It’s difficult to imagine our daily lives without AI – whether we’re chatting to Siri, following recommendations from streaming services or online shopping platforms, or using navigation systems to get us from A to B. And these are just the most basic applications. As a result, the demand for data centres capable of supporting AI workloads is rapidly increasing.
Cutting through the AI hype: finding the right data centre solution
Posted on in Blog
AI workloads
The unique demands of AI workloads
AI workloads, such as machine learning and deep learning, require immense computational power and AI tasks generate vast amounts of data, necessitating faster storage and retrieval systems. These workloads are computationally intensive, require high-speed data transfer, and often involve large-scale parallel processing.
To accommodate AI workloads, certain infrastructure changes are required on the part of data centres, including:
- high-density computing: traditional data centres are upgrading to accommodate high-density racks with advanced cooling systems to handle the heat generated by AI hardware;
- energy efficiency: AI workloads consume significantly more power, so data centres need to have sufficient incoming power available whilst adopting renewable energy sources and energy-efficient designs to meet stringent sustainability standards;
- network upgrades: AI requires ultra-low latency and high-bandwidth networks to process data in real-time. Fibre-optic connections and edge computing are becoming more prevalent;
- scalable solutions: AI applications demand scalable, high-speed storage systems to manage the exponential growth of data.
Hybrid data centres and colocation: the AI middle ground
Some data centres are positioning themselves as ‘AI-ready’, purpose-built to handle the unique demands of AI workloads. These facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art hardware, advanced liquid cooling systems, and optimised layouts tailored for AI processing. They primarily serve industries with heavy AI reliance, such as autonomous vehicles, healthcare, and financial services.
The term ‘AI-ready’ is somewhat ambiguous, however, as it lacks a standardised definition. In truth, very few data centres can genuinely be classified as ‘AI data centres’ (i.e. those equipped to deliver sufficient power per rack, host GPU clusters, and meet other specialised requirements). And, realistically, many organisations don’t actually need a fully AI-optimised data centre. Colocation services like ours are combining traditional and AI-ready infrastructure into a hybrid approach that allows our clients to scale their AI capabilities gradually, without the need for a complete overhaul of their existing infrastructure. Our data centres provide an environment in which we can quickly deploy high-density solutions (although the ‘high-density’ part is optional). We can scale power, cooling and space on demand, and our energy efficiency and environmental responsibility means that our clients can achieve their sustainability goals without the need to compromise on performance.
Finding the right data centre solution for your needs
It’s essential to be clear with a potential data centre provider about your requirements – both now and in the future – asking the right questions is the only way to determine whether a provider is the right fit for your needs. The current AI hype has led some organisations to feel pressured into paying over the odds, but there are often far more suitable and cost-effective solutions available. In reality, many organisations we speak to don’t require the biggest or most advanced solutions; they need what works best for their specific circumstances. By collaborating closely with our clients to develop bespoke solutions, we deliver exactly what they need in terms of power efficiency, cost savings, or avoiding unnecessary expenses for overpromised services.
Whether you’re looking for a single rack or a custom-designed suite, we’ve done it all at our two data centre locations in Manchester and Farnborough. Our latest Manchester data centre (MCR2) was launched in June 2025, and we’ve recently broken ground on an additional facility at our flagship Farnborough campus, ensuring additional capacity is coming online. We pride ourselves on honesty and won’t hesitate to advise potential clients if we believe our solution isn’t the right fit for them. If you’d like to find out whether we’ve got the solution you need, just get in touch.