key component of China’s East Data, West Computing project, which transfers massive data loads from eastern regions to western centers. Officially launched on December 3, the network connects 40 cities and utilizes over 55,000 kilometers of optical fiber, more than one and a half times the circumference of the Earth. The system supports 128 different network types simultaneously, runs 4,096 experiments at once, and has resulted in 206 international standards and 221 patents.

Impact on 6G and Beyond
On launch day, the hub transmitted 72 terabytes of data from the world’s largest radio telescope, FAST, in Guizhou to Wuhan in just 90 minutes—a task that would take 699 days over conventional internet. Experts say the network will play a crucial role in 5G-Advanced and upcoming 6G technologies, in addition to accelerating AI research and industrial applications.

With this ambitious initiative, China has taken a giant leap forward in AI and high-speed data infrastructure, setting new benchmarks for global technology development.