A traditional data center protects the expensive hardware inside it with a “shell” constructed from steel and concrete. Constructing a data center’s shell is inexpensive compared to the cost of the hardware and infrastructure inside it, but it’s not trivial. It takes time for engineers to consider potential sites, apply for permits, and coordinate with construction contractors. That’s a problem for those looking to quickly deploy AI hardware, which has led companies like Duos Edge AI and LG CNS to respond with a more modular approach. They use pre-fabricated, self-contained boxes that can be deployed in months instead of years.

The boxes can operate alone or in tandem with others, providing the option to add more if required. “I just came back from Nvidia’s GTC, and a lot of [companies] are sitting on their deployment because their data centers aren’t ready, or they can’t find the space,” said Doug Recker, CEO of Duos Edge AI. “We see the demand there, and we can deploy faster.” GPUs shipped straight to you Duos Edge AI’s modular compute pods are 55 feet long and 12.5 feet wide. Though they look similar to a shipping container, they’re actually a bit larger and designed primarily…