Artificial intelligence (AI), particularly generative AI (GenAI), is widely recognized as the next significant shift in computing. This transformation is comparable to previous waves that transitioned us from mainframes to PCs, mobile phones, and cloud data centers. Each of these shifts necessitated a rethinking of computing architectures, processor design, and systems engineering. AI is no different, drawing on lessons from the PC and mobile eras and integrating them into the data center.
Technical capabilities such as parallel computing, system on a chip (SoC), software-defined infrastructure, and systems science are not new. However, AI has emerged as a new, large-scale workload that leverages all these capabilities. This evolution in AI technology is reshaping the landscape of computing, requiring new approaches and innovations in data center infrastructure.
The William Blair technology team has discussed the shifts brought about by the rise of GenAI since November 2022. This new technology has significantly influenced investments and created a demand for new infrastructure, including network, storage, data services, and security. The team's GenAI primer, Generative AI: The New Frontier of Automation, and the enterprise GenAI report, The Generative AI Toolchain: How Enterprises Turn Hype Into Reality, provide valuable insights into these changes.
In this report, the team delves deeper into understanding how the rise of AI fundamentally impacts the computing layer and, consequently, the entire data center infrastructure technology. This comprehensive analysis highlights the need for a reimagined approach to computing, driven by the unique demands and opportunities presented by AI.
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Listen to the William Blair Thinking Presents podcast episode: From Chips to Systems: How AI is Revolutionizing Compute and Infrastructure