Data Centers Must Disappear into the Background

Sean James, a distinguished engineer at Nvidia, has spent over two decades designing and building data centers. He wants them to disappear from view, becoming as unremarkable as water mains and electrical substations. In his opinion, the most profound technologies are those that blend into daily life.

Data centers have become increasingly visible in recent years, with concerns about their energy usage and impact on the grid. James recalls a time when data centers were designed to be invisible, always online and powered up. He notes that today's focus is on making them efficient and sustainable, but they still require significant resources.

James has worked at Microsoft for 25 years, designing and building data centers. He previously noted in his own writings that his goal was to 'disappear the data center.' At Nvidia, James' team has developed a design that uses high-temperature coolant, eliminating the need for cooling towers and reducing water usage.

James believes that data centers should be designed to be grid assets, rather than liabilities. They should be able to flex their capacity and help stabilize the grid during times of stress. He also notes that modern data centers are being designed with sustainability in mind, using fewer resources and generating less waste.