1GW Datacenters for AI: A Revolution in France?
The rapid advancement of AI demands revolutionary infrastructure. Leveraging its expertise, OVHcloud is leading the way in the next generation of 1GW datacenters, combining power and innovation.
1GW AI Datacenters: The Future is Already Underway
The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) is radically transforming the tech landscape, pushing computational power demands to new heights. France is buzzing with multiple 1GW datacenter projects to meet these needs. However, this unprecedented move raises questions: Why this acceleration? What are the technical hurdles and investments required for such a transformation?
Power Needs: A Unparalleled Dynamic for AI
AI operates mainly in two phases: training and inference of models. Training demands enormous computing power, while inference uses a pre-trained model to handle user requests. Here’s a breakdown of the resources needed:
50M€ → 1,000 GPUs → 1MW
500M€ → 10,000 GPUs → 10MW
5Bn€ → 100,000 GPUs → 100MW
50Bn€ → 1 million GPUs → 1GW
Note that 80% of expenses go towards GPU purchase, with the remaining 20% for datacenter construction.
Technological Innovation: A Tailored Solution for AI
The physical distance between GPUs limits AI model performance. To overcome this, a new generation of superchips has emerged, integrating multiple GPUs on a single board, significantly reducing processor distance and allowing more GPUs to connect without performance loss. Moreover, they increase energy density, posing new cooling and power supply challenges.
OVHcloud: A Key Player in a New Era
In response to these changes, OVHcloud, a leading cloud provider in Europe, is set to play a crucial role. With over “20 years of expertise in watercooling, a key technology for these new infrastructures,” and an existing infrastructure of 40MW to 100MW suitable for AI model training, along with a global network of datacenters optimized for inference and high availability, OVHcloud is poised to make significant investments to meet the growing needs of its clients.
New Datacenters: A Revolution in the Making
The rise of 1GW datacenters marks a turning point in the tech sector. The growing necessity for AI models calls for a complete overhaul of existing infrastructures, both in terms of energy and cooling. While the main challenge will be ensuring energy availability and optimizing operational costs, the future of AI datacenters will depend on operators’ ability to meet these significant challenges. OVHcloud, with its expertise in watercooling and an international network of datacenters, appears to be at the forefront of this technological revolution.