| Columbus, Ohio: As artificial intelligence accelerates from experimentation to large-scale deployment, data centers are undergoing a fundamental redesign. According to Vertiv™ Frontiers, a new report released by Vertiv, the global leader in critical digital infrastructure, the convergence of AI workloads, extreme densification, and gigawatt-scale buildouts is transforming how data centers are powered, cooled, designed, and operated. The report moves beyond short-term predictions to identify the deeper forces shaping the next generation of digital infrastructure. From higher-voltage power architectures and digital twin-driven design to energy autonomy and intelligent liquid cooling, Vertiv argues that data centers are no longer passive facilities, they are becoming fully integrated “units of compute” built to support AI at scale. The Forces Reshaping Data Centers Vertiv identifies four macro forces that are redefining the data center landscape. The first is extreme densification, driven largely by AI and high-performance computing workloads that push rack densities far beyond traditional limits. The second is gigawatt scaling at speed, as hyperscale and AI-focused data centers are deployed faster and at unprecedented sizes. The third force is a conceptual shift: the data center as a unit of compute. In the AI era, facilities must be designed and operated as unified systems where IT, power, and cooling function as one. Finally, silicon diversification—with a growing mix of GPUs, accelerators, and custom chips, requires infrastructure that can adapt quickly to changing compute requirements. “These cross-technology forces are accelerating how the industry designs, builds, and operates data centers,” said Scott Armul, Vertiv’s Chief Product and Technology Officer. “AI factories demand density, speed, and scale, and that is pushing innovation across power, cooling, and digital infrastructure.” Powering Up for AI One of the most immediate challenges highlighted in the report is power delivery. Most data centers today rely on hybrid AC/DC power architectures with multiple conversion stages, creating inefficiencies that become increasingly problematic as power densities rise. Vertiv points to higher-voltage DC architectures as a key solution. By reducing current, minimizing conductor size, and cutting down conversion stages, higher-voltage DC systems can support denser AI racks more efficiently. As standards mature, Vertiv expects these architectures, combined with on-site power generation and microgrids—to become more common, particularly in AI-focused facilities. Distributed AI and Energy Autonomy While massive AI data centers have dominated early investment, Vertiv sees distributed AI as a growing trend. Enterprises in regulated sectors such as finance, defense, and healthcare may require private or hybrid AI environments due to security, latency, or data residency concerns. This shift increases demand for flexible, scalable power and cooling solutions that can be deployed both in new facilities and retrofitted into existing ones. At the same time, energy availability challenges are accelerating interest in energy autonomy. Traditionally used for backup resilience, on-site power generation is now being considered as a longer-term strategy for AI data centers. Approaches such as “Bring Your Own Power (and Cooling)” are emerging as practical responses to grid constraints and deployment timelines. Digital Twins: Designing Before Building One of the defining trends for 2026, according to Vertiv, is the growing use of digital twin technology. Digital twins allow operators to simulate entire data center environments, before and after construction—enabling real-time optimization of design, deployment, and operations. By integrating IT and critical infrastructure virtually, data centers can be prefabricated and deployed as modular units of compute. Vertiv estimates that this approach can reduce “time-to-token” by up to 50%, a critical advantage as organizations race to bring AI capacity online. Smarter Liquid Cooling for Denser Workloads As AI drives rack densities higher, liquid cooling has shifted from optional to mission-critical. Vertiv highlights a new phase in this evolution: adaptive, AI-enabled liquid cooling. By combining advanced monitoring with AI-driven controls, cooling systems can predict failures, optimize fluid management, and increase overall resilience. This feedback loop: where AI both drives the need for liquid cooling and enhances its performance, has the potential to improve uptime and protect high-value hardware supporting AI workloads. A Blueprint for the AI Era Vertiv’s Frontiers report paints a clear picture of the future. Data centers will need to scale faster, operate smarter, and integrate power, cooling, and compute more tightly than ever before. The companies that succeed will be those that treat infrastructure not as a constraint, but as a strategic enabler of AI innovation. With operations in more than 130 countries, Vertiv positions itself at the center of this transformation, offering integrated solutions that span power management, thermal systems, and digital infrastructure—from the cloud to the network edge. As AI continues to redefine industries, Vertiv’s message is unambiguous: the data center of the future is not just bigger or more powerful, it is intelligent by design. |
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