If artificial intelligence is the future, then 400G is the next step toward that future. As AI and machine learning continue to automate and innovate processes across many industries, a suitable infrastructure is needed to keep pace with the rapidly advancing technology. Explore the ways that AI infrastructure can benefit from 400G technology today to expand networking solutions and power AI development in your industry.
The Rise of AI Models
You can’t look far without seeing the fingerprints of AI. It’s used to power tasks in many industries, from customer service to fraud detection. Whether you communicate directly with generative AI platforms, like ChatGPT, or watch as AI powers robots in the manufacturing industry, AI models are powerful additions to many workplaces. When used properly and supported with the right optical network, they allow companies to streamline complex tasks and boost efficiency in many analytical activities.
According to a recent McKinsey Global survey, 40% of companies surveyed plan to increase their AI investment. Even if you aren’t using any AI tools in your current business model, you may need to adopt this technology to keep pace with the automation and innovation of your competitors. In order to ensure the streamlined operation of AI-powered tools, however, companies need the right AI infrastructure.
AI Infrastructure and the Need for 400G
Many recent AI developments, like neural networks and large language models, require vast amounts of information to be processed very quickly to deliver results. In the past, 100G connectivity may have been an acceptable solution, but exponential increases in bandwidth requirements mean that 400G is an essential step for data centers and companies looking for high-performance network solutions. Explore how AI’s dramatic scaling, increased external traffic, and disaggregated AI all make 400G a crucial step in the future of networking solutions.
Scaling AI Solutions
Current AI infrastructure uses a significant amount of bandwidth to perform analytics and power AI tools. In the near future, real-time analytics and a growing Internet of Things network will require even more bandwidth. Legacy fiber optic networks don’t offer the bandwidth necessary for the amount of data being collected, analyzed, transferred, and consumed.
Forward-looking companies are investing in fiber optic network upgrades to stay ahead of AI advancements. Even if your existing network can handle your current bandwidth requirements, the exponential rise of AI solutions could very well outpace 100G technology.
Accommodating Internal and External Traffic
The AI infrastructure, particularly in data centers, can leverage 400G to improve efficiency in both internal and external traffic. Connecting data centers with 400G can quadruple traffic in both tiers to promote scalability in AI infrastructure.
The Uses of 400G for Your Industry
While AI tools are being adopted by companies in a broad range of industries, a few stand out as industries where 400G solutions are being used today. Review the following industries to see if your company is being left behind in 400G adoption:
- Healthcare: Medical data not only needs to be transferred and analyzed with AI tools but also encrypted to ensure safety practices are met. Healthcare facilities rely on 400G fiber to keep data safe and connect the latest Internet of Things medical devices.
- Mobile carriers: High-speed internet connectivity increasingly relies on 400G capacity. Carriers advertising AI tools, video conferencing, streaming, gaming, and other high-bandwidth features can use 400G to handle growing data usage among customers.
- Data centers: Storing, transferring, and processing data requires cutting-edge connectivity, which makes 400G technology a necessary investment for data centers.
- Finance: Real-time trading is a particularly important service that needs state-of-the-art connectivity in the finance industry.
- Education: While some institutions are preventing the use of AI in the classroom, others have embraced the educational opportunities available through AI tutors, writing assistants, and other innovations. Expanding network solutions with 400G can improve this innovative technology throughout an educational facility.
Many other industries can benefit from 400G improvements as AI tools become more widespread. If your company is already adopting AI and machine learning, or considering doing so, updating your network can be a step toward the future.
Benefits of 400G for AI Infrastructure
AI models have the power to provide real-time answers and information. Thanks to neural networks and other technologies, these models use a significant amount of information to make decisions and analyze databases. In order to keep this process moving forward, 400G offers the following benefits for AI infrastructure.
Increased Data Processing Speeds
Current AI technology requires vast amounts of data to be processed to make decisions and analyze information. This trend will only increase as AI applications move to real-time analysis of large datasets.
Increasing data processing speeds is crucial for companies looking to integrate increasing amounts of AI automation into their workflow. Compared to previous 100G networks, 400G optical transceivers provide quadruple speed for rapid information transfer.
Reduced Power Usage
All that data transfer for an AI infrastructure requires a significant amount of energy. As energy conservation becomes an increasingly important environmental factor, 400G is a natural solution. Networks that offer 400G are more energy efficient than legacy 100G networks, providing a more environmentally friendly solution to existing energy usage.
Higher Bandwidth
High-bandwidth data transmission is a crucial component of AI applications, offering rapid transfer of large amounts of data. This core benefit of 400G optical technology helps build the foundation of AI models to grow faster, more efficient, and more accurate.
Lower Latency
Large data transfer capacities are important, but a 400G network also offers low-latency solutions. Rapid data transfer allows video conferencing, data analytics, and monitoring AI tools to operate seamlessly alongside external users. With low enough latency, your AI tools can operate in real time.
Explore 400G Solutions With Equal Optics
Power your AI infrastructure with the latest optical transceiver technology. At Equal Optics, you can find the solutions you need to update your legacy systems to 400G. Contact us today to learn more about the benefits of the latest networking solutions for your industry and your specific company.
Sources:
https://cloud.google.com/ai-infrastructure
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/solutions/high-performance-computing/ai-infrastructure
https://www.techtarget.com/searchenterpriseai/resources/AI-infrastructure
