NVIDIA's Role in AI, Energy, and the Data Center Evolution
In this episode, Raymond Hawkins, Chief Revenue Officer at Compass Datacenters, sits down with Mark Spieler, Senior Managing Director of Global Energy Industry at NVIDIA. Mark shares his unique background, from growing up in Minnesota and working at Cray Research and Silicon Graphics, to a 13-year tenure at Halliburton across commercial, finance, and mergers and acquisitions roles, before joining NVIDIA in 2019 to lead their global energy business.The conversation explores the rising impact of AI on energy consumption, positioning data centers as the new “AI factories”—manufacturing knowledge with data and electrons as raw materials. Mark discusses Nvidia’s evolution from gaming hardware to high-performance computing and AI platforms, unlocking efficiencies and new capabilities. Key topics include energy efficiency gains in AI workloads, the future of nuclear power and SMRs for data centers, grid optimization, and the transformative economic and social potential of AI. The episode offers deep insights into the intersection of technology, energy, and the data center industry’s future.Timestamped Overview00:00 Intro & Marc’s Background03:44 Corporate Transition to SGI08:26 Career Transition: Halliburton to NVIDIA12:04 From Gaming to AI Platform Leader16:03 AI Empowering Industries, Not Replacing17:47 AI Enhancing Legal Profession Tasks22:44 AI Cost Decline and Adoption Shift23:33 Data Center Consolidation and AI Efficiency27:53 NVIDIA’s Energy Solutions Collaboration30:36 Nuclear Energy: Safe and Underappreciated34:21 How NVIDIA is Innovating Energy Solutions
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The AI Boom, Power Crunch and the Rise of Data Ecosystems
In this episode, Raymond Hawkins welcomes back Bill (Vitaly) Kleyman—CEO and founder of Apolo, industry thought leader, and data center prognosticator extraordinaire. Bill shares his personal journey, from immigrating to the U.S. as a Ukrainian refugee fleeing the Soviet Union, to becoming a leading voice in tech innovation and AI. The conversation opens with reflections on Ukraine’s ongoing conflict and its impact on Bill’s family.The discussion pivots to the explosive growth and renaissance in the data center sector, driven by surging AI demand. Raymond and Bill cover topics such as power constraints, rack density, the rise of liquid cooling, and the shift toward AI-powered solutions for enterprise and public sector challenges. Bill also explores practical AI use cases Apollo is delivering, from improved municipal services and sentiment analysis to cutting-edge applications in agriculture and finance. The episode offers an energetic, forward-looking perspective on the future of data center infrastructure and AI.Note: This conversation was recorded in June; references to the Ukraine–Russia conflict reflect the situation at that time and may not fully reflect the present moment.Timestamped Overview00:00 Intro & Bill’s Background07:10 Ukraine/Russia: Defending Against Constant Assaults12:54 Honor Ukraine's Security Guarantees14:02 Ukraine Conflict Outcome Scenarios22:23 Military Concerns Over Peace Deal25:14 Untapped Potential of Generative AI26:38 Exploring AI's Practical Applications31:26 AI & Data Centers' Power Demand33:27 Powerful Shift in Data Centers36:45 Leveling the Corporate Tech Playing Field42:09 Reaching Next-Level Data Center Efficiency45:12 AI Usecases 54:55 Scalable, Meaningful Infrastructure Partnership56:21 Democratizing AI: Expanding Possibilities
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From Inertia to Innovation: What Data Centers Need to Know About Grid Health
In this episode, Raymond Hawkins, Chief Revenue Officer at Compass Datacenters, sits down with Marc Borrett, co-founder and CEO of Reactive Technologies. Marc brings a fascinating background spanning electronics innovation, telecom engineering, and the energy sector. Having launched technology ventures from battery chargers to Star Wars toys, Marc’s journey led him from semiconductors to tackling the evolving challenges of modern power grids.The conversation explores the global energy transition, focusing on how the shift from traditional, fossil-fuel-based generation to renewables has transformed grid dynamics. Marc explains the increasing complexity of grid management, the need for real-time data, and the importance of measuring and maintaining grid stability in a world of distributed, less predictable energy sources. The dialogue delves into Reactive’s unique approach—leveraging grid physics to both communicate with and monitor assets at the grid’s edge—and how understanding grid strength and stability can shape smarter investments, operational decisions, and data center siting in an energy-constrained world.Timestamped Overview00:00 Entrepreneurial Journey in Electronics03:46 Chip Innovation Sparks NFC Revolution09:55 Energy Management for Carrefour14:27 Grid Communication Challenges Explored18:53 Power Station Grid Stabilization Explained21:43 Grid Stability in Energy Transition25:58 Optimizing Grid Signal Integration28:44 Accurate Real-Time Grid Measurement33:08 Time-of-Use Tariffs & Demand Trends34:30 U.S. Energy Demand: Duck Curve
Data Center Industry Trends: What's on the Horizon from PTC '25
Host Raymond Hawkins is live from the picturesque PTC 2025 in Honolulu, Hawaii, joined by three seasoned industry experts: Martin Antunez from LATAM Entry LLC, David Liggit from datacenterHawk, and Barro Luitjes from KevlinX.Martin, the founder and CEO of LATAM Entry LLC, provides insights into the Latin American data center ecosystem, focusing on subsea cables, land developers, and fiber providers. The discussion highlights the region's fast-growing market, the substantial investments in infrastructure, and the challenges like energy tariffs and government regulation.David Liggit, founder and CEO of datacenterHawk, offers a comprehensive view of the North American data center market. The conversation explores the unprecedented growth driven by AI, emerging secondary and tertiary markets, and the importance of holistic strategies for power and community relationships.Barro Luitjes, strategy head at KevlinX, discusses the European data center landscape, emphasizing the shift to underserved regions due to regulatory constraints in traditional markets. He also talks about the importance of educating stakeholders and partnering with power providers for sustainable growth.Timestamped Overview00:00 Intro & Driving Data Center Growth LATAM04:42 Bridging US and Latin America07:42 Streamlining Deal-Making Insights09:33 Navy Influence: From Law to Finance14:59 Colombia's AI Implementation Bill Insights16:56 AI-Driven Infrastructure Expansion21:21 Regulation-Driven Market Shifts24:22 European Employment Strategy Explained28:16 Power Partnerships in Industry29:36 Energy Strategy Development in Queretaro34:34 Data Center Benefits and Opportunities37:19 Optimizing Europe's Data Center Strategy
Hosted by Compass Chief Customer Officer, Raymond Hawkins, Not Your Father’s Data Center doesn’t only talk about data centers, but anything and everything of interest in our industry.