Shaping the future of data centers

Evolving conversations around infrastructure, efficiency and value

At Datacloud Global Congress 2026, the impact of this rapid growth was demonstrated in how conversations around AI infrastructure and data center demand are evolving – seemingly in real time – with new priorities and objectives constantly emerging.

Throughout the event, the same topics surfaced time and again from the industry leaders: How to tackle AI workloads and the complexities they bring, how to adapt to the power density challenge, and how to design the next generation of AI Factories. While there was a huge amount to take away from the conference, below are five key insights that stood out:

1. AI workloads are reshaping infrastructure and making the industry as dynamic as ever

Modern AI clusters are driving the scale and infrastructure requirements of data centers inevitably upwards. However, the view from the ground at Datacloud Global Congress is that the industry remains as dynamic as ever, and the pace of technological innovation continues to rise along with these requirements. From advances in high-density and liquid cooling to new approaches in AI Factory design and power optimization, operators are reconsidering how data centers are built and scaled.

“In many ways, the growth of AI still feels underappreciated in the near term,” Domenici said. “What’s happening right now is not just incremental expansion. It’s driving a real shift in the scale, density and performance requirements of data center infrastructure – and you can see the momentum in the market. As these environments grow more energy-intensive and energy supply becomes more constrained and costs rise, efficiency is fundamental to cost management, scalability and sustainability outcomes.”

2. Power and water remain the primary constraints for data center growth

For years, compute was looked at as the primary bottleneck for growth. Now, the availability of power is the primary constraint, with water and sound also providing significant challenges that must be considered. But that isn’t the end of the conversation. Beyond solely looking at how to secure power, the industry is thinking about how long it takes to turn that power into useful output.

The metrics used to discuss power are also evolving. For many years, Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) alone was the primary metric for understanding data center efficiency. However, now data center operators are looking at Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) and Carbon Usage Effectiveness (CUE) to get a more holistic view of data center performance. And, in a power-constrained industry spurred by AI growth, Tokens per Watt is ever increasing in importance. For data centers, the objective is not just to use less energy, but to do more with the energy available to them.

3. Cooling is one of the most urgent challenges and opportunities that exists today

AI chips and heat densification are causing a shift in data center design, with cooling being a key driver of innovation. The International Energy Agency projects global data center electricity demand could more than double by 2030, increasing pressure on cooling systems to manage higher and more variable loads. At the same time, water use effectiveness (WUE) remains a key priority, increasing demand for advanced cooling technologies that can manage rising thermal loads while eliminating cooling-related water use.

“The rise in physical AI and inference is creating many power constraints and cooling issues in the market amid complex data center builds,” said Domenici. “Cooling accounts for 30 to 40% of a data center’s energy use. That makes energy- and water-efficient cooling one of the industry’s most urgent challenges and opportunities that exist today. Every percentage point of non IT energy saved can be reinvested in compute, while easing pressure on the grid.”

4. The local community remains front of mind for data centers

Whether it was building sustainable architecture, reducing noise, supporting local grids or actively turning waste heat into local community resources, the topic of “what it means to be a good neighbor” is one that came up repeatedly.

Data center operators are now looking to actively engage with the public and inform those outside the industry of the vital role that data centers play in advancing the technological sector. If Datacloud Global Congress is an indication of industry sentiment, then the overarching sense is that this conversation is top of mind for industry leaders as they navigate the shifting landscape.

In addition to positively interacting with the community when it comes to planning, having services support throughout all phases of a data center project remains paramount. For data centers, serviceability is key. That means being able to monitor and have quick access to local expertise to resolve potential issues as soon as they arise.

5. Overarching desire to reduce complexity and standardize

Data center operators are under increased pressure to meet rapid deployment demands and faster time to value. As AI workloads accelerate from megawatt- to gigawatt-scale operations, standardization and reduction of operational complexity hold the key to fast, scalable deployment.

The use of modular data centers was a recurring talking point throughout the conference. Modular data centers, which are prefabricated structures that are designed off-site and assembled on location, can help operators bring revenue-generating capacity online quickly by enabling fast deployment and providing the flexibility to address spatial constraints and cooling requirements. That’s why the Johnson Controls team had a real modular data center right outside of the Datacloud Global Congress venue for people to see in-person.

When it comes to reducing complexity, many data center operators are also trying to reduce the number of vendors they work with. These operators are increasingly looking to work with a data center solutions provider who can manage all aspects including data center cooling, fire protection, facility security, building controls and lifecycle services.