Energy Secretary Chris Wright recently visited Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to emphasize the need for the United States to accelerate its efforts in the global AI race. Wright compared the current need for AI innovation to the urgency of the World War II-era "Manhattan Project," highlighting that AI has the potential to change our world in the coming years, as per the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) release.
During his visit, Wright was accompanied by Representative Chuck Fleischmann and Senator Bill Hagerty. The group toured the lab, where Oak Ridge National Laboratory applies artificial intelligence across various scientific fields, including energy and quantum technologies. After learning about ORNL’s advancements in nuclear energy and efforts to secure America's energy grid, Wright remarked on the enthusiasm and excitement surrounding the lab’s work.
Wright’s visit included a tour of the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility, home to the world's first exascale supercomputer, Frontier, which surpassed the exascale barrier in 2022. He also participated in a 1,000 Scientists AI Jam Session with Greg Brockman, co-founder of OpenAI, and other participants from national laboratories and AI companies.
The tour continued with visits to the High Flux Isotope Reactor, where discussions focused on neutron research and isotope production used in energy, security, and medical applications. Wright also visited the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility, where efforts to advance materials and manufacturing technologies were discussed.
