In December 2024 the European NREN community gathered for an exciting milestone—the inaugural meeting of the Special Interest Group on Artificial Intelligence (SIG-AI) that took place in Poznan, Poland.
Hosted by the Poznan Supercomputing and Networking Center (PSNC), this event drew significant interest, with 28 in-person participants and 27 joining remotely.
The meeting wasn’t just about presentations; it provided an opportunity for those passionate about AI to connect, exchange ideas, and discuss the transformative potential of AI in research and education. From enhancing cybersecurity to revolutionising network management, the possibilities for AI’s application are vast.
Hrachya Astsatryan from ASNET-AM joins the SIG-AI steering committee, alongside colleagues from the GÉANT community. This dedicated team is set to drive SIG-AI toward deeper collaboration and greater innovation in the field of AI.
Hrachya delivered a compelling presentation: “High-Performance Artificial Intelligence Activities at ASNET-AM: Bridging Advanced Computing and AI.” His talk highlighted the innovative projects ASNET-AM is heading, demonstrating how AI is being applied to solve critical challenges in research and education. Hrachya discussed the synergy between AI and high-performance computing (HPC), focusing on how HPC infrastructure can accelerate AI research and, in turn, how AI is enhancing the performance and energy efficiency of HPC systems. He also explored AI applications in network management, particularly the use of machine learning in Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Functions Virtualisation (NFV), which enable improved traffic management, anomaly detection, and resource optimisation.
“Being part of this growing community is incredibly inspiring for us. We look forward to collaborating with more international NRENs, exchanging knowledge, and drawing on collective experiences to explore the future of AI together. This meeting has marked the beginning of an exciting journey, and we are eager to see how AI will continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in research, education, and beyond.”
