In a recent report published by Pure Storage® (NYSE: PSTG), in collaboration with Wakefield Research, the critical need to reevaluate data infrastructure in order to fully capitalize on the benefits of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is highlighted, while keeping energy consumption in check to meet corporate environmental goals. This study, titled Drivers of Change: Meeting the Energy and Data Challenges of AI Adoption, sheds light on the substantial energy and data needs that come with the adoption of AI, often underestimated by organizations across sectors.
Key findings of the study include:
Increase in the need for computational power: An astounding 88% of entities that have adopted AI report a dramatic increase in the need for computational capacity, with nearly half (47%) needing to double or more their computational power.
Unanticipated energy demand of AI: 73% of IT buyers were not fully prepared for the energy requirements of AI.
Energy consumption is just one of the burdens of AI: For 73%, the implementation of AI has required or will require updates in data management, including data management tools (48%), data management processes (46%), and storage infrastructure (46%).
Infrastructure upgrades: Almost all (96%) have already upgraded or plan to upgrade their IT infrastructure as a result of AI implementation, with 29% of IT buyers indicating that this will require a complete overhaul of the infrastructure.
Challenges in meeting sustainability goals: 89% state that it is more difficult to meet ESG goals as a result of the necessary infrastructure updates following the adoption of AI. However, 60% who have already adopted or plan to adopt AI technologies have invested or will invest in more energy-efficient hardware to meet ESG goals.
A Growing Issue
The adoption of AI continues to grow across a multitude of sectors. However, many organizations lack the necessary infrastructure to handle the intensive demands of data and energy that are crucial to maximize the benefits of this technology. This limitation poses a significant challenge to successfully implement AI in support of critical business initiatives, including those aimed at meeting environmental goals. Most IT buyers feel the pressure to reduce their carbon footprint, agreeing that without adequate preparation of the necessary infrastructure, achieving IT goals is impossible.
The Necessary Solution
With traditional systems often unable to support the large data pipelines required by AI to leverage machine learning, the need for smarter infrastructure is more pressing than ever. As the adoption of artificial intelligence accelerates, IT teams require efficient, reliable, and high-performance infrastructure to ensure its effective implementation.
Executive Vision
Rob Lee, CTO of Pure Storage, highlights the importance of planning for changes and ensuring flexibility to successfully handle the adoption of AI. “Energy and data demands increase exponentially in the era of AI. Investing in and implementing AI-ready data infrastructure is not only crucial for efficient deployment and energy efficiency, but also for maximizing the value of AI projects. This report provides crucial insight for IT leaders on the consequences of not planning for necessary changes, as well as the benefits of being prepared for the impact of AI on infrastructure.”