Latest news with #EdgeCore
Forbes
12-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
AI: The Overinvestment Bubble Or The Fungible Opportunity?
Tom Traugott, SVP of Emerging Technologies at EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure. In 1986, Warren Buffett famously outlined his goal "to be fearful when others are greedy and to be greedy only when others are fearful." Several weeks since Nvidia's annual GTC conference, I can't help but think of this phrase when layering the excitement, growth and optimism of everything that is AI from that week on top of recent heightened economic uncertainty, market panic and fear at consumer and business levels. At GTC, Nvidia's Jensen Huang captured this tension with some key quotes in his own right. On the optimistic side: "The more you buy, the more you save. It's even better than that. Now, the more you buy, the more you make." On the disruptive side: "I'm the chief revenue destroyer"—in speaking to the major performance gains of new Blackwell chips over previous Hopper chips, and that older generation chips' value has plummeted as a result (perhaps not that different from the price of a 2024 new car when 2025 gets announced). On January 27, 2025, markets reacted negatively in response to the wider availability of the Chinese firm DeepSeek's low-cost R1 model, prompting pundits to amplify concerns about an 'AI bubble' of overinvestment, which continues in the midst of economic uncertainties with revenue generation an increasing focal point versus the R&D-like investment in training large models. Yet, the rapid evolution of every AI model, from ChatGPT and Gemini to Grok and Claude, not to mention the promise of an agentic service such as Manus AI, points to only greater innovation and capabilities to come. What's a data center developer or cloud provider to do? Lessons found from past turbulent times may be instructive, and for that, my mind goes back to 2008 and the Great Financial Crisis. In tracking the sale of Lehman Brothers' two data centers, Rich Miller, founder and former editor-at-large of Data Center Frontier, pointed out that "the $330 million valuation for the two data centers is also higher than the $250 million valuation of Lehman's North American investment banking and trading unit." This marks for me a turning point for the data center industry. Why? When the GFC hit in 2008, enterprises began to accelerate the outsourcing of IT infrastructure to third parties, choosing to focus on core business competencies and preserve capital for other uses, such as revenue generation and business expansion, not noncore facilities. Internet and tech companies began leasing data center capacity from the outset, focusing on value creation up the stack. I'm a believer in the continued value of technology assets—and while the AI boom has put pressure on the adaptive reuse and value of existing facilities available now, the pressure has also heightened the need to dramatically increase the size of investment in data center and energy infrastructure to support what's next. But what is the sweet spot for investment that isn't misguided? For that, a more recent answer emerges from an article in the MIT Technology Review describing the glut of data centers in China prompted by the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022. To prepare for the AI boom, China mobilized to spur significant investment across the country, and from 2023 to 2024, over 500 new development projects were announced across the country, with 150 built by 2024. A critical insight from the article was that the surge of development came from 144 companies targeting LLM training, but that at the end of 2024, only 10% of those companies continued to focus on LLM development. What's the lesson here? It's one that was very much present at GTC 2025 and was highlighted by Jensen Huang repeatedly. AI's revenue-generating promise manifests itself in all that is inference—and this is what is instructive about China's overbuild; it was more so in remote locations that were purpose-built for asynchronous training yet lacked the proximity and low-latency connectivity that inference demands. A panel comprised of top hyperscalers at GTC discussing lessons learned as part of building 100,000-plus GPU clusters generally reached consensus on the right answer: fungibility of infrastructure. The panel discussed this emerging best practice and explained that a large cluster of GPUs may need to serve multiple purposes, and may end up doing so dynamically, shifting from training to inference in the same cluster. GPU buildouts should therefore include the higher memory and storage that inference requires from the outset, along with the associated power and cooling requirements needed to expand their usability. Furthermore, the data center campus may continue to integrate with traditional cloud services, bringing fungibility forward as a key consideration as well. So, to be greedy in the current climate of fear, my recommendation is to follow Jensen's advice: Buy more to make more, but make data center investments in locations that provide access to scale, density and low-latency proximity to key population centers and cloud regions. This ensures a multipronged path to revenues, which ultimately is the pragmatic answer in times of economic uncertainty, affirming that investment in AI infrastructure isn't a bubble but a prudent decision to make. Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?
