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AI Is Pushing Data Centre Infrastructure Towards Integrated, Prefabricated Systems

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Alex Brew, VP Regional Sales EMEA at Vertiv, sees AI as a force reshaping not only compute, but the physical infrastructure required to support it. Higher GPU densities, rising power requirements and increasingly demanding cooling needs are pushing data-centre operators to rethink how facilities are designed, built and deployed.

The shift is moving beyond traditional, site-built models towards more prefabricated and integrated infrastructure, bringing power, cooling and white-space systems together while shortening deployment timelines. At the same time, enterprise adoption of AI is broadening demand beyond hyperscalers and colocation providers, creating new requirements for infrastructure that can support higher-density workloads while remaining resilient, scalable and efficient.

In hotter markets such as the Middle East, these pressures place even greater emphasis on thermal management and the need to adapt cooling strategies to local operating conditions.

In conversation with Integrator Media at the Vertiv week, Brew discusses how these changes are influencing customer requirements, accelerating the move towards system-level infrastructure and reshaping the next generation of AI-ready data centres.



What is changing most significantly in the data-centre market as AI adoption accelerates?

The technology and infrastructure required to deliver AI factories and this next generation of facilities are changing significantly. Continued evolution in GPU architecture is driving greater infrastructure density, and we are also seeing mass adoption of newer technologies such as liquid cooling.

But one of the biggest changes is the shift from traditional deployment models towards more prefabricated, off-site production-based methodologies for constructing data centres.

For us, this is critical because of the time-to-token element — the speed it enables without compromising on quality. From a sustainability standpoint, it is also broadly recognised as a more progressive construction technique.

It allows customers to deploy faster and realise returns on their investments sooner, based on the token output they can generate thereafter.

We are also seeing Vertiv increasingly recognised not simply as an industrial manufacturer or product supplier, but as a system-level integration and infrastructure partner. Customers are bringing us into projects at the very inception of the idea — for example, when they first decide they want to stand up an AI factory.

What are customers looking for when they talk about AI-ready infrastructure?

We are experiencing growth across markets and product lines, but there is particular acceleration around infrastructure solutions and the move towards prefabricated construction.

This brings more of our products together into a system-level offering. We talked about power modules, and we also looked at the SmartRun system, where the power train and thermal chain converge into a prefabricated white-space infrastructure block.

We are seeing significant demand closely tied to AI-factory-type data-centre deployments and the colocation market.

What is also interesting is the demand coming from the enterprise space. Enterprises increasingly want to realise AI in-house, and that is creating new infrastructure requirements that we are also catering for.

Does that challenge look different in hotter markets such as the Middle East?

In warmer markets, the constraint is actually less about the power itself and more about the thermal chain.

When you look at the heat-rejection plant, you need to consider different and more appropriate technologies for hotter climates in order to expel heat and deal with more extreme ambient conditions.

That becomes a particularly important part of infrastructure design in these markets.

With power availability becoming a major constraint globally, could on-site generation become more important for data centres?

On-site power generation is a major topic at the moment.

Part of that is because of the time it can take in certain markets to obtain the required permits and access to power. But on-site generation can also help facilities operate more efficiently.

It can provide a better way of addressing power requirements, particularly when there are load spikes, rather than relying entirely on the grid.

One important thing to understand is that it is inherently in the operator’s interest to make the data-centre system as efficient as possible.

Is the market moving towards complete infrastructure projects, or is there still strong demand for individual products?

It is a healthy mix.

There are obviously large-scale projects that we are working on, but we also have a very strong service business. At a product level, we continue to supply other parts of the market where our technologies are integrated into broader system architectures.

The shift towards system-level infrastructure is important, but that does not mean the individual product and service businesses disappear.

As GPU densities rise, how are liquid-cooling requirements evolving?

The evolution of GPUs is driving the requirement for more and more liquid cooling.

We are now also seeing liquid cooling interface with different parts of the IT stack rather than simply the GPUs themselves.

What is important to understand is the breadth of capability required to deploy liquid cooling at scale. We are talking about interfacing liquids directly with IT, and historically those two things have not operated in such close proximity.

That has changed rapidly with the rise of AI.

