Datacloud USA brought the digital infrastructure community together in Austin for two days of conversations focused on the biggest issues shaping data center growth in North America.

From AI infrastructure and power availability to workforce development, community engagement and industry visibility, Datacloud USA 2026 reflected both the scale of opportunity ahead and the increasingly complex challenges facing the sector.

Here are five key highlights from Datacloud USA.

1. AI Growth Continues to Reshape Data Center Infrastructure

AI remained one of the dominant themes at Datacloud USA, with conversations focused on how rapidly growing workloads are changing the requirements for data center capacity, power, cooling and connectivity.

The discussion has moved beyond simply adding more capacity. Developers, operators, utilities and technology providers are now focused on how infrastructure can support higher densities, greater power demand and increasingly complex deployments.

As AI adoption continues to accelerate, the ability to scale infrastructure efficiently and responsibly will remain one of the industry’s defining challenges.

2. Power Availability Remains Central to Data Center Growth

Power continues to be one of the biggest constraints on new data center development, particularly as AI drives larger and more energy-intensive projects.

At Datacloud USA, conversations centered on access to power, utility coordination, new energy solutions and the need for closer collaboration between data center developers, operators, power providers and local stakeholders.

The takeaway was clear: securing capacity is no longer only a site-selection issue. Power strategy is increasingly influencing where projects are built, how quickly they can move forward and how companies plan for long-term growth.

3. Community Engagement Is Becoming a Core Development Priority

Community engagement was another major theme at Datacloud USA as the industry continues to navigate increasing public interest in data center development.

At The Community Center by JSA, conversations focused on how companies can build stronger relationships with the communities where they plan to develop and operate.

That includes engaging stakeholders earlier, clearly communicating economic and community benefits, listening to local concerns and helping residents better understand the role digital infrastructure plays in the broader economy.

As data centers become more visible at the local level, proactive community engagement is increasingly becoming part of the development strategy rather than something addressed only after questions or opposition emerge.

4. Talent Development Remains Critical to the Industry’s Next Phase

The pace of digital infrastructure growth continues to create demand for experienced professionals across engineering, construction, operations, technology, marketing and leadership roles.

During Datacloud USA, the JSA team connected with Susanna Kass, leader of Datacloud’s Talent in Tech initiative, for interviews highlighting both industry mentors and emerging young talent.

The conversations underscored the importance of mentorship, education and creating clearer pathways for the next generation of digital infrastructure professionals.

Building the workforce needed to support industry growth will require continued investment not only in recruitment, but also in developing and retaining talent over the long term.

5. JSA TV Broadcast Live from Datacloud USA

JSA TV broadcast live from the Datacloud USA expo hall, capturing conversations with executives and industry leaders throughout the event.

The interviews gave attendees a platform to share company news, industry perspectives and insights on the trends shaping digital infrastructure, including AI, power, data center development, sustainability and workforce growth.

With more than 200,000 YouTube subscribers, JSA TV also helped extend the conversations happening at Datacloud USA beyond the show floor to a global digital infrastructure audience.

Another Great Week with the Digital Infrastructure Community

Datacloud USA was an incredible week of great conversations, new connections and time spent with so many familiar faces from across the digital infrastructure industry.

We’re grateful to everyone who stopped by, joined us for an interview, shared their perspective or connected with the JSA team in Austin.

Want to see where JSA will be next? Follow JSA on LinkedIn for updates on upcoming conferences, events and opportunities to connect with our team.

And be sure to visit the JSA TV YouTube channel to watch interviews and conversations from Datacloud USA throughout the week.