This May, Digital Realty (NYSE: DLR) announced a collaboration with Oracle to accelerate the growth and adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) computing among enterprises. For this episode of the Data Center Frontier Show podcast, we asked Digital Realty Chief Revenue Officer Colin McLean to expand on key points of his company's AI data center design and implementation efforts in light of the new partnership with Oracle.

In their announcement, Oracle and Digital Realty said their new strategic collaboration aims to develop hybrid integrated solutions that "address data gravity challenges, expedite time to market for enterprises deploying next-generation AI services, and unlock data and AI-based business outcomes."

We also asked McLean about how he's seen the trend lines for data center pricing, leasing and capacity changes over the past 5-6 years of the cloud industry, compared to roughly the past year of AI growth since he's been CRO for Digital Realty.

Here's a timeline of the interview's key moments:

0:32 - Data Center Frontier asks McLean to elaborate on the salient points of AI data center design in light of Digital Realty's partnership with Oracle. McLean explains the significance of the partnership, emphasizing how it addresses the challenges of managing high-density workloads in AI and data-intensive applications.

6:19 - DCF continues asking about trends in AI data center design, particularly regarding pricing, leasing, and capacity changes over the past few years. Citing how enterprises and service providers are planning for increased capacity requirements due to AI growth, McLean highlights the need for forward-thinking capacity planning due to evolving requirements, increasing workload density, and the introduction of new programs to support higher density requirements.

8:14 - Trends in AI data center design since the industry's ChatGPT inflection point of 2023 are addressed. McLean emphasizes the importance of designing data centers to accommodate mixed densities globally, sustainability considerations, and the need to closely collaborate with clients and partners to meet evolving requirements.

12:20 - McLean discusses the global scale of Digital Realty, emphasizing capacity requirements, major metros, emerging markets like Frankfurt, and the growth of the platform across various regions.

15:06 - DCF Editor in Chief Matt Vincent directs the conversation toward the topic of power, highlighting its significance in the data center industry and asking McLean about aspects related to renewables, the grid, and onsite powering options.

15:45 - McLean elaborates on the importance of sustainability for Digital Realty, emphasizing the company's efforts to work with municipalities, support a greener world, and address power concerns globally, including plans for future expansion into markets such as India and Africa.

17:42 - DCF acknowledges the critical link between sustainability, AI, and power issues, prompting McLean to reiterate the company's commitment to supporting a sustainable world and navigating the balance between local needs and economic growth.

Welcome to the forefront of data center innovation! Today, we'll explore how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is driving a revolution in data center design. We'll delve into three key areas: high-performance networking, cutting-edge cooling solutions and advancements in fiber optic technology. These advancements are all essential for supporting the ever-growing demands of powerful AI systems.

For this episode of the Data Center Frontier Show podcast, we interviewed Chris Downie, Chief Executive Officer for Flexential, who as a frequent industry commentator has emphasized the transformative impact of AI on IT infrastructure and the need for thoughtful deployment in terms of responsible use and ethical standards.

In a recent LinkedIn post, Flexential's CEO wrote, "Drawing on nearly two decades in the data center industry, I've seen transformative changes, but the rise of AI marks a true paradigm shift, redefining our approach to IT infrastructure...The true test of our leadership will be how we manage the dual challenges AI presents—its potential to revolutionize and its power to disrupt. As industry leaders, we must ensure our advancements in AI are matched with advancements in ethical practices. Our legacy will hinge not just on the technologies we deploy, but on the conscientiousness with which we wield them."

Additionally on social media, Flexential's Downie recently recounted various interconnection discussions he took part in at this Spring's ITW 2024 (May 14-17) conference in Maryland.

We asked Downie about an ITW discussion he took part in regarding the connectivity challenges and solutions essential for supporting new-scale compute campuses, and how these demands are driving the evolution of connectivity infrastructure to meet future needs. "As AI's footprint expands, so does its energy consumption, which can rival that of entire nations," noted Downie.

He added, "As cloud services, IoT, AI, and digital transformation demands escalate, the importance of robust, interconnected data centers has never been more critical. Over the last 18 months, AI GPU demand has significantly increased, highlighting the importance of robust networking both inside and between facilities. At Flexential, we're proactively addressing these challenges to ensure our network solutions keep pace with growing demands and industry needs."

Our far-ranging podcast discussion also touched on the evolution of high-density data centers among enterprise, cloud and AI use cases, and Downie's assessment of current trends in power and cooling, innovations in liquid and air cooling, as well as sustainable practices, power generation considerations, and workforce challenges in the data center industry.

Notably, Flexential CEO Chris Downie is also a member of the Editorial Advisory Board for DCF's inaugural Data Center Frontier Trends Summit, a live conference event to be held from Sept. 4-6 in Reston, Virginia.

