Event round-up: Powering the Next Wave - Frontier Compute and the Future of UK AI Hardware
The UK is increasingly treating compute as a core layer of national infrastructure. But there are serious questions around whether the energy grid will be ready to support this growth in demand. Frontier compute, from photonics and neuromorphic chips to quantum and photonic computing paradigms, offers part of the answer. Building on techUK's latest report Photonics: A Vision for UK Leadership in Light-Based Technologies and our wider Frontier Compute focus, this event asked how the UK can address the tension between the UK's AI ambitions and a rapidly transforming energy sector.
Speakers included
Marc O'Regan, Chief Technology Officer - EMEA, Dell Technologies
Professor Jason Crain, Senior Research Manager, IBM
Dr James Whiteford, Head of Strategic Demand, National Energy System Operator (NESO)
Emma Fryer, Director, Public Policy Europe, CyrusOne
Dr David Pugh, VP – Climate Innovation, Cambridge Consultants
Watch the full recording
Please note the points below summarise the key takeaways from the discussion. Readers are encouraged to watch the recording above for full details.
Top takeaways:
Redesign for Energy Efficiency: Reduce dependence on energy-intensive GPUs and water-based cooling by prioritising lower-power, higher-efficiency compute architectures. Dell's contribution was blunt on this: putting hundreds of thousands of gallons of water through a data centre to cool silicon doesn't add up, and better design is where the real gains sit.
Different compute paradigms solve different problems energy efficiency isn't a fixed property of frontier compute technologies such as quantum, photonic or neuromorphic compute; it depends on matching the physics of the technology to the shape of the problem. Quantum suits problems that are inherently probabilistic or chemical in nature, neuromorphic suits sparse, event-driven networks, and photonics is already doing quiet, efficient work in areas like optical signal processing. The efficiency gain comes from choosing the right tool, not from a blanket hardware upgrade.
Plan for Rising, Not Falling Demand: Computing has become roughly a million times more energy efficient over the last three decades, yet overall power use keeps climbing. Panellists pointed to Jevons paradox as the reason: cheaper, faster compute creates new demand faster than efficiency gains can offset it. The recommendation from panellists for policymakers is to plan for rising, not falling, energy needs even as frontier compute technologies mature.
Build the Missing Integration Layer: The UK has strong expertise across quantum, photonic, neuromorphic compute and AI. What's missing is a coordinated effort (and a clear owner) to knit these technologies together and match workloads to the right paradigm at scale. techUK: championing frontier just its individual parts highlighted as a positive step in the right direction.
Let Constraints Drive Innovation: Energy limits, grid connection queues and cooling challenges were framed as catalysts rather than blockers. Today's energy constraints are pushing faster grid reform, smarter chip design and new thinking about where and how compute infrastructure gets built.
This event was part of techUK's Emerging Technology and Innovation programme and sits within a year-long focus on the next frontier of compute set to explore how the UK can lead on the development and deployment of Frontier Compute technologies.
techUK members and stakeholders can participate in regular speaking, writing, networking, partnership, or sponsorship opportunities. Find our more or reach out the team to below to discuss how your organisation can get involved.
techUK is seeking insights (articles) to be published as part of our brand-new Frontier Compute focus.
Members and stakeholders can contribute insights outlining how the UK can lead on the development and deployment of Frontier Compute technologies – including Quantum, Photonic, Neuromorphic and Biological compute – and showcasing how their organisation is turning this vision into reality.
