As the demand for generative AI technologies continues to grow, data centers are facing unprecedented challenges in meeting the infrastructure requirements needed to support these advanced workloads. Corning Incorporated has unveiled GlassWorks AI™, an innovative suite of solutions aimed at addressing these challenges. The end-to-end portfolio combines industry-leading cable and connectivity technologies with network planning, design, and deployment support to help operators build the dense fiber infrastructure essential for AI-driven operations.
The Need for Dense and Scalable Fiber Infrastructure
AI workloads, particularly generative AI models, require an immense amount of computing power. This translates to a need for highly dense, high-performance fiber optic solutions both inside the data center and across the long-haul networks connecting them. Corning’s GlassWorks AI suite is designed to meet these needs with cutting-edge technologies like Contour™ Flow Cable, a game-changing solution that doubles the fiber capacity in existing cable diameters, enabling more efficient and cost-effective deployments.
challenges faced by operators include:
- Scalability: As the use of AI workloads grows, the demand for robust fiber infrastructure also increases.
- Density: Large GPU clusters within data centers require more fiber connections in a compact space, presenting significant challenges for conventional infrastructure.
GlassWorks AI addresses these issues by offering flexible, high-density solutions tailored to the unique demands of AI workloads.
Innovations Driving the Future of Data Centers
At the core of Corning’s GlassWorks AI solution is the new Contour Flow Cable, which features SMF-28® Contour fiber—a 40% smaller fiber designed for improved bend resilience in high-density environments. This smaller diameter fiber enables Corning to provide data center solutions that can accommodate 36 times more fiber connections in a single rack unit compared to traditional legacy connectors. These innovations are pivotal in meeting the growing connectivity demands of AI-driven infrastructure.
Features of GlassWorks AI Solutions:
- Contour Flow Cable: This innovative cable simplifies and accelerates deployments by fitting twice the fiber into the same cable diameter as traditional solutions, allowing for more efficient use of space.
- High-Density Cables and Connector Assemblies: GlassWorks AI includes high-density cables, shuffle solutions, and MMC-based connector assemblies that maximize space while ensuring optimal performance within data center racks.
- SMF-28 Contour Fiber: This smaller, more resilient fiber ensures better performance in environments with high optical density, offering significant improvements in bend resilience and facilitating efficient infrastructure scaling.
- Scalable Solutions for AI Workloads: Designed specifically for the massive-scale GPU clusters required by AI, these solutions provide a foundation for data centers to grow and adapt as AI demands evolve.
Corning’s Commitment to AI Infrastructure
“GlassWorks AI exemplifies Corning’s world-leading expertise in materials science, bringing forward breakthrough products that expand the possibilities of generative AI for our customers,” said Sean Kelly, Vice President and Business Director of Corning’s Data Center Business Unit. “Our Contour Flow cable enables data centers to connect city-to-city networks quickly and cost-effectively, providing future-ready optical performance without expensive infrastructure buildouts.”
Corning’s portfolio of GlassWorks AI solutions is designed not only to meet the growing demands of AI workloads but to offer a cost-effective and future-proof infrastructure model for operators as they scale to support next-generation technologies.
See GlassWorks AI at OFC 2025
Corning will be showcasing its GlassWorks AI suite and Contour Flow Cable at the 2025 Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exposition (OFC) in San Francisco from April 1-3, 2025. Attendees can visit Booth 1643 to explore how Corning’s innovations can help meet the evolving infrastructure requirements of the AI industry.
With the launch of GlassWorks AI, Corning is positioning itself as a leader in the development of fiber infrastructure solutions for generative AI and data centers. Through the introduction of Contour Flow Cable and other cutting-edge technologies, Corning is helping operators meet the unprecedented scale and density requirements of AI workloads, ensuring that data centers are equipped to support the next generation of AI-driven innovations.