We have now deployed a significant number of installations globally and built substantial experience through our service organisation. It is not just about deploying coolant distribution units (CDUs); it also involves the secondary fluid network and taking a complete system-level approach.

That broader capability is where customers increasingly see the value we can bring to their projects.

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Shure Named a Leader in the 2026 IDC MarketScape for AI-Enabled Smart Conference Room Hardware for Hybrid Meetings 

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Shure has been named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide AI-Enabled Smart Conference Room Hardware for Hybrid Meetings 2026 Vendor Assessment. Building on more than 100 years of audio expertise, Shure helps organizations equip and manage modern meeting spaces while delivering the high-quality speech capture that AI-powered transcription, speaker attribution and meeting summaries rely on. 

“Shure’s position as a Leader in this IDC MarketScape reflects how far the company has expanded beyond its audio heritage,” said Gala Spasova, Senior Research Manager, IDC. “Shure has built a comprehensive workplace collaboration portfolio spanning audio, video, compute and cloud management, while maintaining a clear strength in the complex environments where consistent speech capture and intelligibility matter most are critical.” 

Shure brings audio, video, compute and ShureCloud device management together in a portfolio that works across the collaboration platforms organizations already use and trust. Shure solutions support Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet and Cisco Webex. 

Shure Recognized for Strengths 

The report cited the following strengths for Shure:  

  • Shure solutions are well suited for challenging audio environments, including large, complex, and mission-critical deployments where consistent speech capture, scalable coverage, and intelligibility are critical to the meeting experience and downstream AI outcomes. 
  • Real-time talker-positional data can trigger and enhance camera tracking in partner video systems, enabling organizations to improve speaker-focused video experiences while retaining flexibility across camera vendors. 
  • Microsoft Teams and Zoom run directly on the IntelliMix Room Kits and Foundation System, which supply compute, audio processing, and touch panel together, and the Bar Pro runs Teams on the Microsoft Device Ecosystem Platform, with Shure’s own person-detection and speech-enhancement models on the device 

“We believe Shure’s recognition as a Leader in the IDC MarketScape reflects the progress we’ve made in expanding our role in the hybrid workplace. Enterprise collaboration should be built as a platform, not a collection of individual meeting rooms,” said Sam Sabet, Executive VP and Chief Technology Officer at Shure. “At Shure, we’re building that platform with secure, manageable technology that can scale from an all-in-one collaboration bar to a multi-camera system in a large, complex room. Continuous innovation is part of that approach, with solutions designed to grow with our customers as their technology needs evolve. That gives IT a consistent foundation to scale while providing AI tools the high-quality inputs they need to do their job.”  

When Organizations Should Consider Shure 

According to the IDC MarketScape, organizations should consider Shure when: 

  • You manage a large or complex estate with varied acoustic conditions, and audio quality is a decisive purchasing criterion. You want to maximize the value of meeting AI and recognize that transcription, speaker attribution, summarization, and AI-driven insights depend on the quality of the audio captured in the room. 
  • You want system- and device-level life-cycle management and analytics from the conference room solution supplier, complementing the management capabilities available through your collaboration platform’s console. 

Support Across the Lifecycle 

“The investment doesn’t stop once the technology is installed,” Sabet added. “Customers need to know their systems will continue to perform and that the right support is there when they need it. With warranty coverage available for up to five years and a professional services team working alongside integrators, resellers and managed services providers, we support customers throughout the lifecycle of their collaboration environments.”   

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Nemetschek Group brings new AI-powered Max solutions to the Middle East’s AEC/O sector

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Nemetschek Group, a global leader in Construction AI and one of the world’s leading software providers for the Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operations (AEC/O) and Media industries, has announced the introduction of a new family of premium AI offerings across the Middle East: Archicad Max for architecture, Allplan Max for engineering and Bluebeam Max for construction.

Powered by the Nemetschek Intelligence Platform, the Group’s common AI and data foundation, the three offerings are designed around a shared principle of using AI to reduce repetitive work, make project knowledge and data more accessible, improve quality, and enable professionals to remain in control of key decisions.

