The magnitude of demand for AI has surprised everyone. McKinsey predicts that global demand for AI capacity could triple by 2030. And it’s created some challenges for data center operators, who are rushing to modernize power and cooling infrastructure to support the technology. One way to accelerate data center deployments is through AI pods – prefabricated infrastructure blocks that contain all the power and cooling required for AI.
Speed to market: What’s the rush?
As demand soars, data center providers are looking to realize a return on their AI investments as quickly as possible. The first companies to establish AI-ready infrastructure become market leaders, gaining a competitive edge.
The challenge is demand for AI grew so fast that most data centers weren’t ready for deployment. AI workloads require much higher rack densities, which are already reaching 227kW per rack. This is largely a result of the power requirements of new chips, which are evolving rapidly – almost doubling with each release at 1.5-year intervals.
– Schneider Electric
