- VAST Data partners with Vapor IO to enhance global and multi-format AI data storage.
- Vapor IO provides self-contained, high-density VEM micro modular datacenters for edge colocation and networking.
- Zero Gap AI offers private 5G and GPU-based micro-clouds for hyperlocal AI services at various locations.
- Platform operates in 36 US cities, using Supermicro servers and Nvidia MGX devices.
- AI services are designed to reduce onsite hardware needs and cut costs.
- VAST Data contributes with a robust data storage layer, integrating data capture, training, and inferencing at the edge.
- The partnership supports seamless model training and real-time inferencing.
- Expansion plans include global markets and further partnerships with IBM and Comcast.
Main AI News:
VAST Data is joining forces with Vapor IO to elevate the capabilities of Vapor IO’s hyperlocal AI platforms by providing cutting-edge global and multi-format AI data storage. This partnership aims to support both structured and unstructured data, including vector storage, essential for the AI services offered by Vapor IO.
Based in Austin, TX, Vapor IO is renowned for its self-contained, high-density VEM micro modular datacenters, which are integral to its edge colocation and interconnection services. These facilities combine multi-tenant colocation with advanced software-defined interconnection and high-speed networking. Since its inception in 2015, Vapor IO has secured $90 million through multiple funding rounds, including a Series A led by Goldman Sachs.
Vapor IO’s Zero Gap AI platform offers 5G and AI-as-a-Service by deploying private 5G and GPU-based micro-clouds at various locations such as retail stores, factories, and city intersections. This setup provides hyperlocal AI services through private wired and wireless networks, eliminating the need for onsite AI and 5G hardware while ensuring rapid response times.
Zero Gap AI utilizes Supermicro servers equipped with Nvidia MGX devices and the GH200 Grace Hopper superchip, supporting both 5G and AI functionalities. The platform operates across 36 US cities, including major urban centers like Atlanta, Chicago, and Dallas. Dedicated private fiber links and optional last-mile network connections ensure efficient data transfer and connectivity.
Vapor IO’s founder and CEO, Cole Crawford, highlighted the platform’s benefits, stating, “Zero Gap AI addresses the complexities and high costs of deploying AI clusters at specific locations. By leveraging nearby private fiber and removing the need for onsite hardware, we are streamlining AI adoption and reducing costs for businesses and municipalities.”
The Zero Gap AI platform is designed to facilitate AI-driven solutions for various sectors:
- Retailers can implement automated checkout systems without investing in expensive equipment at each location.
- Municipalities can deploy computer vision systems for pedestrian safety at numerous intersections without installing equipment at every site.
- Manufacturers can use real-time inferencing to enhance factory IoT reliability, reducing risks and capital expenses.
The platform offers distributed AI access points with minimal latency through a mesh-like network grid, ensuring zero downtime and congestion. This setup allows for instantaneous deployment of AI micro-clouds at precisely needed locations, maintaining local data processing and compliance.
VAST Data’s role in this partnership involves providing a robust data storage layer, combining data capture, training, and inferencing capabilities at the edge. VAST’s integration with Vapor IO enhances AI pipeline deployment, allowing for dynamic and efficient AI operations. Customers can train models centrally or in the cloud and deploy real-time inferencing at the edge using collected data to refine models continuously.
John Mao, VP of Technical Alliances at VAST Data, emphasized the solution’s agility across diverse environments. “The combination of VAST and Vapor IO technologies offers an ideal solution for enterprises seeking scalable and cost-effective AI deployment.”
As the VAST-Vapor collaboration expands across the US, there are plans for global market penetration, leveraging VAST’s global namespace. Neeloy Bhattacharyya from VAST Data detailed the benefits of their high-performance data repository and integration with modern data streaming and processing tools.
Vapor IO is also advancing partnerships with IBM and Comcast, with IBM’s Hybrid Cloud Mesh enhancing interoperability between micro datacenters and Comcast linking edge networks with Vapor IO’s colos.
Conclusion:
The partnership between VAST Data and Vapor IO represents a significant advancement in hyperlocal AI infrastructure, offering scalable, cost-effective solutions for deploying AI services. By combining high-performance storage with edge computing capabilities, businesses can achieve efficient, low-latency AI operations while maintaining local data processing and compliance. This collaboration positions both companies to capture a growing market demand for flexible and responsive AI technologies, potentially setting a new standard for AI deployment across various sectors.
