Neo Clouds, AI Infrastructure and the UK Data Centre Opportunity | Live at Datacloud Global Congress 2026

In the first episode of a new series recorded live at Datacloud Global Congress 2026 in Cannes, Andy Davis is joined by co-host Rory Flashman from Spa Communications to explore one of the biggest talking points in the data centre industry: neo clouds, AI infrastructure and the next phase of digital infrastructure growth. 

Joining the conversation: 

David Bloom, Kao Data 

Pete Hill, CUDO Compute 

Together, they unpack what neo cloud actually means, how GPU-driven infrastructure is reshaping the market, and why the relationship between hyperscalers, cloud providers and emerging AI infrastructure companies is more complementary than many people assume. 

The discussion also looks at how AI workloads are changing data centre design, from density and cooling to power, floor loading and long-term flexibility. With technology moving quickly and facilities expected to operate for decades, the conversation highlights the engineering challenge of building infrastructure that can support both today’s demand and tomorrow’s unknowns. 

Recorded live at Datacloud Global Congress 2026 in Cannes. 

Key Topics: 

• What neo cloud means and why the term has become central to AI infrastructure 
• How GPU-led AI workloads differ from traditional cloud infrastructure 
• Whether neo clouds are disrupting hyperscalers or complementing them 
• The impact of AI on data centre design, density, cooling and power requirements 
• Why the UK can remain competitive in the AI infrastructure market 
• The difference between training and inference workloads, and where the UK may have an advantage 
• Why power availability, energy cost and grid capacity remain major constraints 
• How local engagement and community benefit can improve public understanding of data centre development 
• The growing capital requirements behind AI data centre projects 
• Why delivery, reliability and consistency still matter more than headline-grabbing announcements 

Tune in for a lively conversation on how AI is reshaping the data centre market, what neo clouds mean for the wider industry, and why the next phase of growth will depend on power, partnerships, local engagement and the ability to deliver.