Designing data centers for the AI era
“AI is often framed as a software revolution. But the real constraint isn’t software. It is whether we can power and cool it at scale.
In this episode of the AI at Scale Podcast, Chris Sharp, Chief Technology Officer at Digital Realty, and Steven Carlini, Thought Leadership Leader at Schneider Electric, explain a fascinating shift in the data center industry. AI is not only about AI models or chips. As data centers are becoming AI factories success depends on physical systems that must keep up.
They break down what this means in practice. Power and cooling now work as one system. If one fails, performance drops. Rack density is rising fast, so design decisions made today can limit what you can run tomorrow.
Furthermore, they explain token economics in simple terms and how it changes how companies think about cost, ROI, and scaling.
There is a clear message on planning: decision makers need to design for what is coming, not what exists today. Building only for current demand will not hold up.
For C-level executives, this is a practical view of where AI can slow down and what needs attention now.
In this episode, you will learn:
✔ why power and cooling must be designed as one system to support AI innovation
✔ how rising power density is changing data center design
✔ what token economics means for cost, value, and ROI
✔ why planning ahead is critical to avoid future limits
✔ how infrastructure decisions affect AI performance and growth
Listen to the AI at Scale podcast
Listen to Chris Sharp & Steven Carlini: AI Factories: Power, Cooling & Token Economics episode. Subscribe to the show on the preferred streaming platform (Apple Podcasts, Spotify).
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AI at Scale Schneider Electric podcast series continues!
The first Schneider Electric podcast dedicated only to artificial intelligence is available on all streaming platforms. The AI at Scale podcast invites AI practitioners and AI experts to share their experiences, insights, and AI success stories. Through casual conversations, the show provides answers to questions such as: How do I implement AI successfully and sustainably? How do I make a real impact with AI? The AI at Scale podcast features real AI solutions and innovations and offers a sneak peek into the future.
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