Compute
In AI, compute means the processing power used to train and run models, usually supplied by thousands of specialized chips (GPUs) in data centers and measured in the total number of arithmetic operations. The compute used to train leading models has grown several times over each year since about 2010. Because it is scarce and expensive, compute is treated as a strategic resource and a point of control for regulators.
Why it comes up
Altman has spent heavily to secure it, Amodei backs export controls on AI chips to China, Fei-Fei Li campaigns for public compute for universities, and laws such as the EU AI Act and California's SB 1047 used training-compute thresholds to decide which models they cover.
People and milestones
The EU AI Act, 2024
The veto of California's SB 1047, 2024
Sam Altman
Dario Amodei
Fei-Fei Li
Jensen Huang
Sam Altman
Dario Amodei
Fei-Fei Li
Jensen Huang