Developing secure enterprise AI modules with the LUMI AI Factory

Data security, computing power, and compliance with European legislation are among the key requirements when deploying enterprise artificial intelligence. The LUMI AI Factory, therefore, offers startups and companies access to European supercomputing infrastructure, enabling the development of advanced AI solutions without the need to process data outside the European Union.

European computing infrastructure currently plays a crucial role in developing advanced artificial intelligence tools for business environments. It is precisely data security, computing power, and compliance with European legislation that the LUMI AI Factory services focus on, helping to transfer startups’ innovative AI solutions into practice.

One such example is the Prague-based startup BANDITS, which develops AI modules to automate business processes. However, when collaborating with certain clients, the company encounters strict data protection requirements, particularly when exporting data outside the European Union (EU) is not permitted. In these situations, maximum security and full compliance with the European legal framework are critical.

This is precisely where the benefits of the LUMI AI Factory became apparent. The consultation helped guide BANDITS’ development activities towards the LUMI supercomputer and confirmed that European infrastructure can provide long-term support for projects with strict requirements for handling sensitive data within the EU.

–Through the LUMI AI Factory, we have verified that the use of the LUMI supercomputer by BANDITS is fully compliant with European data protection standards, explains Matej Novak from IT4Innovations National Supercomputing Center.

Following a successful application, the startup secured an allocation of 5,000 node hours on the GPU-accelerated partition of the LUMI supercomputer through the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking. The computing power will be utilised for product development, including the new flagship product Lasso – an AI engine that helps e-commerce platforms process product data. Lasso is used, for instance, by the Czech platform Biano, which focuses on digitising the search and shopping experience for furniture and home décor.

Other notable products from the company include Saddle, which accelerates the work of editors and translators through AI-powered subtitling (note: Saddle is also used by OKTAGON MMA, a leading European mixed martial arts organisation, for its live broadcasts).

– The LUMI AI Factory team is fantastic to work with; they managed to secure the necessary computing power and consulting for us very quickly. Compared to other international providers, it is a huge difference. For a Czech company addressing AI in a more complex way than just via an API, this is a massive help, and it certainly helps Czechs maintain their position in the AI race, says Jiri Stepanek, founder and CEO of BANDITS.

This collaboration demonstrates the potential of European supercomputing infrastructure for developing demanding AI applications. The LUMI AI Factory can significantly expand possibilities when creating specialised tools for automation, content processing, or supporting media and language workflows, where a combination of power and secure data handling is critical.

Author: Daniel Lukacs, IT4Innovations National Supercomputing Center.

Image on top: banditshq.com