Data Center Operators Cautious on AI, but Adoption Grows

Data center operators remain deeply skeptical about trusting AI systems [https://www.databank.com/resources/blogs/ethical-ai-balancing-innovation-and-security/] with critical facility operations. According to an Uptime Institute survey of over 600 operators worldwide, only 14% would trust AI systems to change equipment configurations, and just one in three would trust AI to control data center equipment.

Operator trust in AI has declined steadily since ChatGPT’s 2022 release, with skepticism rising from 24% in 2022 to 42% in 2024. This caution reflects concerns about AI’s unpredictability in high-stakes environments where seconds can mean catastrophic failures.

“AI does hallucinate. We do see it happen today. But we also see it getting better and better once we give it more time. The key is tremendous amounts of data points in order for AI to understand the system.”
— Joe Minarik, Chief Operating Officer, DataBank

However, operators show selective openness. Over 70% would trust AI to analyze sensor data or predict maintenance tasks and now expect it to deliver real ROI in the near future. [https://www.databank.com/resources/press-releases/new-research-report-sponsored-by-databank-shows-60-of-enterprises-are-already-seeing-ai-roi-or-expect-to-within-12-months/] DataBank plans to deploy AI for automated ticket generation, network monitoring, and eventually cooling systems by late 2026, though operators will maintain final execution authority.

For the complete analysis on operator attitudes toward AI in data centers, read the full article at IEEE Spectrum.