Data Centers Dissected: Digital Benefits versus Physical Requirements

**This event will be held in person only.

Every time we search for information on the web, send email, stream a video, buy an airline ticket, query a generative AI model, or use an enterprise cloud application, we rely on a massive, invisible engine: the modern data center. As the foundational backbone of our digital economy, these facilities power the applications driving business growth, scientific breakthroughs, personal entertainment and education, and modern societal advancement. Yet, as our collective thirst for computing scale accelerates, so does the physical footprint and resources utilization required to sustain it.

To realize the benefits of ongoing technology advances in work, education, and play, we must address the facts of its material costs. This session will explore the benefits, impacts, costs, and challenges of the modern data center ecosystem, stripping away both the marketing hype and the alarmist headlines to examine the technologies, economics, and real-world impacts of digital infrastructure. We will confront the tough questions surrounding power grid strain and water consumption while showcasing how forward-thinking tech leaders are engineering their way out of a resource crisis.

Join us for an open conversation about the physical foundation of our digital future. This event is designed for a pro-technology crowd that isn't afraid to look at the math, tackle the bottlenecks, and discuss what it really takes to power the next era of human ingenuity responsibly.

Agenda

​5:15-6:15 p.m. In-person Networking

6:15-7:30 p.m. Presentation

7:30-7:45 p.m. Q&A

​8:00 p.m. Networking

Attendance Instructions

In-person

Join us at The Center for Government and Civic Service, ACC Rio Grande: Building 3000 where you will be checked in at the front. Parking map !

In-person attendees, please join us from 5:15 to 6:15 for networking and snacks. We look forward to chatting with you face-to-face!