Here’s something we all already know: the world is going mad for AI. From healthcare to finance to manufacturing to retail and beyond, artificial intelligence is revolutionising the way businesses operate and the way we make decisions.

And this surge in AI adoption is not just a trend; it’s a fundamental shift in how we approach problem-solving and data analysis. AI is here to stay.

But machine learning and deep learning models—both workhorses of modern AI—require significant amounts of processing power and data storage. Catalyst Cloud is committed to meeting this demand in New Zealand, providing a truly robust public cloud infrastructure to New Zealand enterprises of all shapes and sizes.

Why AI Needs Public Cloud

The computational demands of AI are intensive but sporadic. Training complex models can require enormous computational power—but usually only for short periods—so a public cloud allows organisations to scale resources up and down as needed, without the need for prohibitively expensive upfront investments in in-house hardware.

This sort of ‘on-demand’ scalability is crucial for managing the variable demands of AI projects. Public cloud provides a pay-as-you-go model, allowing businesses of any size to access high-performance computing resources. This represents a very real democratisation of access to AI capabilities —a ‘leveling of the playing field’, so to speak—which allows technology organisations of all sizes to compete with larger enterprises.

Additionally, AI is a rapidly evolving, fast-growing field. A public cloud provides users with access to all the latest hardware and software innovations, ensuring a best-in-class experience and cutting-edge tech for users at a reasonable price.

The Need for GPU-Powered Cloud

While traditional CPUs have served as the backbone of computing for decades, they fall short when it comes to the parallel processing demands of AI workloads. AI algorithms, particularly those used in deep learning, involve myriad small computations that need to be performed simultaneously.

Enter, the GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). Specifically built to run a large amount of parallel processes, GPUs excel at this type of workload. The speed advantage of GPUs in AI workloads is significant. GPU-accelerated computing speeds up the processing of AI workloads by orders of magnitude, turning weeks of work into processes that take mere hours. This acceleration is crucial for iterative processes like model training and hyperparameter tuning, where faster processing enables more experimentation and, ultimately, better results.

There’s also an environmental advantage here too. For the same computational workload, GPUs generally consume less power than CPUs, making them a more sustainable choice for intensive AI tasks and organisations conscious of their environmental impact.

Bringing GPU-Powered Cloud to New Zealand

At Catalyst Cloud, we recognise the critical role GPU-accelerated computing plays in organisations’ successful AI adoption, so we’ve made significant investments to bring this technology to New Zealand.

Here’s what we've been doing:

Hardware Procurement: Sourcing cutting-edge GPU hardware has been a challenge, given New Zealand's geographical isolation and the unpredictability of modern global supply chains, but we’ve ensured our Kiwi customers have access to the latest GPU technology—without having to navigate complex international procurement processes themselves.

Infrastructure Upgrades: GPU servers require specialised infrastructure, including advanced cooling systems to manage the heat generated by these high-performance units. Catalyst Cloud has significantly upgraded its data centre capabilities to accommodate these needs, meaning our customers can leverage high-performance GPU computing without the burden of substantial capital expenditure and ongoing maintenance costs.

Power Management: Ensuring a stable and sufficient power supply requires careful planning and implementation of advanced power management systems. With Catalyst Cloud, our customers can access our reliable, energy-efficient GPU resources, reducing their carbon footprint and energy costs compared to running their own GPU systems.

Security Considerations: Data security is a non-negotiable for Catalyst Cloud. With the increased value and sensitivity of AI workloads, we have significantly enhanced our security measures to protect both the physical GPU infrastructure and the data processed on it. This comprehensive security approach gives our customers peace of mind, knowing their valuable AI models and sensitive data is protected by enterprise-grade, best-in-class security measures.

Catalyst Cloud has brought world-class GPU-accelerated cloud computing to New Zealand, ensuring Kiwi businesses and researchers can leverage the power of AI while maintaining absolute data sovereignty.

The demand for powerful, flexible, and accessible computing resources will only grow. By developing robust local, sovereign cloud infrastructure capable of supporting the next generation of AI applications, Catalyst Cloud is positioning itself at the forefront of New Zealand’s AI transformation, and enabling local organisations to compete on a global stage.