Latest news with #NorthernVirginia
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Data centers are at the heart of the AI revolution and here's how they are changing
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. As demand for AI and cloud computing soars, pundits are suggesting that the world is teetering on the edge of a potential data center crunch—where capacity can't keep up with the digital load. Concerns and the hype have led to plummeting vacancy rates: in Northern Virginia, the world's largest data center market, for example, vacancy rates have fallen below 1%. Echoing past fears of "peak oil" and "peak food," the spotlight now turns to "peak data." But rather than stall, the industry is evolving—adopting modular builds, renewable energy, and AI-optimized systems to redefine how tomorrow's data centers will power an increasingly digital world. Future data centers will increasingly move away from massive centralized facilities alone, embracing smaller, modular, and edge-based data centers. The sector is already splitting out in hyperscale data centers one end and smaller, edge-oriented facilities on the other. Smaller, modular and edge data centers can be built in a few months and tend to be located closer to end users to reduce latency. Unlike the huge campuses of hyperscale with facilities often covering millions of square feet these smaller data centers are sometimes built into repurposed buildings such as abandoned shopping malls, empty office towers, and factories in disuse, helping requalify ex-industrial brownfield areas. Leaner centers can be rapidly deployed, located closer to end users for reduced latency, and tailored to specific workloads such as autonomous vehicles and AR. To address energy demands and grid constraints, future data centers will increasingly be co-located with power generation facilities, such as nuclear or renewable plants. This reduces reliance on strained grid infrastructure and improves energy stability. Some companies are investing in nuclear power. Nuclear power provides massive, always-on power that is also free of carbon emissions. Modular reactors are being considered to overcome grid bottlenecks, long wait times for power delivery, and local utility limits. Similarly, they will be increasingly built in areas where the climate reduces operational strain. Lower cooling costs and access to water enables the use of energy-efficient liquid-cooling systems instead of air-cooling. We will be seeing more data centers pop up in places like Scandinavia and the Pacific Northwest. Artificial intelligence will play a major role in managing and optimizing data center operations, particularly for cooling and energy use. For instance, reinforcement learning algorithms are being used to cut energy use by optimizing cooling systems, achieving up to 21% energy savings. Similarly, fixes like replacing legacy servers with more energy-efficient machines, with newer chips or thermal design, can significantly expand compute capacity, without requiring new premises. Instead of only building new facilities, future capacity will be expanded by refreshing hardware with newer, denser, and more energy-efficient servers. This allows for more compute power in the same footprint, enabling quick scaling to meet surges in demand, particularly for AI workloads. These power-hungry centers are also putting a strain on electricity grids. Future data centers will leverage new solutions such as load shifting to optimize energy efficiency. Google is already partnering with PJM Interconnection, the largest electrical grid operator in North America, to leverage AI to automate tasks such as viability assessments of connection applications, thus enhancing grid efficiency. Issues are typically not due to lack of energy but insufficient transmission capacity. In addition to this, fortunately, data centers are usually running well below full capacity specifically to accommodate future growth. This added capacity will prove useful as facilities accommodate unexpected traffic spikes, and rapid scaling needs without requiring new constructions. Future data center locations will be chosen based on climate efficiency, grid access, and political zoning policies but also availability of AI-skilled workforce. Data centers aren't server rooms—they're among the most complex IT infrastructure projects in existence, requiring seamless power, cooling, high-speed networking, and top-tier security. Building them involves a wide range of experts, from engineers to logistics teams, coordinating everything from semiconductors to industrial HVAC systems. Data centers will thus drive up the demand for high-performance networking, thermal, power redundancy, and advanced cooling engineers. It's clear that the recent surge in infrastructure demand to power GPUs and high-performance computing, for example, is being driven primarily by AI. In fact, training massive models like OpenAI's GPT-4 or Google's Gemini requires immense computational resources, consuming GPU cycles at an astonishing rate. These training runs often last weeks and involve thousands of specialized chips, drawing on power and cooling infrastructure. But the story doesn't end there: even when a model is trained, running these models in real-time to generate responses, make predictions, or process user inputs (so-called AI inference) adds a new layer of energy demand. While not as intense as training, inference must happen at scale and with low latency, which means it's placing a steady, ongoing load on cloud infrastructure. However, here's a nuance that's frequently glossed over in much of the hype: AI workloads don't scale in a straight-forward, linear fashion: