1003: Building an AI Data Center End to End, with Lightning AI’s Frank Basso

1003: Building an AI Data Center End to End, with Lightning AI’s Frank Basso

Author: Jon Krohn June 23, 2026 Duration: 1:12:01
Frank Basso, VP of Infrastructure at Lightning AI, joins Jon Krohn for a rare ground-level tour of the one layer of the AI stack the show had never covered in over a thousand episodes: the physical data center. Frank explains how Lightning AI provisions its 35,000-plus GPUs through hyperscale co-location, why everything new is liquid-to-chip cooled, how GPUs talk to each other over ultra-fast east-west networks, and what it’s actually like to stand inside a 110-decibel AI data hall. He also debunks the most persistent myths about data-center water and electricity use, and makes the case for fuel cells, nuclear power, and 800-volt DC distribution as the path forward. Additional materials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.superdatascience.com/1003⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Interested in sponsoring a SuperDataScience Podcast episode? Email natalie@superdatascience.com for sponsorship information. In this episode you will learn: (02:47) What actually makes an AI data center different from a traditional one (06:04) How Lightning AI provisions its 35,000+ GPUs through hyperscale co-location (24:01) Why liquid cooling doesn’t waste water, debunking the biggest data-center myth (29:46) East-west vs. north-south networks, explained (43:47) “Screaming banshees”: why AI data halls run at 105–110 decibels (51:52) Why data centers don’t actually drive up your power bill

Hosted by Dr. Jon Krohn, Super Data Science: ML & AI Podcast with Jon Krohn is a deep and accessible exploration of how artificial intelligence and machine learning are reshaping our world. Each episode features conversations with leading researchers, engineers, and entrepreneurs from both academia and industry, breaking down complex ideas into something tangible and relevant. You'll hear firsthand about emerging techniques, practical applications, and the evolving landscape of data-driven careers. The sheer volume of data in our world is growing at a staggering rate, and this podcast serves as a guide to understanding that expansion and finding your place within it. Rather than offering abstract theory, these discussions focus on real-world impact, from cutting-edge algorithms to the human stories behind major breakthroughs. Tune in for a thoughtful, nuanced look at the tools and trends that are defining the future, all through the lens of experts who are building that future every day. Whether you're actively working in the field or simply curious about the forces driving technological change, this podcast provides a consistent source of insight and inspiration, demystifying the science that is quietly transforming every aspect of our lives.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Super Data Science: ML & AI Podcast with Jon Krohn
Podcast Episodes
1006: In Case You Missed It in June 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:06
In this month's episode of ICYMI, hear from Chip Huyen, Andrey Kurenkov, Frank Basso and Gilbert Eijkelenboom, discussing why moats are shifting toward physical systems and accumulated product intuition, how Astrocade bu…
1004: Recursive Self-Improvement [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:00
Could an AI get good enough at AI research to build its own, more capable successor and kick off a compounding loop? That’s recursive self-improvement (RSI) and it surged into the conversation after Anthropic revealed th…
1002: Fable 5: The Full Story from Capabilities to Drama [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:24
Anthropic’s Claude Fable 5 was the most capable AI model ever released to the public and it lasted just three days before the US government forced it offline. Jon Krohn unpacks both halves of the story: what makes Fable…
999: What's Left to Build When Software Is Free, with Chip Huyen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:44
Chip Huyen joins host Jon Krohn for this milestone episode 999 to talk about her record-breaking book "AI Engineering" the most-read title on the O'Reilly platform last year and how the AI landscape has shifted since her…
998: In Case You Missed It in May 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:41
In this month’s episode of ICYMI, Jon Krohn explores how AI agents are simultaneously creating new risks and unlocking powerful new ways of working with data. Hear from Anneka Gupta, Cal Al-Dhubaib, Trevor Manz, Jazmia H…
997: How This Text-to-Video-Game AI Startup Hit 20M Users [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:33
Dr. Andrey Kurenkov returns to the show to talk about Astrocade's astronomical growth from pre-alpha to over 20 million engaged users, what it actually takes to build a vibe-coding platform that scales, and how the broad…