Associated Press
05-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure Appoints Steve Conner as President
Conner to provide strategic leadership across several key functional areas to further propel company growth as a leading provider of high-density hyperscale data center space DENVER, CO / ACCESS Newswire / June 5, 2025 / EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure, a wholesale data center developer, owner and operator, announced the appointment of Steve Conner as its new President. In this newly established role, Conner will apply his background in the data center industry with his expertise in engineering, power provisioning, sales and customer solutions to lead the company's internal day-to-day operations, drive strategic execution and ensure the growth of the overall business. 'Steve is an exceptional executive leader who brings a variety of core technical and customer strategy experiences and a proven track record of success. His expertise will enable EdgeCore to increase our ability to meet our customers' current and future requirements for high-density data center space,' said Lee Kestler, CEO, EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure. 'By leaning on his prior experiences, Steve will accelerate the transformation of our Operations, Strategy, Sales and Engineering functions and be an invaluable technical leader across our organization.' Since announcing a series of strategic personnel appointments in February of this year, EdgeCore has grown the size of its team by 80 percent and has plans to double its workforce by year's end. The company has also retooled its Operations and Strategy teams to more dynamically address the next generation requirements of its facilities and customers. 'I'm a firm believer in the adage 'you can't know where you're going until you understand where you've been,' and I plan to draw on the experiences-both good and bad-I've had throughout my career to ensure EdgeCore chooses the right path forward in our growth,' said Steve Conner, President, EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure. 'I'm thrilled to be a part of this dynamic and growing team during such an important time in the evolution of the data center industry.' Prior to joining EdgeCore, Conner worked for seven years with some of the world's largest hyperscale customers while he served as both Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President of Solution and Architecture Engineering at Vantage Data Centers. Additionally, he held senior-level sales roles at Cloudistics and Nutanix as well as senior-level technical roles at Arrow Electronics and several companies it acquired. Conner earned post-graduate degrees in business administration and computer science with a concentration in artificial intelligence as well as various certifications in networking and information security. About EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure serves the world's largest cloud and internet companies with both ready-for-occupancy and build-to-suit data center campuses that are designed for density. Privately held and backed by committed equity, EdgeCore enables hyperscale customer requirements by proactively investing in regions that provide the land and power necessary to support and scale AI and cloud technology. While working thoughtfully with the communities in which we do business, our data center campuses are built at scale to meet key performance specifications, safety metrics and sustainability objectives. EdgeCore has data center campuses in five North American markets with plans to continue regional expansion in 2025 and beyond. For more information, please visit Media Contact Courtney Gaudet EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure [email protected] SOURCE: EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure press release
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure Announces Expansion of Its Metro Phoenix Data Center Market to Over 450 MW
High-density design makes EdgeCore's Mesa, Arizona data centers a near-term solution for hyperscale AI and cloud applications DENVER, CO / / May 20, 2025 / EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure, a wholesale data center developer, owner and operator, announced the acquisition of an additional 43.87 acres of land in Mesa, Arizona and expanded data center capacity designed to deliver 450 MW+ to its hyperscale customers. This new parcel of land more than doubles the buildable acreage EdgeCore controls in Mesa. "Today's expansion announcement of EdgeCore's operations in Mesa, Arizona is an exciting milestone in our company's evolution," said Lee Kestler, CEO, EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure. "Since establishing our first Mesa campus in April 2023, we have worked quickly to construct and commission 206 MW at the site. This new tranche of land enables us to deliver another 250+ MW of data center space in Mesa to fulfill our hyperscale customers' urgent need for AI and cloud-ready capacity." Affordable power via Salt River Project (SRP) is already available at EdgeCore's first Mesa campus for its operational data center and is slated for delivery to the two buildings currently under construction