doubling the number of GPUs or increasing the size of a model will not always lead to proportionally better results. Experience has shown that as models grow in size, the performance gains actually may taper off or introduce new challenges, such as brittleness, hallucination, or the need for more careful fine-tuning. In short, the current AI boom is real, but it may not be boundless. Understanding the limitations of scale and the nonlinear nature of progress is crucial for policymakers, investors, and businesses alike as they plan for data center demand that is shaped by AI exponential growth. The data center industry therefore stands at a pivotal crossroads. Far from buckling under the weight of AI tools and cloud-driven demand, however, it's adapting at speed through smarter design, greener power, and more efficient hardware. From modular builds in repurposed buildings to AI-optimized cooling systems and co-location with power plants, the future of data infrastructure will be leaner, more distributed, and strategically sited. As data becomes the world's most valuable resource, the facilities that store, process, and protect it are becoming smarter, greener, and more essential than ever. We list the best colocation providers. This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here:
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Data centers are at the heart of the AI revolution and here's how they are changing
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. As demand for AI and cloud computing soars, pundits are suggesting that the world is teetering on the edge of a potential data center crunch—where capacity can't keep up with the digital load. Concerns and the hype have led to plummeting vacancy rates: in Northern Virginia, the world's largest data center market, for example, vacancy rates have fallen below 1%. Echoing past fears of "peak oil" and "peak food," the spotlight now turns to "peak data." But rather than stall, the industry is evolving—adopting modular builds, renewable energy, and AI-optimized systems to redefine how tomorrow's data centers will power an increasingly digital world. Future data centers will increasingly move away from massive centralized facilities alone, embracing smaller, modular, and edge-based data centers. The sector is already splitting out in hyperscale data centers one end and smaller, edge-oriented facilities on the other. Smaller, modular and edge data centers can be built in a few months and tend to be located closer to end users to reduce latency. Unlike the huge campuses of hyperscale with facilities often covering millions of square feet these smaller data centers are sometimes built into repurposed buildings such as abandoned shopping malls, empty office towers, and factories in disuse, helping requalify ex-industrial brownfield areas. Leaner centers can be rapidly deployed, located closer to end users for reduced latency, and tailored to specific workloads such as autonomous vehicles and AR. To address energy demands and grid constraints, future data centers will increasingly be co-located with power generation facilities, such as nuclear or renewable plants. This reduces reliance on strained grid infrastructure and improves energy stability. Some companies are investing in nuclear power. Nuclear power provides massive, always-on power that is also free of carbon emissions. Modular reactors are being considered to overcome grid bottlenecks, long wait times for power delivery, and local utility limits. Similarly, they will be increasingly built in areas where the climate reduces operational strain. Lower cooling costs and access to water enables the use of energy-efficient liquid-cooling systems instead of air-cooling. We will be seeing more data centers pop up in places like Scandinavia and the Pacific Northwest. Artificial intelligence will play a major role in managing and optimizing data center operations, particularly for cooling and energy use. For instance, reinforcement learning algorithms are being used to cut energy use by optimizing cooling systems, achieving up to 21% energy savings. Similarly, fixes like replacing legacy servers with more energy-efficient machines, with newer chips or thermal design, can significantly expand compute capacity, without requiring new premises. Instead of only building new facilities, future capacity will be expanded by refreshing hardware with newer, denser, and more energy-efficient servers. This allows for more compute power in the same footprint, enabling quick scaling to meet surges in demand, particularly for AI workloads. These power-hungry centers are also putting a strain on electricity grids. Future data centers will leverage new solutions such as load shifting to optimize energy efficiency. Google is already partnering with PJM Interconnection, the largest electrical grid operator in North America, to leverage AI to automate tasks such as viability assessments of connection applications, thus enhancing grid efficiency. Issues are typically not due to lack of energy but insufficient transmission capacity. In addition to this, fortunately, data centers are usually running well below full capacity specifically to accommodate future growth. This added capacity will prove useful as facilities accommodate unexpected traffic spikes, and rapid scaling needs without requiring new constructions. Future data center locations will be chosen based on climate efficiency, grid access, and political zoning policies but also availability of AI-skilled workforce. Data centers aren't server rooms—they're among the most complex IT infrastructure projects in existence, requiring seamless power, cooling, high-speed networking, and