Here's a timeline of the podcast discussion's key moments:

2:53 - Flexential CEO Chris Downie highlights the transformative impact of AI on IT infrastructure, stressing the need for thoughtful deployment due to the significant pace of change and the implications for privacy, equity, and biases.

13:22 - Downie mentions the opening of new Flexential facilities in Denver and Atlanta, emphasizing the evolving significance of Denver as a destination for large-scale workloads, and the growth potential in Atlanta as a Tier One market.

17:24 - Downie elaborates on the evolution of Flexential's high-density data centers from its gen four to gen five designs, the blend of CPU and GPU infrastructure, the current state of GPU environments, and the ongoing exploration of liquid cooling solutions.

22:34 - The discussion touches on data center considerations for on-site generation, battery backup, sustainability, and alternative energy, prompting Downie to discuss the industry's exploration of new ways to manage power demands, including nuclear and natural gas options.

26:05 - Backup power sources such as hydrogen and batteries are addressed. Talk then then shifts to discussing workforce challenges and community relations in the data center industry. Flexential's Downie reflects on the increasing public understanding of data centers' importance and the evolving generational shift towards appreciating digital infrastructure.

The increased demands of cloud services and artificial intelligence are changing the data center landscape. The days of a 20 MW to 50 MW hyperscale data center being sufficient to meet the requirements of high performance computing are quickly fading away. Today, Exascale data centers capable of providing more than 500 MW of power are increasingly taking center stage, ushering in the gigawatt era.

For this episode of the Data Center Frontier Show Podcast, ark data centers CEO Brett Lindsey explains the reasons behind the company's recent rebranding (from Involta) and its strategic direction toward data center colocation edge and AI disciplines.

Also during the interview, Lindsey discusses the new company's planned expansions and recent entry into new markets such as Green Bay, Wisconsin; its investment strategies; and theories of customer segmentation based on colocation and cloud needs.

Additionally coming in for review during the interview are the significance of ark data centers' CMMC [Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certifciation] 2.0 compliance capabilities, its partnerships with government entities, and the company's unique positioning to cater to specific regulatory needs and edge demands.

For this episode of the Data Center Frontier Show Podcast, DCF Editor in Chief Matt Vincent reads down a synopsis of Data Center Frontier's top 5 most-viewed editorial stories of the Second Quarter of 2024 by pageviews.

The stories cited in this episode are as follows:

1. The Gigawatt Data Center Campus is Coming

2. IEA Study Sees AI, Cryptocurrency Doubling Data Center Energy Consumption by 2026

3. Land and Expand: New Data Center Developments by Meta, T5, Prime, Ardent, Tract, Microsoft

4. Equinix Puts Down $25M In Data Center Nuclear Power Deal with Sam Altman's Oklo

5. Prologis Launches $25B Dedicated Data Center Arm Led by Compass Co-founder Chris Curtis

Sustainability is a hot topic in the data center industry as operators look to reduce emissions while meeting customers’ ever-increasing demand for power. Can data centers develop and implement renewable energy solutions that will lower emissions and still provide the reliability customers expect?

In this episode of the Data Center Frontier Show podcast, Matt Vincent, Editor-in-Chief of Data Center Frontier, talks to Toyebi Adedipe, Sales Manager-Engineered Solutions, Data Centers for Kohler, about the intersection of engineering and renewable energy sources. Specifically, they discuss innovations and technologies that are currently being used and impacting the future of data centers, as well as the design, construction and maintenance of renewable backup power solutions.

Listen to this 30-minute podcast to learn more about:

· The importance of electrical infrastructure design in data centers, especially concerning reliability and scalability.

· How to approach the integration of renewable energy sources into the electrical systems of data centers, considering both technical challenges and environmental benefits.

· Key considerations when implementing power distribution and backup systems in a large-scale data center to ensure uninterrupted operation.

· Emerging innovations and technologies that can help reduce power consumption and optimize energy use.

As the demand for power intensifies, the need for robust and safe electrical distribution systems in mission critical environments is paramount. Join us for an insightful podcast hosted by Starline, the leader in innovative electrical power solutions, as we delve into the critical strategies and technologies essential for enhancing the safety of electrical distribution in the face of rising power densities in data centers.

In this podcast, John Berenbrok, Director of Product Management at Starline, will address the challenges posed by the increasing concentration of electrical power in mission critical environments. We will explore the latest advancements in electrical distribution that ensure not only operational efficiency but also the highest standards of safety.

Key discussion points will include:

• Understanding Power Densities
• Best Practices in Electrical Distribution
• Enhanced Safety Solutions

This webcast is ideal for data center managers, electrical engineers, and anyone involved in the design, implementation, and maintenance of mission critical electrical distribution systems.