Does inference require the same data center scale?

As the race to build out artificial intelligence accelerates, the infrastructure required to support it is undergoing a remarkable transformation. In February, Google announced a plan to spend $175 billion to $185 billion in CapEx for 2026— a figure roughly equivalent to the GDP of Hungary.

In this special live episode, recorded at Transition-AI 2026 in San Francisco, Shayle sits down with Amin Vahdat, Google’s chief technologist for AI infrastructure. Amin pulls back the curtain on how the hyperscaler is rethinking everything from data center reliability and behind-the-meter power generation to real-time inference.

Shayle and Amin discuss:

• How Google’s shift from focusing on training to inference can enable more distributed, smaller-scale data center deployments
• Why Google is moving away from traditional "five nines" reliability for certain workloads in exchange for doubling compute capacity
• How on-site generation can serve as a "bridge" to manage interconnection latency
• Google’s milestone agreement with utilities for one gigawatt of demand response
• How software can co-optimize chip design, building cooling and power generation to create superefficient and flexible "AI factories"

• Catalyst: The rise of flexible data centers
• Catalyst: Will inference move to the edge?
• Catalyst: The mechanics of data center flexibility
• Open Circuit: The natural gas ‘bridge’ becomes a highway
• Open Circuit: Are investors losing faith in the AI infrastructure frenzy?
• Latitude Media: Energy Vault is expanding into infrastructure for AI
• Latitude Media: The rise of the AI infrastructure asset class

Credits: Hosted by Shayle Kann. Produced and edited by Max Savage Levenson. Original music and engineering by Sean Marquand. Stephen Lacey is our executive editor.

Catalyst is brought to you by FischTank PR, an award-winning climate and energy tech, renewables, and sustainability-focused PR firm dedicated to elevating the work of both early-stage and established companies. Learn more about their PR approach and how they can support your company’s messaging by visiting fischtankpr.com.

Catalyst is brought to you by EnergyHub. EnergyHub helps utilities build next-generation virtual power plants that unlock reliable flexibility at every level of the grid. See how EnergyHub helps unlock the power of flexibility at scale, and deliver more value through cross-DER dispatch with their leading Edge DERMS platform, by visiting energyhub.com.

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