Platform WatchJune 30, 2026via McKinsey Insights
Colocation data centers: The infrastructure race behind AI
Why it matters
As AI workloads scale, the infrastructure bottleneck has shifted from capacity to access—securing GPUs, reliable grid power, and fast deployment timelines is now what separates leaders from laggards in the AI economy.
Key signals
- Data center capex surging as AI workloads grow
- Advanced accelerator access is a key competitive constraint
- Reliable electricity infrastructure critical to deployment
- Project delivery speed emerging as competitive differentiator
- Colocation model gaining importance for AI infrastructure
The hook
Data center capex is surging. But accelerators, power, and speed are now the competitive moat.
Data center capital expenditures are surging as AI workloads grow, yet competitiveness increasingly depends on securing advanced accelerators, reliable electricity, and fast project delivery.