Webinar: Q&A: Lessons from the Field – Real-World AI Infrastructure & Operations Challenges

Presentation Title:
Q&A: Lessons from the Field – Real-World AI Infrastructure & Operations Challenges

Presenters:
Madeleine Kudritzki, Vice President Professional Service Program Management, Uptime Institute (moderator)
Chris Brown, Chief Technical Officer, Uptime Institute

Summary:

AI workloads are driving a fundamental shift in data center design and operations. Higher power densities, new cooling paradigms (direct liquid cooling and immersion), more aggressive serviceability requirements, and a rapidly evolving vendor and skills landscape are forcing enterprises and colocation operators to adapt. This webinar dissects real operational challenges that Uptime Institute technical consultants have observed in live AI deployments — including equipment film/contamination issues, workforce skill gaps, vendor availability and lead times, serviceability tradeoffs, and fluid/water quality and filtration requirements — and provides practical mitigations, operational playbooks, and policy recommendations.