top-tier security. Building them involves a wide range of experts, from engineers to logistics teams, coordinating everything from semiconductors to industrial HVAC systems. Data centers will thus drive up the demand for high-performance networking, thermal, power redundancy, and advanced cooling engineers. It's clear that the recent surge in infrastructure demand to power GPUs and high-performance computing, for example, is being driven primarily by AI. In fact, training massive models like OpenAI's GPT-4 or Google's Gemini requires immense computational resources, consuming GPU cycles at an astonishing rate. These training runs often last weeks and involve thousands of specialized chips, drawing on power and cooling infrastructure. But the story doesn't end there: even when a model is trained, running these models in real-time to generate responses, make predictions, or process user inputs (so-called AI inference) adds a new layer of energy demand. While not as intense as training, inference must happen at scale and with low latency, which means it's placing a steady, ongoing load on cloud infrastructure. However, here's a nuance that's frequently glossed over in much of the hype: AI workloads don't scale in a straight-forward, linear fashion: doubling the number of GPUs or increasing the size of a model will not always lead to proportionally better results. Experience has shown that as models grow in size, the performance gains actually may taper off or introduce new challenges, such as brittleness, hallucination, or the need for more careful fine-tuning. In short, the current AI boom is real, but it may not be boundless. Understanding the limitations of scale and the nonlinear nature of progress is crucial for policymakers, investors, and businesses alike as they plan for data center demand that is shaped by AI exponential growth. The data center industry therefore stands at a pivotal crossroads. Far from buckling under the weight of AI tools and cloud-driven demand, however, it's adapting at speed through smarter design, greener power, and more efficient hardware. From modular builds in repurposed buildings to AI-optimized cooling systems and co-location with power plants, the future of data infrastructure will be leaner, more distributed, and strategically sited. As data becomes the world's most valuable resource, the facilities that store, process, and protect it are becoming smarter, greener, and more essential than ever. We list the best colocation providers. This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here:
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
8 Real Estate Trends To Ride Now To Improve Your Home's Resale Value for 2026
Anyone hoping to sell a home in 2026 should already be thinking about ways to improve and upgrade their property to make it more salable. With interest rates remaining high, plus tariff impacts making everyday costs of living more expensive, homebuyers may be pickier than ever. Find Out: Read Next: Andrew Draayer, a real estate investor at Andrew the Homebuyer, warned sellers that 'homeowners' wallets are taking a hit from tariffs, tariffs, tariffs.' This means they're less interested in spending their own money on all the little items for a new home, from bathroom vanities to light fixtures and garden equipment. Sellers are going to have to eat more costs to find the highest bidder. Draayer and Darren Robertson, a realtor and founder of Northern Virginia Home Pro, offered eight real estate trends to ride now so you can get the best return on your investment next year. The reality of buyers fleeing the market and more homes going up for sale means sellers must not only be competitive in their pricing but also be the 'best house on the block,' Draayer said. The key to increasing your home's value 'is to over improve.' He said that simple touches like new finishes won't cut it. 'Go above and beyond with things like a high-end washer and dryer, upgraded refrigerator and modern blinds. You need to deliver the most move-in ready product possible to stand out from the crowd.' Be Aware: Expect to spend the bulk of your money on a renovation on big-ticket items such as roofs, windows and HVAC systems, Draayer said. 'It's a huge selling point to be able to tell a buyer: 'You won't have to worry about replacing your air conditioner for 10-plus years.' People are also sick of spending money on formal dining rooms or huge vaulted ceilings that don't contribute to everyday living, Draayer said. People want 'usable space,' such as 'multipurpose spaces for an office, playroom or homeschooling room.' The desire for more usable space may play a greater role in buyers' desire for open floor plans in this market, Robertson said. 'Many people want more options when it comes to arranging interiors as they please,' he explained. They want them clean and simple, too. 'Aesthetic trends still seem to be firmly rooted in minimalist and sleek designs, with muted colors, clean lines and open space layouts designed to maximize natural light all proving to raise the value of otherwise average homes,' he said. Smart home integration is another big selling point, according to Robertson, with the rise of more sophisticated app-based security systems, voice-controlled infrastructure and smart HVAC systems. He said as many as 3 in 5 homeowners are expected to be using such devices by the end of this year. If you're going to fully renovate any part of your home, make it the kitchen, Robertson said. 