upon their completion in 2025 and 2026. "SRP is proud of its work with EdgeCore and looks forward to serving their growing operations in Mesa," said Jim Pratt, SRP General Manager and Chief Executive Officer. "We congratulate them on their expansion and applaud their commitment to water conservation in their operations." Understanding that water scarcity is a serious issue in Arizona, EdgeCore has implemented an air-cooled design in its Mesa data centers, including an ultra-efficient closed-loop chilled water system, which requires nearly no water to recharge its effectiveness. Additionally, EdgeCore's Mesa campus: Was designed to meet LEED BD+C v4 Silver standards Utilizes a waste management program that aligns with the Zero Waste International Alliance's zero waste hierarchy and is intended to reduce waste disposed of in landfills Incorporates native Southwestern landscaping and a pollinator garden with nesting habitats to support local bee and pollinator populations, while promoting water conservation Due to these sustainable building and operational initiatives, EdgeCore's first data center in Mesa (PH01) received Green Globes for Existing Buildings certification in 2023, and the second (PH02) and third (PH03) data centers currently under construction have been awarded Designed to Earn ENERGY STAR certifications. Since breaking ground on its first data center in Mesa, EdgeCore has committed financially, philanthropically and through the personal efforts of its employees to support the community's growth strategy and make a positive difference in the lives of its neighbors. This additional development will enable EdgeCore to continue providing jobs, supporting local businesses and donating to the local Mesa community. About EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure serves the world's largest cloud and internet companies with both ready-for-occupancy and build-to-suit data center campuses that are designed for density. Privately held and backed by committed equity, EdgeCore enables hyperscale customer requirements by proactively investing in regions that provide the land and power necessary to support and scale AI and cloud technology. While working thoughtfully with the communities in which we do business, our data center campuses are built at scale to meet key performance specifications, safety metrics and sustainability objectives. EdgeCore has data center campuses in five North American markets with plans to continue regional expansion in 2025 and beyond. For more information, please visit Media ContactCourtney GaudetEdgeCore Digital SOURCE: EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Miami Herald
20-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure Announces Expansion of Its Metro Phoenix Data Center Market to Over 450 MW
High-density design makes EdgeCore's Mesa, Arizona data centers a near-term solution for hyperscale AI and cloud applications DENVER, CO / ACCESS Newswire / May 20, 2025 / EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure, a wholesale data center developer, owner and operator, announced the acquisition of an additional 43.87 acres of land in Mesa, Arizona and expanded data center capacity designed to deliver 450 MW+ to its hyperscale customers. This new parcel of land more than doubles the buildable acreage EdgeCore controls in Mesa. "Today's expansion announcement of EdgeCore's operations in Mesa, Arizona is an exciting milestone in our company's evolution," said Lee Kestler, CEO, EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure. "Since establishing our first Mesa campus in April 2023, we have worked quickly to construct and commission 206 MW at the site. This new tranche of land enables us to deliver another 250+ MW of data center space in Mesa to fulfill our hyperscale customers' urgent need for AI and cloud-ready capacity." Affordable power via Salt River Project (SRP) is already available at EdgeCore's first Mesa campus for its operational data center and is slated for delivery to the two buildings currently under construction upon their completion in 2025 and 2026. "SRP is proud of its work with EdgeCore and looks forward to serving their growing operations in Mesa," said Jim Pratt, SRP General Manager and Chief Executive Officer. "We congratulate them on their expansion and applaud their commitment to water conservation in their operations." Understanding that water scarcity is a serious issue in Arizona, EdgeCore has implemented an air-cooled design in its Mesa data centers, including an ultra-efficient closed-loop chilled water system, which requires nearly no water to recharge its effectiveness. Additionally, EdgeCore's Mesa campus: Was designed to meet LEED BD+C v4 Silver standardsUtilizes a waste management program that aligns with the Zero Waste International Alliance's zero waste hierarchy and is intended to reduce waste disposed of in landfillsIncorporates native Southwestern landscaping and a pollinator garden with nesting habitats to support local bee and pollinator populations, while promoting water conservation Due to these sustainable building and operational initiatives, EdgeCore's first data center in Mesa (PH01) received Green Globes for Existing Buildings