Brazil launches AI supercomputer push, splits projects between Chinese, US firms

Brazil’s government announced on Thursday investments of approximately 2.3 billion reais ($444.2 million) to strengthen its artificial intelligence ecosystem. The funds will be distributed between U.S. and Chinese companies, highlighting the country's efforts to maintain strategic autonomy in the realm of AI. About 1.3 billion reais will be utilized for a supercomputing infrastructure project in Rio de Janeiro, developed jointly with China’s Huawei Technologies and iFlytek.

This initiative will primarily be used to create large language models for various applications. Separately, around 1 billion reais will be allocated through a tender for a supercomputer that Brazil aims to rank among the world’s top 10 AI processing machines. The system, expected to be installed in the northeastern state of Rio Grande do Norte due to its energy potential, is anticipated to be supplied by U.S. chipmaker Nvidia, according to government officials.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is seeking re-election, emphasized the importance of reducing dependence on any single company, technology, or country. The investments are aimed at bolstering national sovereignty over data. China, a major trading partner for Brazil, has become a significant player in the AI sector. Meanwhile, the U.S. remains the leading source of foreign direct investment in Brazil, despite recent tariffs imposed on Brazilian goods.

The supercomputer project is scheduled to commence operations by the end of next year, while the partnership with Chinese firms is set to begin in July 2027. Additionally, Brazil announced collaborations with Spain centered around the open-source RISC-V architecture for semiconductor development, plans for a cloud-computing service, and the establishment of a national center for algorithmic transparency and trustworthy AI.