In an increasingly AI-driven world, companies are faced with the challenge of adapting their technological infrastructures not only to take advantage of the benefits of this advanced technology, but also to handle its considerable energy and data management demands. A new report from Pure Storage, in collaboration with Wakefield Research, titled “Drivers of Change: Meeting the Energy and Data Challenges of AI Adoption,” sheds light on the significant obstacles that organizations in various sectors face in effectively and sustainably adopting AI.
The survey, which included 500 IT buyers from companies with over 500 employees in the United States and Europe, reveals significant concerns surrounding organizations’ ability to manage the increase in computational and energy demand following the implementation of AI. According to the data, 88% of respondents who have adopted AI have seen their computational capacity needs skyrocket, with nearly half (47%) needing to double or more their computing power.
Even more alarming, 73% of IT buyers admitted to not being fully prepared for the energy requirements that AI entails, with a similar percentage indicating that AI has required or will require significant updates in data management. This includes the implementation of data management tools (48%), data management processes (46%), and storage infrastructure upgrades (46%).
As a result of these demands, nearly all respondents (96%) indicated that they have already upgraded or have plans to upgrade their IT infrastructure. Of these, 29% noted that AI has demanded or will demand a complete overhaul of the infrastructure.
These challenges also translate into complications in achieving environmental, social, and governance (ESG) sustainability goals. 89% of IT buyers stated that these objectives are more difficult to achieve due to the necessary infrastructure upgrades to adopt AI. However, 60% of those who have adopted or plan to adopt AI technologies in the next year have stated that they have invested or will invest in more energy-efficient hardware to meet ESG goals.
Rob Lee, CTO of Pure Storage, emphasizes the importance of being prepared for these challenges: “It is crucial to plan for change and ensure flexibility to successfully manage the adoption of artificial intelligence. The energy and data demands increase exponentially in the AI era, therefore, investing in and implementing suitable data infrastructure is essential for effective deployment, energy efficiency, and maximizing the value of AI projects.”
The report not only highlights the consequences of not adequately preparing for AI implementation, but also the potential benefits of a well-prepared infrastructure to support its impacts. With the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence in many sectors, it is essential that IT teams have access to efficient, reliable, and high-performance systems to ensure effective AI implementation.