The spread of artificial intelligence (AI) and the accompanying rise in demand for computing capacity are reshaping how data centers are designed, built and operated. Industry representatives discussed these developments at the Data Centre Event Europe regional conference held at Hungexpo in Budapest.
Sergio Verano Luri, Pre-fabricated Solutions Expert at Schneider Electric, warned in his presentation titled "AI-in-a-Box: From Complexity to Agility in Data Center Deployment" that the growing adoption of AI applications and cloud services requires ever-larger facilities with significant compute power. Rapid changes in technological requirements call for new development approaches in the data center sector.
Large-scale investments and concrete figures
Examples cited at the conference illustrate the scale of AI-related infrastructure investments. Several recent or ongoing projects have planned capacities measured in gigawatts: the planned G42 Stargate AI Campus in Abu Dhabi with 5 GW capacity, Meta’s Hyperion AI data center in the United States with a planned 5 GW, and Canada’s Wonder Valley AI Data Center Park with a proposed 7.5 GW capacity.
Why modular, prefabricated solutions matter
These large developments create fresh challenges for designers and operators: rising power density, constantly changing computing architectures and the need for rapid capacity expansion all demand greater flexibility.
Using prefabricated, factory-tested infrastructure modules allows investors and operators to rethink conventional construction workflows. Modular solutions can speed up deployment, make delivery timelines more predictable and simplify later expansions while helping to manage technical complexity.
As Sergio Verano Luri put it: “Artificial intelligence is fundamentally changing how data centers are designed and operated. Because requirements for computing capacity keep evolving, the industry needs solutions that provide greater flexibility and predictability and enable adaptation to changing demands.”
Operational requirements and future adaptability
Since data centers increasingly support AI workloads, infrastructure design must account for the operational needs of high power-density computing systems and complex computational tasks. Well-conceived modular infrastructure can help meet current requirements and ease adaptation to future technological changes.
Schneider Electric’s participation at the Data Centre Event Europe conference also signals the company’s engagement in professional discussions about the future of digital infrastructure, energy efficiency and sustainable data center operations.
Conclusion
Given the scale of AI-driven growth in compute demand, prefabricated and modular approaches are becoming more prominent. These methods can help data centers respond to technological change more quickly, flexibly and predictably.
