Hainan is making waves in technology with its new underwater AI cluster that merges sustainability with breakthrough computing power. On February 18, an upgraded data module was placed on the seafloor at Lingshui in south China’s Hainan Province, forming an intelligent computing center designed to redefine AI capabilities.
The module—18 meters long and 3.6 meters in diameter—houses servers capable of completing in one second calculations that would take an ordinary computer an entire year. By using seawater as a natural coolant, the facility conserves land, freshwater, and electricity. Contracts have already been signed with around 10 companies, setting the stage for diverse applications including large-scale AI model training, industrial simulations, game development, and marine scientific research.
Hainan, known for hosting the annual Boao Forum for Asia, is emerging as a hub for technological advancement and sustainable innovation. Local institutions are partnering with domestic AI innovators to explore experimental applications in marine research and tropical medicine. Recent breakthroughs extend Hainan’s AI influence further: an island-wide AI energy management system achieved a 15% reduction in peak load through machine-learning-optimized power distribution; an AI-powered rocket trajectory prediction system at the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center boosted launch accuracy by 40%; and AI diagnostic platforms in the Boao Lecheng International Medical Zone processed over 12,000 medical imaging analyses with a 94% concordance rate with expert evaluations.
With the Boao Forum for Asia scheduled from March 25 to 28 in Boao, Hainan is poised to demonstrate how island economies can harness advanced AI for industrial growth, scientific discovery, and cross-border collaboration. This pioneering project exemplifies the strategic integration of ecological sustainability and technological ambition, setting a new benchmark for AI-driven innovation.
Reference(s):
Innovative Hainan: Advancing AI for sustainability and innovation
cgtn.com
