KKR & Co is preparing to launch a new artificial intelligence infrastructure platform backed by more than $10bn in capital, as private equity investment in digital infrastructure continues to accelerate, according to a report by Bloomberg.
The vehicle, expected to operate under the name Helix Digital Infrastructure, will focus on developing and managing assets underpinning AI deployment, including data centres, power generation and transmission, and connectivity solutions. The platform is expected to partner closely with hyperscale cloud providers to meet growing demand for computing capacity.
The initiative has already attracted commitments from a range of institutional backers, including a sovereign wealth fund and strategic partners, with additional fundraising anticipated.
Adam Selipsky, previously chief executive of Amazon Web Services and now a senior adviser to KKR, is set to lead the new company as chief executive. Waldemar Szlezak, the firm’s global head of digital infrastructure, is expected to take on the role of chief investment officer.
The move reflects intensifying competition among alternative asset managers to capitalise on surging demand for AI-related infrastructure. Significant capital is being deployed into data centre development and associated energy capacity, as the rapid expansion of AI workloads places increasing strain on existing systems.
Industry estimates suggest the scale of required investment is substantial. McKinsey & Company has previously projected that global data centre capacity could require trillions of dollars in funding by the end of the decade to keep pace with demand for compute power.
KKR has been actively building exposure to the theme through its real assets strategy, including its investment in data centre operator CyrusOne. The firm’s broader real assets platform, spanning infrastructure and real estate, accounted for $192bn in assets under management at the end of the most recent financial year.
