The advancement of computational power has been guided by various metrics, including FLOPS (Floating Point Operations per Second). Zettascale computing represents a major leap, equivalent to 10^21 FLOPS. It goes well beyond the current exascale systems, opening new horizons in fields like climate modeling, medical research, and artificial intelligence. Minifloat precision refers to the use of reduced precision floating-point numbers, which can be a trade-off between computation speed and accuracy. Having at least 8 bits for the minifloat precision can help ensure that the system has a reasonable level of accuracy while still enabling high-speed computation.

Will reliable sources reveal the existence of a zettascale computer with a minifloat precision of at least 8 bits before January 1, 2025?

Resolution Criteria:

This question will resolve to "YES" if, before January 1, 2025, a zettascale computer meeting the following criteria is revealed by reliable sources:

1. Computational Power: The computer should be capable of achieving zettascale computing, equivalent to 10^21 FLOP/s or higher. This will refer to theoretical peak performance FLOP. Reported sparse FLOP will not count.

2. Contiguous computer: the computer must be a single contiguous supercomputer, for example inside of a single data center, rather than being a set of computers loosely connected across space or time.

3. Minifloat Precision: The FLOP/s will be measured in minifloat precision of at least 8 bits, allowing for a balance between computational speed and accuracy. For example, FP8 and FP16 are acceptable binary interchange formats to use for resolution.

4. Independent Revelation: The computer’s capabilities must be revealed by reliable source, such as statements from a major tech firm, reporting from knowledgable journalists, or highly reputable third party bloggers. If there is credible reason to dispute the veracity of a claim about a particular computing system, this question will wait until more evidence has come to light before resolving.

I will use my discretion when resolving this question, possibly in consultation with experts in the field of high-performance computing, to ensure that the criteria are met and that the zettascale computer with at least 8 bits of minifloat precision has indeed been revealed by a reliable source.