Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
In a conversation with Bloomberg, Irving Tan, CEO of WD, discusses how AI is fundamentally reshaping demand for data storage.
While much of the AI conversation focuses on GPUs and compute, Irving explains why storage is just as critical. Today, 80% of cloud data is stored on hard disk drives (HDDs), and exabyte demand is projected to grow at a 25% CAGR over the next five years.
In this interview, he covers:
- Why AI is creating a structural shift in storage demand
- How hyperscalers are planning for multimodal and video-driven workloads
- WD’s innovation roadmap from 32TB to 40TB and toward 60TB drives
- Our dual-track approach to HAMR (heat-assisted magnetic recording)
- The strategic impact of the SanDisk separation
- Managing global supply chain risk in a volatile environment
As AI workloads scale, storage becomes foundational infrastructure — enabling the data that powers training and inference.
Watch the full Bloomberg interview to hear how WD is positioning itself at the center of the AI data center evolution.
In a conversation with Bloomberg, Irving Tan, CEO of WD, discusses how AI is fundamentally reshaping demand for data storage.
While much of the AI conversation focuses on GPUs and compute, Irving explains why storage is just as critical. Today, 80% of cloud data is stored on hard disk drives (HDDs), and exabyte demand is projected to grow at a 25% CAGR over the next five years.
In this interview, he covers:
- Why AI is creating a structural shift in storage demand
- How hyperscalers are planning for multimodal and video-driven workloads
- WD’s innovation roadmap from 32TB to 40TB and toward 60TB drives
- Our dual-track approach to HAMR (heat-assisted magnetic recording)
- The strategic impact of the SanDisk separation
- Managing global supply chain risk in a volatile environment
As AI workloads scale, storage becomes foundational infrastructure — enabling the data that powers training and inference.
Watch the full Bloomberg interview to hear how WD is positioning itself at the center of the AI data center evolution.
