Exclusive Interview with Digital Craftsmen in the IDC Circle | Data Centers and Large Models—The Dual Engines Driving the Digital Economy

As the backbone of the digital economy, data centers have seen rapid growth in recent years, evolving towards high computing power, top-notch security, cutting-edge technology, and improved energy efficiency. These advancements are crucial in meeting the computing demands of the digital economy's high-quality development. This progress is the result of the collective efforts of everyone involved in the data center industry chain, from upstream to downstream. These professionals refine their products with a dedication to craftsmanship, drive industry optimization, and provide crucial support for the digital economy.

Recently, the China IDC Circle Enterprise Club launched the 2024 “Digital Craftsman” interview series. Tina, the Marketing Director of Chayora, was invited to share her deep insights and industry perspectives on topics such as intelligent computing AI, advanced technologies, and the latest industry products and solutions.

Q: Given the rapid advancement of large models, what do you predict will be the main development trends and directions for these models in the future?

Tina: Large models are central to the growth of artificial intelligence and will see widespread use across various industries:

• • Increased Intelligence and Capability: The applications of large models will evolve from basic text-based chatbots to multimodal AI agents—automated assistants capable of performing tasks across different applications. These will eventually be integrated with next-generation smart user devices.
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• • Enhanced Collaboration: There will be greater collaboration among model developers, application communities, and data/content providers to boost the commercial value of these models.
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• • Maturing Model as a Service (MaaS): As foundational large model technology matures, industries will increasingly seek customized models tailored to their specific business and industry needs, similar to the trend of bespoke data centers.
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Q: The rise of large models has significantly increased the demand for intelligent computing. What are the core requirements for data centers in terms of density, energy use, and heat management?

Tina: The growing need for intelligent computing has raised the bar for data centers, particularly in these areas:

• • Increasing Data Center Density: As large models become larger, smarter, and more complex, data centers are moving towards higher density. In China, for example, it's expected that the power density of a single cabinet will reach 40kW. This means suppliers need to provide solutions that can handle these high-density requirements.
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• • Higher Energy Consumption: Training and running these large models require processing vast amounts of data, leading to greater energy consumption compared to typical applications. To meet long-term environmental goals, data centers should focus on improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions by adopting green electricity, sustainable design practices, and energy-saving equipment.
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• • Effective Heat Dissipation: Currently, air- and liquid cooling solution is used to manage the heat generated in high-density data centers. As density continues to rise, there's a need to increase the use of liquid cooling systems or potentially switch to full liquid cooling to handle the heat more effectively. Data centers must continuously update their technology, adapt their layouts, and swiftly respond to changing demands to keep pace with these evolving requirements.
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Q: To meet the needs of intelligent computing, what innovations should data centers pursue in terms of technology, construction, and operational solutions? What are the main challenges?

Tina: As technology evolves and the demands of leading companies shift, data centers as a key junction between the two are becoming more crucial than ever. Here are two key areas where innovation is essential:

• • Compatibility and Flexible Layout: From design to construction and operation, data centers must consider the varying needs and future upgrades of different configurations. This means being able to adapt layouts and solutions to meet specific customer requirements and ensure efficient integration.
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• • Diverse Solutions: With rapid advancements in technologies like AI, the best application scenarios and computing power needs vary across industries. Therefore, data centers must offer a range of solutions tailored to the actual needs of users.
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These innovations are crucial for quickly adapting to changing demands, but they also present significant challenges.

Q: What solutions has Chayora proposed to advance the development of data centers and speed up the implementation of intelligent computing? What are the key innovations and competitive advantages?

Tina: To meet the high-density demands of AI-driven data centers, Chayora introduced the Ingenuity solution at the end of last year.

• • Flexible Customization: We tailor solutions based on the customer's scale, business needs, and system requirements. This ensures that our solutions are closely aligned with the specific applications of various industries.

• • High Rack Power: Each rack is designed to deliver up to 40kW of power, making it ideal for supporting demanding tasks such as large model training and inference.

• • Liquid Cooling: We utilize the latest air-and liquid cooling technology to achieve optimal cooling efficiency.
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Q: What are Chayora’s strategic plans and future goals?

Tina: Our aim is to become a leading expert in build-to-suit data centers. At Chayora, we believe that each customer is unique, and we’re committed to a customer-centric, fully tailored service model. Through our strategic partnership with EdgeConneX, we can enable clients quickly access over 50+ key markets worldwide, supporting their innovative technology initiatives, including AI. We’re also focused on expanding our presence in China. By continually enhancing our development and operational efficiency, we ensure that each project is completed on time and offer reliable, high-quality solutions for our customers.

Q: What are Chayora’s strategic plans and future goals?

Tina: The spirit of a “digital craftsman” is all about dedication, persistence, and excellence. At Chayora, this spirit drives us to focus on build-to-suit data centers, commit wholeheartedly to each customer and project, strive for perfection, and foster long-term partnerships.