certification in 2023, and the second (PH02) and third (PH03) data centers currently under construction have been awarded Designed to Earn ENERGY STAR certifications. Since breaking ground on its first data center in Mesa, EdgeCore has committed financially, philanthropically and through the personal efforts of its employees to support the community's growth strategy and make a positive difference in the lives of its neighbors. This additional development will enable EdgeCore to continue providing jobs, supporting local businesses and donating to the local Mesa community. About EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure serves the world's largest cloud and internet companies with both ready-for-occupancy and build-to-suit data center campuses that are designed for density. Privately held and backed by committed equity, EdgeCore enables hyperscale customer requirements by proactively investing in regions that provide the land and power necessary to support and scale AI and cloud technology. While working thoughtfully with the communities in which we do business, our data center campuses are built at scale to meet key performance specifications, safety metrics and sustainability objectives. EdgeCore has data center campuses in five North American markets with plans to continue regional expansion in 2025 and beyond. For more information, please visit Media ContactCourtney GaudetEdgeCore Digital SOURCE: EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure
Associated Press
20-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure Announces Expansion of Its Metro Phoenix Data Center Market to Over 450 MW
High-density design makes EdgeCore's Mesa, Arizona data centers a near-term solution for hyperscale AI and cloud applications DENVER, CO / ACCESS Newswire / May 20, 2025 / EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure, a wholesale data center developer, owner and operator, announced the acquisition of an additional 43.87 acres of land in Mesa, Arizona and expanded data center capacity designed to deliver 450 MW+ to its hyperscale customers. This new parcel of land more than doubles the buildable acreage EdgeCore controls in Mesa. 'Today's expansion announcement of EdgeCore's operations in Mesa, Arizona is an exciting milestone in our company's evolution,' said Lee Kestler, CEO, EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure. 'Since establishing our first Mesa campus in April 2023, we have worked quickly to construct and commission 206 MW at the site. This new tranche of land enables us to deliver another 250+ MW of data center space in Mesa to fulfill our hyperscale customers' urgent need for AI and cloud-ready capacity.' Affordable power via Salt River Project (SRP) is already available at EdgeCore's first Mesa campus for its operational data center and is slated for delivery to the two buildings currently under construction upon their completion in 2025 and 2026. 'SRP is proud of its work with EdgeCore and looks forward to serving their growing operations in Mesa,' said Jim Pratt, SRP General Manager and Chief Executive Officer. 'We congratulate them on their expansion and applaud their commitment to water conservation in their operations.' Understanding that water scarcity is a serious issue in Arizona, EdgeCore has implemented an air-cooled design in its Mesa data centers, including an ultra-efficient closed-loop chilled water system, which requires nearly no water to recharge its effectiveness. Additionally, EdgeCore's Mesa campus: Due to these sustainable building and operational initiatives, EdgeCore's first data center in Mesa (PH01) received Green Globes for Existing Buildings certification in 2023, and the second (PH02) and third (PH03) data centers currently under construction have been awarded Designed to Earn ENERGY STAR certifications. Since breaking ground on its first data center in Mesa, EdgeCore has committed financially, philanthropically and through the personal efforts of its employees to support the community's growth strategy and make a positive difference in the lives of its neighbors. This additional development will enable EdgeCore to continue providing jobs, supporting local businesses and donating to the local Mesa community. About EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure serves the world's largest cloud and internet companies with both ready-for-occupancy and build-to-suit data center campuses that are designed for density. Privately held and backed by committed equity, EdgeCore enables hyperscale customer requirements by proactively investing in regions that provide the land and power necessary to support and scale AI and cloud technology. While working thoughtfully with the communities in which we do business, our data center campuses are built at scale to meet key performance specifications, safety metrics and sustainability objectives. EdgeCore has data center campuses in five North American markets with plans to continue regional expansion in 2025 and beyond. For more information, please visit Media Contact Courtney Gaudet EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure [email protected] SOURCE: EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure press release
