Shaping the Future of IT Infrastructure for AI

AI is no longer just a buzzword; it’s here, reshaping industries and driving economies. Generative AI alone is expected to add $4.4 trillion to the global economy by 2030, benefiting across sectors. But as AI grows, so do the demands on IT infrastructure.

To fully unlock AI’s potential, we need to rethink how we build, manage, and innovate our digital ecosystems & digital infrastructure.

Data - The New Engine of Growth

We often hear, "Data is the new oil." Like oil, raw data must be refined to extract its value. AI acts as the refiner, turning data into actionable insights that are creating breakthroughs in healthcare/pharma, O&G, climate solutions, and beyond. But this transformation depends on having strong and scalable IT infrastructure.

The Challenges Ahead with Data Centers

By 2028, approximately 20% of power in data centers will be consumed by AI workloads. This shift is already demanding changes in architecture, power, and cooling systems.

AI models are becoming more complex, doubling their compute needs every six months.

Some key challenges include:

• Rack Densities: Moving from 30kW to over 1MW per rack.
• Power Demands: A 160% rise in data center power usage by 2030.
• Cooling Needs: Transitioning from air cooling to liquid cooling to manage higher heat loads.

Efficiency Alone is Not Enough

Even as GPUs and other technologies become more efficient, the growing scale of AI workloads demands a fundamental shift in how we approach IT infrastructure. Larger models with greater accuracy require systemic innovation, not just incremental improvements.

What Lies Ahead for IT Infrastructure?

To support AI, IT infrastructure needs to evolve rapidly:

• Data centers must scale to support 10-20MW blocks.
• Hybrid Cooling - Liquid and air cooling systems will become standard.
• Reliable Power - Advanced energy storage and always-on solutions are crucial for #resilience.

Collaboration is the Key

No single company can solve these challenges alone. Success lies in partnerships across the ecosystem—chipmakers, data center operators, and cooling experts working together.

The rise of "AI factories" where teams co-develop scalable AI solutions, is a great example of this collaboration. (AI factories refer to specialized environments designed to systematically develop, train, deploy, and manage AI models and solutions)

The Future..

The next decade will bring unprecedented growth in IT infrastructure. Organizations that adapt with thoughtful strategies and partnerships will stay ahead. Whether upgrading existing systems or building new ones, balancing innovation and practicality will be the key to success.

Conclusion

The rise of AI is not just an evolution in technology—it’s a revolution in how industries operate and innovate. To support this transformation, IT infrastructure must scale with intelligence and foresight, embracing larger facilities, hybrid cooling solutions, and resilient power systems.

Collaboration across ecosystems will drive sustainable and scalable solutions, ensuring that digital infrastructure becomes a robust foundation for AI’s growth.

By addressing today’s challenges with innovative strategies and partnerships, we can build IT systems that not only support but amplify the transformative potential of AI, driving progress for years to come.

#AIWorkloads #DataCenters #DigitalInfrastructure #DigitalTransformation #AIFactories #GenerativeAI #resilience Reference / Source : Multiple