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Every AI response leaves a data trail. WD research found that a single 8-second AI-generated video clip leaves more than 500MB of back-end data behind—130x the size of the file the user actually sees. As inference scales, that compounding storage footprint becomes one of the fastest-growing costs in the AI stack. Read Tim Rausch's full breakdown in MIT Technology Review: https://lnkd.in/ddz4C478

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Every time you interact with AI, far more data is being stored than you think. Tim Rausch, SVP of Product Engineering, took the stage at AI Infra Summit 2026 to show exactly how much. And what WD is building to keep up with that demand. From a roadmap to 100TB drives, to High Bandwidth Drive Technology with a path to 8X throughput, to our first dual-pivot actuator design—this is WD's HDD roadmap for the AI era. Watch the full talk: https://lnkd.in/g7Bq-yYH

Innovation isn't just a goal at WD. It's how we operate. From advancing storage technologies that power the AI era to driving breakthroughs across our operations, engineering, and inventor communities, innovation is embedded in how we solve problems and create value for our customers every day. That's why we're proud to be named one of Business Insider's America's Most Innovative Businesses 2027. The recognition reflects the work of our Drivers around the world who continue to challenge what's possible, turn ideas into impact, and help shape the future of data infrastructure. The work continues.

AI isn't just a compute story. It's a data story. We’ve been sharing that story all week at AI Infra Summit in Santa Clara, from Tim Rausch on the keynote stage, to our conversations on the show floor. Everywhere you look, the AI industry is grappling with the same question: What does it actually take to run this at scale? The answer isn't just more compute. It's infrastructure built to handle the volume, velocity, and reliability that AI demands. It's capacity that scales with ambition. It's data you can trust, at every step. We've been building for this moment for a long time. As the industry figures out what's next, WD is already there. Powering it from the ground up. WD is the Drive Behind AI. #AIInfraSummit #AIInfraSummit2026

The drive behind AI is here at AI Infra Summit. Stay tuned for more 👀