AI and Machine Learning are no longer niche tools used by large tech companies. They’re now essential parts of how businesses manage data, deliver services, and make decisions. From real-time analytics to automated pattern detection, AI-driven applications are everywhere — and they rely on systems that can store, move, and process data quickly and efficiently.
At Novodisq, we’ve designed our systems with this future in mind. Our high-density storage platforms come with optional built-in compute, making them ideal for supporting AI and Machine Learning workloads right where the data lives.
The Growth of AI and Why It Matters for Infrastructure
AI and Machine Learning applications are growing fast — in complexity, in data requirements, and in performance expectations. But many traditional IT systems weren’t built to support the volume or velocity of data that AI needs. Most AI tasks depend on moving large amounts of data between different systems — from storage to cloud, from cloud to processing, and back again.
This introduces delay, raises costs, and creates bottlenecks. To stay competitive, modern infrastructure needs to do more than just store data. It needs to analyse it, process it, and respond to it in real time. That’s where Novodisq stands apart.
Embedded Compute with AI and ML Acceleration
Selected Novodisq systems are equipped with powerful embedded compute modules, designed specifically for AI and ML workloads. These are powered by 96 AIE-MLv2 Tiles and deliver up to 123 TOPS of INT8 Dense performance, or 246 TOPS with INT8 Sparse data.
For the technically minded, that puts our systems in the same performance category as high-end edge AI modules, while drawing significantly less power. For everyone else — this means our units can run advanced AI models locally, without needing to ship data to an external server or cloud provider.
This level of embedded AI acceleration is ideal for real-time inference, tagging and indexing data, pattern recognition, anomaly detection, and more. You don’t need a separate AI server. Everything can happen inside the Novodisq unit, reducing complexity and saving space.
What Is INT8 and Why Does It Matter?
Most modern AI models are trained using high-precision data, but when it comes time to use them (what’s called inference), they’re often run using INT8 — 8-bit integer operations. This is the standard format for efficient machine learning inference and delivers excellent results at a fraction of the compute and energy cost.
By focusing on INT8 performance, our systems deliver trillions of operations per second in a highly optimised format for production workloads. Sparse data support further boosts performance by skipping over empty or zero-value data points — common in real-world AI tasks.
A Smart Match for Warm Data and Edge AI
Not all data needs to be in hot memory, but not all of it should be archived either. There’s a growing category of “warm” data — information that’s accessed regularly for analysis, but not constantly. Think of camera footage being scanned for security threats, sensor data being analysed for equipment failure, or customer behaviour logs being reviewed for trends.
Novodisq systems are built to serve this space. Our blades offer high-density, low-power storage with compute that can analyse data at the edge, right where it’s stored. This makes them ideal for emerging use cases in:
- Edge AI and computer vision
- Scientific and research workloads
- Predictive analytics
- Real-time decision making
- Smart infrastructure and IoT systems
Optional Compute, Always Efficient
Not every use case needs AI built in. That’s why our compute modules are optional. You can configure your Novodisq system as pure storage, or include local compute depending on your needs. This modular approach keeps costs down and gives you flexibility to scale up or add capability later.
Even when configured for full AI/ML use, Novodisq systems are compact, quiet, and energy-efficient. We’ve designed them to run cool and stay out of the way — no need for noisy server rooms or dedicated data centre space.
Free Data Transfer and FPGA Acceleration
Novodisq also offers free data transfer within the system, removing hidden costs and licensing traps common in traditional storage or cloud-based solutions. Some models also include FPGA acceleration, which gives developers more control and flexibility for running custom workloads or accelerating specialised tasks.
Whether you’re working with off-the-shelf AI models or developing your own, our systems are built to help you move faster.
AI-Ready Infrastructure Without the Complexity
For many companies, the challenge isn’t just building AI models. It’s building infrastructure that can support them. Novodisq systems simplify that problem by combining high-performance storage and optional AI acceleration in a compact, efficient unit.
You don’t need racks of servers, complex cooling systems, or multi-layer cloud setups. You get everything you need — where you need it — in a form factor that’s easy to deploy and manage.
