Surging AI and Data Center CapEx: Are We on the Verge of a Bubble? w/ Wasif Khan

The Manufacturing Executive · 17 Mar 2026 · 32m · Episode 301

What this episode covers

Wasif Khan, CFO and Co-Founder of viaPhoton, argues that the surge in AI data center capital expenditure is not a bubble but a transformative shift comparable to the move to cloud computing, driven by massive potential labor efficiency gains. He advises manufacturing leaders to navigate this volatile market by keeping fixed costs low, maintaining flexible balance sheets with broad loan covenants, and focusing on team morale. Khan also discusses viaPhoton's culture of giving young engineers significant responsibility to foster growth in a high-stakes environment.

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