'Kitchen renovations, as always, are expected to continue offering great ROI in the coming years, especially with tariffs potentially raising the price of materials like stone countertops and flooring.' He recommended opting for evergreen features like natural stone countertops and kitchen islands in case the cost of raw materials increases any further. While in some cases it might make sense to add energy-efficient features like solar panels and smart energy systems, some buyers 'are a little cautious of potential maintenance requirements,' Robertson said. Generally speaking, he suggested any other efforts to reduce energy consumption will most likely be received positively with energy costs continuing to rise. Structural and functional improvements should be prioritized in this market, as well, Robertson said, as many buyers are looking to shield themselves from future costs at a time when the cost of living is expected to continue rising. While cosmetic improvements 'will get people through the door for viewings,' he said most buyers will jump at the first sign of any structural uncertainty or long-standing damage. It's still worth doing simple things like landscaping, powerwashing exterior features and general decluttering, because they can also raise a home's value, but they may not have the appeal of some of the more significant renovations, he said. In general, Draayer said that with high inflation, high interest rates, increasing supply and low buyer demand, 'you've got to shell out the big bucks to sell right now.' He said sellers should brace for spending more and selling for less than they would have this time last year. More From GOBankingRates Mark Cuban Says Trump's Executive Order To Lower Medication Costs Has a 'Real Shot' -- Here's Why I'm a Retired Boomer: 6 Bills I Canceled This Year That Were a Waste of Money This article originally appeared on 8 Real Estate Trends To Ride Now To Improve Your Home's Resale Value for 2026
Forbes
3 days ago
- General
- Forbes
A Successful Politician's Secret Sauce
Gerald E. 'Gerry' Connolly | March 30, 1950 – May 21, 2025 I was honored and humbled this week to eulogize a lifelong friend who led a very distinguished life as a towering political figure on the local, regional and national level, Congressman Gerry Connolly of Northern Virginia. Gerry was an uncommon politician, especially in these days of rancor and division. He was uncommon not because of his extraordinary contributions to the Washington, DC, region which undoubtedly prompted the voters of Virginia's 11th Congressional District to return him to office with large popular margins for 16 years of uninterrupted service. Surely, his legacy of accomplishments has left indelible marks on the community he served. But the incredible outpouring of love and support on display at services for Gerry this week were surely more about the 'ordinary' marks he has left on those of us fortunate to have known him and experienced the way he cared for people and his passionate pursuit of meeting their needs. The red thread that ran throughout all of Gerry's life was his commitment to purpose and principle. Gerry appreciated that his mission, his calling, his vocation was to meet the needs of all his constituents, not least those underserved. He never sought the spotlight for himself. Rather, he used his position of power and influence for others. As he told the Washington Post in 2007, 'When you get power, you have an obligation to exercise it responsibly. But exercise it. Otherwise, why seek it?' Gerry was a fighter, until the very end of his life, but he didn't fight out of gratuitous belligerence. Rather, he was prepared to fight, the right fight, even against insurmountable odds, to achieve what most considered impossible for the benefit of the many. His fierce determination was always driven by purpose and principle. But Gerry's pragmatism and his meticulous preparation for every task he undertook helped yield his accomplishments as a public figure in his many local, county and national leadership roles, leading to his being named the Most Effective Lawmaker of the US House of Representatives by the Center for Effective Lawmaking with a Legislative Effectiveness score for the 117th Congress more than seven times higher than the average member of the House. His passionate pursuit of public service, driven by principle and purpose and not self-aggrandizement, was Gerry's secret sauce. Gerry always carried in his wallet the words of Teddy Roosevelt which pretty much summed up how he approached everything he did in public life: "It is not the critic who counts…. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, who face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly….to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasm…who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." Today's political arena needs more Gerry Connolly's, more men and women of high purpose and deep principle passionately working to deliver for the people. We need more leaders who can meet the challenge Gerry would assert that we should all be proud of the work we do, the person we are, and the difference we make.
Wall Street Journal
3 days ago
- General
- Wall Street Journal
Intelligence Staffer Critical of Trump Charged With Seeking to Pass Classified Documents to Foreign Government
A Defense Intelligence Agency employee was charged with attempting to pass classified intelligence to a foreign government, offering to spy because he didn't agree 'with the values' of the Trump administration, the Justice Department said. Nathan Vilas Laatsch, a civilian information technology staffer at DIA, was arrested in Northern Virginia Thursday after a three-month Federal Bureau of Investigation investigation during which he allegedly left a thumb drive containing classified documents at a public park for pickup by a 'friendly' foreign government.
