Brazil launches AI supercomputer push while balancing US and Chinese tech

Brazil will invest about 2.3bn reais ($444.2m) to bolster its artificial intelligence ecosystem, splitting projects between United States and Chinese tech firms in a strategic move that underscores its efforts to balance ties with both superpowers. Just more than half the total, 1.3bn reais ($251m), will fund a supercomputing infrastructure project in Rio de Janeiro developed in partnership with China's Huawei Technologies and iFlytek, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's government said on Thursday. The machine will be installed in the northeastern state of Rio Grande do Norte, chosen for its energy potential. Lula attended an announcement ceremony in the state on Thursday. The Reuters news agency quoted unnamed government officials as saying they expect US chipmaker Nvidia to win the tender.