AI's Data Demand Sparks Sustainability Concerns in Data Centers, Seagate Report Reveals

AI demand is causing huge sustainability problems - and hard drives over SSDs could be the answer

Sustainability is recognized, but cost is still more important A new report from Seagate has revealed just how much of an effect artificial intelligence is having on the amount of storage required by data centers, which presents a major sustainability challenge. It found 94.5% said AI had increased their data storage needs, with even more (97%) anticipating AI's growth to impact storage demand even further. However, despite widespread acknowledgement and consideration for the environment, companies are struggling to prioritize it amid rising costs, which tariffs, government objectives and the sheer scarcity of some materials have influenced Nearly 95% of respondents are concerned about environmental impact, says Seagate, but only 3.3% prioritize it in purchasing decisions with many focusing on the total cost of ownership and purchasing costs. Among the key factors putting data centers at risk are high energy consumption (53.5%), raw material requirements (49.5%), physical space constraints (45.5%), infrastructure costs (28.5%) and acquisition costs (27%). "Data centers are under intense scrutiny - not only because they support modern AI workloads, but because they are becoming one of the most energy-intensive sectors of the digital economy," said Seagate SVP of Cloud Marketing, Jason Feist. Seagate envisions energy-efficient technologies playing a wider role in the decarbonization of data centers, reducing energy requirements and hitting other targets at the same time. Although SSDs promise to be quicker and more efficient, Seagate's HAMR-based Mozaic 3+ platform (for HDDs) can deliver up to three times more energy density while reducing embodied carbon by over 70% per terabyte and lowering cost per terabyte by 25%. The report also embodies the 'reduce, reuse, recycle' motto by highlighting the importance of both extending product lifespans and then repurposing decommissioned equipment to reduce its environmental burden. Sharing accountability through cooperation across the supply chain also helps to reduce emissions from Scopes 1, 2 and 3, enabling a wider effect. "Sustainability cannot be solved in isolation. A holistic approach spanning infrastructure, life cycle management, and industry-wide accountability could ensure that the growth of AI and data center operations does not come at the expense of the environment," Feist added.

AI Is Redefining Tech Infrastructure Priorities: Seagate Report Calls for Balance Between Cost and Carbon By Investing.com

New Seagate Report urges data center ecosystem to shift from fragmented efforts to a unified sustainability approach FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Seagate Technology Holdings plc (NASDAQ: STX), a leader in mass-capacity data storage, today released the Decarbonizing Data1 report, its latest global report based on a commissioned survey, highlighting the growing sustainability challenges facing data centers as enterprises scale to meet the demands of AI. Goldman Sachs Research forecasts global power demand from data centers will increase by as much as 165% by 2030, compared with 2023. Seagate's new report reveals that energy usage is now a top concern for 53.5% of business leaders. The rising data volumes, slowing power efficiency gains, and increasing AI adoption are putting pressure on organizations to manage carbon emissions, infrastructure expansion, and total cost of ownership (TCO) " all at once. Key Findings: Data centers are under intense scrutiny " not only because they support modern AI workloads, but because they are becoming one of the most energy-intensive sectors of the digital economy, said Jason Feist, senior vice president of cloud marketing, Seagate. This calls for a fundamental shift in how we think about data infrastructure " not as a trade-off between cost and sustainability, but as an opportunity to optimize for both. As organizations expand their data capabilities, they face three options: improve efficiency within existing infrastructure, expand data center footprint, or migrate workloads to the cloud. Each option involves trade-offs between cost, carbon, and control, indicating that total cost of ownership and sustainability can be compatible goals. Decisions on energy consumption, space utilization, raw material use, and infrastructure investment now impact both business performance and environmental outcomes. To support the industry in navigating this shift, the Decarbonizing Data report outlines three strategic pillars for building a more sustainable data future: "Sustainability cannot be solved in isolation. A holistic approach spanning infrastructure, life cycle management, and industry-wide accountability could ensure that the growth of AI and data center operations does not come at the expense of the environment," said Jason Feist. To view the comprehensive survey results and analysis, download the full Decarbonizing Data report: https://www.seagate.com/resources/decarbonizing-data-report/. About Seagate Technology Seagate is a leader in mass-capacity data storage. We have delivered more than four and a half billion terabytes of capacity over the past four decades. We make storage that scales, bringing trust and integrity to innovations that depend on data. In an era of unprecedented creation, Seagate stores infinite potential. To learn more about how Seagate leads storage innovation, visit www.seagate.com and our blog, or follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. ©2025 Seagate Technology LLC. All rights reserved. Seagate, Seagate Technology, and the Spiral logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Seagate Technology LLC in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250415880077/en/

AI Is Redefining Tech Infrastructure Priorities: Seagate Report Calls for Balance Between Cost and Carbon

New Seagate Report urges data center ecosystem to shift from fragmented efforts to a unified sustainability approach Seagate Technology Holdings plc (NASDAQ: STX), a leader in mass-capacity data storage, today released the Decarbonizing Data report, its latest global report based on a commissioned survey, highlighting the growing sustainability challenges facing data centers as enterprises scale to meet the demands of AI. Goldman Sachs Research forecasts global power demand from data centers will increase by as much as 165% by 2030, compared with 2023. Seagate's new report reveals that energy usage is now a top concern for 53.5% of business leaders. The rising data volumes, slowing power efficiency gains, and increasing AI adoption are putting pressure on organizations to manage carbon emissions, infrastructure expansion, and total cost of ownership (TCO) - all at once. Key Findings: "Data centers are under intense scrutiny - not only because they support modern AI workloads, but because they are becoming one of the most energy-intensive sectors of the digital economy," said Jason Feist, senior vice president of cloud marketing, Seagate. "This calls for a fundamental shift in how we think about data infrastructure - not as a trade-off between cost and sustainability, but as an opportunity to optimize for both." As organizations expand their data capabilities, they face three options: improve efficiency within existing infrastructure, expand data center footprint, or migrate workloads to the cloud. Each option involves trade-offs between cost, carbon, and control, indicating that total cost of ownership and sustainability can be compatible goals. Decisions on energy consumption, space utilization, raw material use, and infrastructure investment now impact both business performance and environmental outcomes. To support the industry in navigating this shift, the Decarbonizing Data report outlines three strategic pillars for building a more sustainable data future: "Sustainability cannot be solved in isolation. A holistic approach spanning infrastructure, life cycle management, and industry-wide accountability could ensure that the growth of AI and data center operations does not come at the expense of the environment," said Jason Feist. To view the comprehensive survey results and analysis, download the full Decarbonizing Data report: https://www.seagate.com/resources/decarbonizing-data-report/. About Seagate Technology Seagate is a leader in mass-capacity data storage. We have delivered more than four and a half billion terabytes of capacity over the past four decades. We make storage that scales, bringing trust and integrity to innovations that depend on data. In an era of unprecedented creation, Seagate stores infinite potential. To learn more about how Seagate leads storage innovation, visit www.seagate.com and our blog, or follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. ©2025 Seagate Technology LLC. All rights reserved. Seagate, Seagate Technology, and the Spiral logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Seagate Technology LLC in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.