WD

AI was recently described as a five-layer infrastructure stack. It's a useful framework—and it shifts the perception toward AI as critical infrastructure.   But we noticed something was missing. Learn more about the “missing ingredient” in our latest blog by WD CTO Carl Xiaodong Che: https://lnkd.in/gZW2WdZk

People talk about AI as a compute story. But AI doesn't stop at compute. Every prompt, inference, interaction, and generated asset creates something else: data. And unlike compute infrastructure, data doesn't disappear when the job is done. It accumulates. It compounds. It needs to be stored, managed, and retained. The real long-term challenge of AI may not be building the systems that generate intelligence. It may be managing the growing volume of data those systems create. Read the full blog for a deeper look at why AI is becoming a data story as much as a compute story: https://lnkd.in/gWNYwcZx

What a week at COMPUTEX 2026! From our CPO Ahmed Shihab on stage to booth conversations to every moment in between - the message was clear: No HDDs, No AI. As the world races to build AI infrastructure at scale, storage is the constant. The cycle keeps spinning - smarter models, bigger data, more demand - and WD keeps driving it forward. This is The Drive Behind AI.

Ahmed Shihab took this message to COMPUTEX—but you don't have to be in Taipei to hear it. In his latest blog, our CPO breaks down why AI didn't collapse the storage stack—it made it deeper. Training, inference, and the data inference produces have each created distinct demands on storage infrastructure, and the architecture that's emerging reflects all three. Read the full breakdown at Ahmed's latest blog: https://lnkd.in/e9RCt8xz

Small actions lead to global impact!  Kicking off Earth Day 2026, WD teams across the globe rolled up their sleeves and dedicated time to protect our planet. Over the last two months, more than 1,800 employees volunteered their time to lead water way cleanups, restore natural habitats, and support reforestation efforts. At our Great Oaks headquarters, 300 Drivers (what we call our team members) celebrated Earth Day by donating used electronics, partaking in a sustainability quiz, and connecting with local businesses. But the impact didn’t stop outdoors. More than 8,000 Drivers dedicated time to deepening their understanding of environmental sustainability for a better future through a special training course. And for every Driver who completed the training, a tree sapling was planted in their honor to reforest Red Panda habitat. 🌳 From local action to global impact, our teams are proving that meaningful change starts with each of us.

From the streets of Taipei to the halls of COMPUTEX 2026, WD is The Drive Behind AI. As the world builds the infrastructure for the next era of AI, storage isn't a supporting player - it's foundational. AI runs on data, and the conversation around how to store, access, and scale that data is taking center stage.

AI runs on data. At COMPUTEX, the conversations at our booth have focused on that core truth.   Stefan Mandl, Scott Hamilton, and Ahmed Shihab all shared their perspectives on the future of AI infrastructure and what it takes to build systems capable of scaling with the world's growing data demands.   Thank you to everyone who stopped by to join the discussion. Stay tuned as we continue the conversation throughout the week.   📍 WD Booth R1308 | Hall 2, 4/F | TaiNEX 2

Yes, AI uses data...but it also creates it. Lots of it.   Every AI-generated image, video, response, and interaction creates new information that must be stored, retrieved, governed, and managed over time.   That data accumulates rapidly, turning megabytes into petabytes and eventually exabytes at cloud scale.   It's one reason why AI infrastructure is fundamentally a data systems challenge, not just a compute challenge. Featured: Ahmed Shihab, CPO

The drive behind AI is everywhere in Taipei this week. 🚲 As COMPUTEX 2026 begins, we're showcasing how WD storage helps power AI at scale—from infrastructure and data pipelines to real-world AI execution. If AI is accelerating innovation, storage is what keeps it moving. Visit us at 📍 Booth R1308 | Hall 2, 4/F Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center (TaiNEX 2)