AI and the Data CenterJose Ruiz, VP, Engineering

Hype, Fear and Where We Are

• We are a long, long, long, way from SkyNet

• The possibilities are legion

• But don’t believe everything that you hear

• Ex: Your job isn’t going away tomorrow

• AI is still in its infancy

• Including within the data center

• Current focus is on efficiencies

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What is AI?

• Artificial Intelligence is actually an “umbrella” term

• Three components:

• Neural networks

• Machine learning

• Deep learning

• The AI “stack”

• Higher level functional capability as you move up the

stack

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The Stack

Deep learning

Machine learning

Neural networks

• Deep learning• Analyzes data at different

abstractions• Uses multiple neural network

layers

• Machine learning• Learn through absorption of

information• Refine through algorithms to

determine “optimal” solution

• Neural networks• Computer to look like a brain

• Multiple nodes

• Collectively can be “taught” to solve higher level problems

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The Stack in Action

• “Intelligence” builds as you move up the stack• Learnings become more

global

• Information gathered in neural network nodes

• Higher order patterns learned at machine learning level

• Complicated data is analyzed by breaking it into component parts

• Long iterative process

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Deep learning

Machine learning

Neural networks

Limitations

• Nuances

• Difficulty with inferences

• Don’t recognize causal relationships

• Ex: Symptoms and disease

• Doesn’t have “common sense”

• Couldn’t predict and solve a problem based on activities with out

detailed algorithms

• Would limit the availability of “off the shelf” solutions

• Now, not necessarily forever

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(Someday)

AI in the Data Center

• Currently company specific

• Province of the big boys:

• Google, etc.

• Due to long ”learning cycle”

• Example:

• Google has used AI to reduce energy use by 40%

• Analysis of large volumes of data

• Energy used per component, outside air temp, etc.

• They were capturing all along

• “Taught” by algorithm to analyze interplay between variables

• Determined optimal relationships

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The Future of AI in the Data Center

• Expect ”productized” applications within 5 years

• Will be subtle

• Incorporated into existing offerings

• Ex: DCIM

• 80-90% intelligence “built-in”

• Customer will be responsible for fine tuning

• Early focus

• Energy usage and efficiency

• Cooling

• Server optimization

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Summary

• Artificial intelligence is an umbrella term

• Progressive functionality via stack

• Neural networks

• Machine learning

• Deep learning

• In its infancy for data centers

• End user proprietary

• “Productization” is coming

• But not for awhile

• Will be subtle

• Aid in increasing automation

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