Jay Smith, VP of Data Center Operations and Engineering at Evocative, recently joined Michael Reid, host of the Megaport Uplink podcast, for an in-depth conversation about how artificial intelligence is accelerating change and raising new challenges for the data center industry.
Their discussion centered on the rapid technological evolution of data centers, from the early days of dial-up to today’s high-density infrastructure designed to support large-scale AI workloads. Smith described how modern server racks now require 30 to 100 kilowatts or more, making traditional cooling solutions obsolete. To address these challenges, Smith noted that Evocative and other top operators are deploying advanced liquid cooling, rear-door heat exchangers, and even on-site natural gas generation, which can also supply the chilled water needed for powerful AI deployments.
The conversation also explored how AI inference is reshaping where and how compute is delivered. As Smith observed, companies increasingly need high-density compute resources closer to their users to support instant, low-latency AI applications. “Once AI models are trained, they get pushed to the edge. Everyone on their phones wants to click and get the inference quickly. That game is on now,” he shared. This trend has accelerated the growth of compact, edge data center deployments across the country.
Looking to the future, Smith emphasized that this wave of change is creating new opportunities for skilled professionals in the data center sector, from HVAC and electrical engineering to remote management and operations. As he put it, “If you had told me three years ago we would be going liquid to the rack, I would have said you were crazy. But this is becoming the standard now.” His insights highlight the importance of adaptability and ongoing learning as the pace of technological change only continues to accelerate.
For more on how AI is driving the evolution of data center infrastructure, tune in to the full episode: AI, Edge, and the Future of Colocation with Jay Smith (Uplink Podcast)
Learn more about Evocative’s infrastructure solutions here: www.evocative.com/data-centers
