The AI Boom, Power Crunch and the Rise of Data Ecosystems

In this episode, Raymond Hawkins welcomes back Bill (Vitaly) Kleyman—CEO and founder of Apolo, industry thought leader, and data center prognosticator extraordinaire. Bill shares his personal journey, from immigrating to the U.S. as a Ukrainian refugee fleeing the Soviet Union, to becoming a leading voice in tech innovation and AI. The conversation opens with reflections on Ukraine’s ongoing conflict and its impact on Bill’s family.

The discussion pivots to the explosive growth and renaissance in the data center sector, driven by surging AI demand. Raymond and Bill cover topics such as power constraints, rack density, the rise of liquid cooling, and the shift toward AI-powered solutions for enterprise and public sector challenges. Bill also explores practical AI use cases Apollo is delivering, from improved municipal services and sentiment analysis to cutting-edge applications in agriculture and finance. The episode offers an energetic, forward-looking perspective on the future of data center infrastructure and AI.

Note: This conversation was recorded in June; references to the Ukraine–Russia conflict reflect the situation at that time and may not fully reflect the present moment.

Timestamped Overview
00:00 Intro & Bill’s Background
07:10 Ukraine/Russia: Defending Against Constant Assaults
12:54 Honor Ukraine's Security Guarantees
14:02 Ukraine Conflict Outcome Scenarios
22:23 Military Concerns Over Peace Deal
25:14 Untapped Potential of Generative AI
26:38 Exploring AI's Practical Applications
31:26 AI & Data Centers' Power Demand
33:27 Powerful Shift in Data Centers
36:45 Leveling the Corporate Tech Playing Field
42:09 Reaching Next-Level Data Center Efficiency
45:12 AI Usecases
54:55 Scalable, Meaningful Infrastructure Partnership
56:21 Democratizing AI: Expanding Possibilities