Seagate Technology (STX) COMPUTEX Taipei 2024 summary

AI-driven data growth and storage demands

• GenAI is driving unprecedented data creation, with forecasts of 394 zettabytes globally by 2028, and GenAI alone expected to generate 100 zettabytes in four years, potentially understated due to emerging vision models.

• Multimodal AI, including image and video, is increasing data size and replication needs, requiring more robust data retention to ensure source-of-truth and compliance with evolving regulations.

• Storage is essential at every AI deployment stage, from cloud to edge to endpoint, and existing capacity will not suffice as mass adoption accelerates.

Data center resource challenges and optimization

• Data centers face explosive data growth and resource scarcity, with real estate and power becoming major constraints as demand for colocation space and energy rises.

• Hyperscalers and enterprises must optimize total cost of ownership (TCO), with hard drives providing a 6-to-1 cost advantage over SSDs for large-scale storage.

• The global CAGR for data centers is 10%, but hyperscalers are growing at 20%, intensifying competition for space and resources.

Hard drive innovation and sustainability

• Hard drive areal density is key to scaling storage for AI, with two main approaches: adding platters or increasing data density per platter, the latter being more sustainable.

• The Mozaic 3+ platform achieves 3 TB per disk, enabling data centers to double capacity in the same space and reduce power consumption by at least 45%.

• Areal density advancements also cut embodied carbon by over 55% and use 28% less recycled material, supporting sustainability and circular economy goals.

• Roadmap includes 4 TB and 5 TB per disk prototypes, targeting 50 TB drives by 2028, effectively doubling capacity every four years.

• Hard drive areal density breakthroughs are critical for sustainable AI storage at scale.