Engineering the
AI-first future
AI is reshaping data center design, operations, and strategy. As organizations scale AI workloads, power and cooling requirements are reaching unprecedented levels, demanding a fundamental shift in infrastructure. Data Center Vision— a research collaboration between Vertiv and analyst firm IDC—examines how AI-driven computing is redefining the physical and operational limits of data centers.
Key insights:
AI as a core workload
Generative AI (GenAI) and other AI models are no longer experimental but becoming integral to enterprise operations. Scaling these workloads requires rethinking infrastructure investments, balancing computational efficiency with energy and cooling demands, and aligning IT strategies with new economic models.
Surging power density
AI clusters are pushing rack power density beyond 1 MW—far exceeding traditional thresholds. By 2028, infrastructure will need to support extreme workloads with liquid cooling, precision power distribution, and new approaches to energy management.
Strategies for AI scale
Data centers are evolving toward modular, adaptive designs that can accommodate rapid shifts in computing demand. Organizations are integrating liquid cooling, heat recovery, and dynamic power management to sustain performance while controlling costs and environmental impact.
Why this study matters
The Data Center Vision paper, backed by IDC Research and Vertiv’s data center expertise, provides actionable insights for meeting AI’s challenges head-on.
Highlights:
80%
of CIOs will lead AI strategies by 2026.
75%
of CIOs will implement economic models to align with IT investments.
28%
of organizations cite lack of GenAI expertise as the top barrier, pushing the need for expert partnerships.
14%
of data center operators prioritize power scarcity, ranking it last among ten concerns.
Get AI-ready now. Download the InfoBrief.
