Top tech boss stresses securing the right infrastructure to provide for ‘power-hungry’ AI-engines.
Macquarie Technology Group Head of Private Cloud, Jonathan Staff has called on enterprises and technology providers to do more to lay down the right foundations on which to build AI – warning that cutting corners will come with major risks down the line.
Macquarie recently revealed plans to supercharge its next and largest facility, IC3 Super West, which is being purpose built for the AI era.
The Sydney-based data center will offer AI-ready environments and be flexible enough to accommodate technologies such as advanced GPUs and liquid cooling.
Macquarie Data Centers recently secured a 41% increase in power to IC3 Super West – bringing the total load of its Macquarie Park Campus to 63 megawatts (MW).
Speaking at the Future of Tech, Innovation and Work Conferencein Sydney, Staff told business leaders they need to approach their AI strategy with a holistic, long-term lens.
“Businesses everywhere are scrambling to figure out how they can leverage AI and make sure they stay ahead of the competition. But in this mad rush to the finish line, we’re seeing lots of companies fail to invest in the right foundations needed to scale in the future.
“AI is a huge investment, and there is a lot at stake. It is expensive to ‘lift and shift’ these operations once they’re set up, so getting it right from the get-go is so important,” said Staff.
Staff highlighted the challenges of securing the right infrastructure to maximise efficiency, a key priority for Macquarie Data Centers and a factor it says many overlook when embarking on their AI journey.
In response to AI’s greater demands for power, cooling and specialised technology the data center company is focusing on providing the high-density environments required by power-hungry AI-engines.
Staff also stressed the importance of making sure new AI tools are properly integrated into a company’s existing systems.
“Organisations need to lay the right foundations to make sure everything is connected now, and that all the systems will provide enough runway to scale and grow quickly in the future.”
Calling on the industry to prepare for an AI-Driven future, Staff said it was time now to think about how they can adapt to capitalise on the opportunities.
However, he also stressed that it needs to be done in a way that is compliant with current and future data regulations.
“AI is currently the wild west, but you can expect regulation around sovereignty and data compliance to get tighter in many countries. Businesses need to choose partners that have the right certifications and policies in place to ensure compliance now and into the future.
“Macquarie Data Centers has invested time and effort in understanding what is needed to build the highly specialised environments for these AI workloads. Our Macquarie Park Data Center Campus has been optimised to support AI,” he said.
