From Dial-Up to Colo: The Impact of AI on Data Center Design

In this episode of Uplink, we’re joined by Jay Smith, VP of Data Center Operations and Engineering at Evocative. With nearly 30 years in the industry, Jay unpacks how data centers are adapting to support AI’s massive power and cooling demands.

This episode covers:
🔌 Why colo is thriving in the AI era
💧 Liquid cooling and rear-door heat exchangers
⚡ Powering 275kW racks and beyond
🌐 How AI inference is shifting compute to the edge
👷 Career opportunities in infrastructure without a degree

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🔗 https://www.uplinkpod.com/

🚀 Uplink explores the future of connectivity, cloud, and AI – with the people shaping it. Hosted by Michael Reid, we dive into cutting-edge trends with top industry experts.

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0:00 The Evolution of Digital Infrastructure

5:45 From Carrier Hotels to Modern Connectivity

9:44 The Impact of AI on Data Centers

16:28 Cooling Innovation for High-Density Computing

22:10 Power Solutions and Natural Gas Generation

26:01 Cloud vs Colocation: Finding the Balance

30:28 Future of Computing and Career Paths