The new offerings come as the Middle East continues to advance its ambitious infrastructure, urban development, and smart city programs. By embedding practical AI capabilities within established design, engineering, and construction workflows, the Max offerings can help regional professionals spend less time searching for information, checking models and drawings, and completing routine tasks.

“The Middle East is home to some of the most complex and ambitious infrastructure projects in the world, and the opportunity for AI is not simply to automate more tasks, but to help professionals work with greater clarity, consistency, and confidence,” said Eng. Muayad Simbawa, Managing Director, Middle East, Nemetschek Group. “With the new Max solutions spanning architecture, engineering, and construction, we are bringing practical AI closer to the everyday workflows of the region’s AEC/O community. This can help teams make better use of project information, strengthen collaboration, and focus their expertise where it creates the greatest value.”

One platform, multiple disciplines

Archicad Max, Graphisoft’s new premium Archicad subscription, supports data and AI-driven architectural practices with an agentic AI Assistant that can complete multi-step tasks directly within the Archicad model. Meanwhile, Allplan Max 2027 extends AI across the Nemetschek Group’s engineering portfolio, including Allplan, SCIA, FRILO, RISA and SDS2, supporting connected modelling, analysis and fabrication workflows. And Bluebeam Max, available globally since May 2026, brings AI-powered productivity to construction teams through capabilities such as Smart Review, which helps identify design discrepancies and missing information early; Smart Overlay, which identifies changes across drawing sets; and Magic Markups, which automates repetitive markup and take-off tasks.

“AI in our industry only creates real value when it understands the project, works where professionals work and connects with everything else on the job,” said Julian Geiger, Chief AI Officer of the Nemetschek Group. “With Archicad Max, Allplan Max and Bluebeam Max, we are scaling one AI strategy across design, engineering and construction, built on a shared intelligence platform rather than isolated features. And we are doing it the Nemetschek way: open.”

This openness is central to the Group’s AI strategy. The new offerings are designed to connect across tools, vendors and project partners, drawing on open standards including IFC and supporting interoperability across the building lifecycle. At the same time, professionals retain responsibility for reviewing decisions, reinforcing a human-led approach to AI adoption.

Bluebeam Max and Allplan Max 2027 are available globally, while Archicad Max is available with Archicad 30 and is rolling out by region. Availability, features, subscription packaging and pricing may vary by product and market.

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ASUS Brings “Design You Can Feel” to Dubai Design Week at THEA

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ASUS is bringing its “Design You Can Feel” philosophy to THEA at Dubai Design District from 3–5 November 2026 during Dubai Design Week, transforming the café into an immersive space where visitors can experience ASUS through design, material, colour and lifestyle.

Visit ASUS × THEA during Dubai Design Week to step into the Zenbook experience, explore the latest products hands-on and discover how ASUS is bringing technology into the spaces where people work, create, meet and spend their everyday lives.

Taking centre stage will be the latest ASUS Zenbook 14, showcased in Arctic Blue and Komodo Coral. At the heart of its design is ASUS Ceraluminum™, a signature material that combines the durability of ceramic with the lightweight characteristics of aluminum. The finishes are designed to be seen, touched and experienced, reflecting ASUS’s belief that personal technology should create a more emotional connection with the people who use it.

Beyond Zenbook 14, visitors will also be able to explore the wider ASUS premium line-up and find the right device for their needs — whether they are students looking for everyday portability, creators requiring powerful creative tools, solopreneurs balancing productivity and mobility, or gamers looking for performance on the move.

THEA as part of the experience

Located in the heart of Dubai Design District, THEA brings together contemporary hospitality, French and Mediterranean influences, and a warm café environment. For Dubai Design Week, the venue will become part of the ASUS story itself — combining coffee, hospitality, visual design and hands-on technology in one place.

The activation extends “Design You Can Feel” beyond exhibitions and traditional retail, turning the Zenbook design language into a real-life consumer experience built around discovery, interaction and everyday lifestyle moments.

Visitors who want to continue their ASUS journey can also explore the ASUS UAE eShop, where selected 37th Anniversary offers will be available across the portfolio. The eShop offer complements the physical experience at THEA, giving visitors a simple next step after discovering the products in person.

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