The UK stands at a critical juncture, armed with the skills, creativity, and funding for artificial intelligence (AI) to position us as a top player on the world stage.

But there’s one key aspect that’s frequently overlooked in the conversation: infrastructure. I’m not talking about physical structures such as roads or bridges, but rather the digital infrastructure - the advanced data centers, connectivity, and computing capabilities that are essential for AI.

As we establish the UK as a leader in the worldwide AI competition, it’s evident that our digital infrastructure will be the deciding factor. The transformative power of AI for industries is within reach, but to seize the opportunities and maintain a leading position, we must ensure that our foundations are robust and forward-thinking.

The future of AI is now, and many underestimate the scale of the infrastructure it demands. It's not just about advanced algorithms and human expertise.

AI thrives on massive data flows, which must be meticulously stored, processed, and analyzed in real time. The truth is traditional infrastructure is ill-equipped to handle the sheer computational power required to train and deploy AI models.

AI is finding its way into an ever-increasing number of applications, from self-driving cars to real-time financial algorithms and advanced medical diagnostics. These new applications are incredibly demanding and, over the years, have become a driving force behind the development of low-latency, high-capacity data centers. To support the growth of AI, we need facilities that aren’t only powerful but also energy-efficient, because sustainability is non-negotiable.

Anticipating AI’s Impact early

At Digital Realty we recognized early on that AI was more than just a trend; it was a transformative technology. In the early 2000s, we observed the burgeoning interest in machine learning and deep learning and began to anticipate the impact AI could have on various industries. By 2017, we had developed a framework to help our customers deploy AI, informed by the experiences of early adopters in industries like healthcare, finance, and logistics.

We knew that data was going to be at the heart of this AI revolution, and our mission became clear: help businesses manage, store, and derive value from their data. That focus has shaped our strategy ever since. This year, for example, we hosted one of the world’s most powerful AI supercomputers in Copenhagen, and we expanded our collaboration with Oracle to boost AI adoption in enterprises across industries. Over the last two years alone, we’ve supported more than 60 AI-driven projects, working with companies to unlock the power of AI.

This brings me to our most recent investment here in the UK: our Slough data center campus, which we acquired for $200 million in July.

Our Slough campus has two data centers with a combined capacity of 15 megawatts (MW), strong connectivity, and room to grow. The campus is already a major connectivity hub for more than 150 businesses, including technology and financial services companies, which are using over 2,000 cross-connects to meet their needs. We believe the Slough campus will become an even more critical asset as AI workloads increase in the UK.

What’s important here is that we’ve designed these data centers with AI in mind. We’re making sure businesses have the flexibility and scalability they need to grow as AI’s role in their operations expands.

With our modular design philosophy, we can cater to a variety of deployment types, giving companies room to scale their AI infrastructure without having to overhaul everything every few years.

So, where does this leave the UK in the global AI race? We have both the skill and the ingenuity. We're now building the infrastructure, with investments like our Slough campus, needed to support the next generation of AI-driven growth.

Over years of witnessing technological change, I’ve learned that it's those who invest early in the right infrastructure that are the ones who come out ahead. AI is no different. As companies across the UK continue to embrace AI, they’ll need the support of high-capacity, scalable, and energy-efficient data centers.

That’s where we come in. At Digital Realty, we’ve always been committed to helping our customers navigate major technological shifts, from the rise of the web to the mobile revolution and beyond. Now, we’re doing the same with AI, providing the digital backbone businesses need to thrive.

If the UK is to solidify its position as a leader in AI technology, we must continue investing in infrastructure that can handle the demands of tomorrow’s AI breakthroughs. The Slough campus is just the beginning. The future of AI is here, and it’s our job to make sure the UK has everything it needs to lead.

With its AI-ready infrastructure, Slough is designed to support high-density workloads, making it ideal for companies deploying advanced AI and machine learning applications at scale. Its scalable design allows for dense server deployments, ensuring businesses are equipped to handle evolving AI demands.

The facility also offers robust connectivity and direct access to major cloud service providers, facilitating low-latency operations and enabling seamless integration into hybrid or multi-cloud environments.

Consistent with our ambitious commitment to sustainability, our new Slough campus is powered entirely by renewable energy, aligning with our broader practice of matching 100 percent of the energy used in our European portfolio with renewable sources and our goal of achieving carbon neutrality for our European portfolio by 2030.

This strategic acquisition further solidifies Digital Realty’s standing in the UK as a premier provider of digital infrastructure and a prime facilitator of AI innovation.

Meeting the high-density and cooling requirements of AI

AI’s impact on infrastructure is something we anticipated from the start. Over years of investment, we have carefully engineered our data centers to meet the specific requirements of AI. Today, we offer high-density deployments capable of supporting up to 150 kilowatts (kW) per rack. This ensures that businesses engaging in AI workloads can grow their operations without concern for power or space limitations.

AI poses not only a power-related challenge but also concerns about the heat it produces. Our advanced cooling solutions have been designed to effectively manage the significant heat generated by AI systems. With over 170 data centers worldwide, including numerous locations in Europe, more than half are equipped with direct liquid cooling technology.

This approach enables us to maintain the optimal performance of AI systems while also decreasing their energy usage. As sustainability becomes a growing priority, this innovation isn’t just a bonus, but a crucial requirement.