This AI supercomputer in UK will reveal our eye's secrets
25 Nov 2025

Researchers at the University of Essex are set to use one of the UK's most powerful artificial intelligence (AI) supercomputers, Isambard-AI, in a £1.2 million ($1.5 million) eye study.

The project will explore whether mental fatigue and lapses in concentration can be detected through changes in the eye.

The team has been granted 10,000 hours of access to this government-funded technology for their research.

AI supercomputer to provide insights into human behavior
Research application

Dr. Javier Andreu-Perez, the lead researcher of the project, said that Isambard-AI will provide "new insights" into human behavior.

The machine will be used to power and explore large-scale models that combine data from individuals and their environment.

Dr. Andreu-Perez hopes this will help gain a detailed understanding of how the eye behaves, reacts, and is influenced by cognition.

EyeWarn project aims to assess and predict fatigue levels
Project goals

The EyeWarn project, a collaboration between academics from across the country and AI company Solvemed Group, will use the supercomputer's capabilities.

"Our project involves collecting and analyzing eye movements in natural settings," Dr. Andreu-Perez said.

He added that with the help of this AI supercomputer, they will be able to quickly assess and predict fatigue levels while gaining new insights into how cognitive strain affects behavior.

AI innovation to be boosted by new data center
Future plans

The University of Essex is set to lead the UK's AI innovation with a new £2 billion data center in Loughton.

Dr. Andreu-Perez, a computer science lecturer, said this project is a major step forward in the UK's scientific endeavors in human-centered artificial intelligence.

"EyeWarn places a strong emphasis on enhancing our understanding and monitoring of human factors, such as fatigue and its effects on the body through the eye," he added.