India’s data infrastructure is radically transforming, driven by the rise of AI, GenAI, and automation. As data creation has exploded more in the last three years than in the previous twenty, traditional data centers are evolving into high-density, AI-native ecosystems. These changes demand technical upgrades and a fundamental shift in skills, talent strategies, and collaboration between academia and industry.
In the latest edition of the IEF Webinar #17, “AI-Ready Data Centers: Powering Future-Ready Businesses,” three eminent leaders shared their perspectives on how AI is redefining the data center landscape. Neeti Sharma, CEO of TeamLease Digital, moderated the session.
When asked about the larger forces shaping India’s data center roadmap, Prasad Tilve, Head of Strategy & Hyperscale Business Development at CapitaLand, explained, “India’s data center evolution is powered by three main drivers government initiatives like the India AI Mission and Digital India; massive private investments, which have touched $60B in the past five years; and the increasing demand for high-density, AI-ready infrastructure. Rack density is now reaching up to 125kVA, which demands future-proof designs, energy efficiency, and upskilled talent.”
Adding a talent and tech perspective, Piyush Gupta, VP – Sales & Business Development (India, APAC & ME), Vultr, said, “AI literacy today is what computer literacy was two decades ago. It’s no longer optional. Traditional roles in data centers, compute, cooling, network, and security are all being redefined. We need professionals who understand DevOps, AIOps, Python, and automation. But more importantly, we need engineers to stop thinking in silos. Colleges must embed cloud-first thinking, GPU labs, and AI tools into their curriculum. Some top-tier institutes have started the shift, but we need widespread reform. Upskilling is no longer the company’s job alone. As I like to say, in college, you pay to learn. In a job, you’re paid to learn. The responsibility now lies with the learner.”
Offering an operational and on-ground viewpoint, Rohan Sheth, Head of Co-location Services & Expansion at Yotta, shared, “At Yotta, we’ve deployed over 16,000 GPUs under the India AI Mission. The infrastructure requirements for AI are drastically different high-performance GPUs, liquid cooling, and dense network fabrics. This shift is creating entirely new job profiles like AI Infrastructure Engineer and AI Systems Analyst. But we’re not just talking about new hires, we’re training our existing teams, from engineers to shift managers, on predictive maintenance, AI tools, and real-time analytics. What’s exciting is that young engineers today are AI-aware. They’re coming in with bootcamp experience, online certifications, and a willingness to adapt. With the right exposure and guidance, they’re quickly evolving into next-gen professionals.”
Key Takeaways from the Discussion:
- Data growth is exponential: India generated more data in 3 years than in the past 20. Scaling infrastructure is urgent.
- AI is redefining every role: From engineers to operations, AI literacy is now foundational.
- Curriculum reform is critical: Academia must align with real-world tools, cloud platforms, and AI workflows.
- Future-ready data centers need green design and scalable tech: High-density racks and energy efficiency go hand in hand.
- Upskilling is everyone’s job: Learners, institutions, and companies must co-own the AI skilling journey.
The conversation made it clear, AI is not just reshaping data centers. It’s reshaping careers, curricula, and core infrastructure strategies across the board. As India sets its sights on global tech leadership, building a digitally resilient and AI-skilled workforce will be the cornerstone of success.
Watch the full webinar here: IEF Webinar #17 | AI-Ready Data Centers: Powering Future-Ready Businesses
