Breaking the Cost Barrier: Achieving Sustainable AI Innovation in Media & Entertainment 

Written by Darci Penney, Director of Sales – Media & Entertainment

Media & Entertainment (M&E) studios face a dual challenge: delivering cutting-edge content powered by artificial intelligence (AI) while managing skyrocketing infrastructure costs. From real-time visual effects (VFX) to AI-augmented post-production, the demand for compute-intensive workflows is growing exponentially.  

Yet, traditional fixed GPU workstations often lead to underutilized resources, overheating systems, and unsustainable energy consumption. Enter Cerio’s M&E Package—a game-changing solution that redefines how studios approach AI innovation with composable infrastructure.  

At Cerio, we’re breaking the cost barrier by delivering scalable, sustainable, and cost-effective infrastructure that empowers M&E companies to create premium content faster and greener. Here’s how our platform is transforming the industry. 

The Cost Challenge in M&E Innovation 

The M&E industry is at a pivotal moment. IDC predicts that by 2026, over 50% of film studios will adopt virtual production techniques, relying heavily on AI and GPU acceleration. However, traditional infrastructure struggles to keep up. Fixed workstations, designed for specific tasks, often sit idle when not in use, wasting valuable resources. Scaling these systems requires costly hardware upgrades, additional data center space, and increased energy consumption—challenges that strain budgets and conflict with the industry’s push for sustainability. 

For example, rendering a single high-resolution VFX scene can require dozens of GPUs, while AI-driven tasks like audio processing or content personalization demand a mix of accelerators. Studios using rigid systems face trade-offs: either overprovision hardware to meet peak demand or risk delays that frustrate on-demand audiences. These inefficiencies not only inflate costs but also contribute to a larger carbon footprint, a growing concern as 70% of M&E executives prioritize green data centers, according to recent industry surveys.

With competing demands for performance, cost, and sustainability, which of these critical priorities do you optimize for? 

Cerio’s Solution: Composable Infrastructure for AI-Driven Workflows 

Cerio’s M&E Package, built on our Accelerated Computing Platform, eliminates these trade-offs by introducing software-defined composable infrastructure. Our platform dynamically allocates GPUs, DPUs, and other PCIe devices to match the exact needs of each workflow—whether it’s rendering, VFX editing, or AI augmentation. This flexibility delivers premium content at half the cost of conventional infrastructure while slashing energy consumption. 

Key Benefits of Cerio’s M&E Package 

1. Cost Efficiency Through Dynamic Resource Allocation 

• Cerio’s platform composes GPU resources in real time, ensuring no device sits idle. For instance, a studio can dedicate H100 GPUs for rendering during pre-production and seamlessly reallocate them for AI-driven editing in post-production. 

• Deployments using Cerio’s M&E Package achieve up to 4x GPU productivity and reduce infrastructure requirements by 50%, freeing up budgets for creative innovation. 

2. Sustainability Without Compromise 

• By optimizing GPU utilization, Cerio reduces the need for redundant workstations, lowering energy consumption and data center footprint. 

• Our platform’s elastic scale ensures studios only use the resources they need, aligning with the industry’s sustainability goals and reducing operational costs. 

3. Future-Proofing AI Innovation 

• Cerio’s PCIe-compliant architecture supports a mix of accelerators (e.g., RTX 5000/6000, H100s, DPUs) without requiring changes to BIOS, OS, or drivers. This flexibility enables studios to adopt emerging technologies like AI-driven personalization or AR/VR experiences without costly overhauls. 

4. Minimized Downtime with Software-Based Repair and Redundancy 

• Cerio’s platform uses software-based repair and redundancy to ensure resilient systems, minimizing downtime. If a GPU fails during a critical VFX rendering session, tasks are automatically rerouted to other resources, maintaining seamless performance. 

• Real-time diagnostics identify issues proactively, enabling maintenance without costly on-site repairs. This near-zero downtime is vital for M&E studios meeting tight deadlines for films or live broadcasts. 

Real-World Impact: Powering the Future of Storytelling 

Imagine a studio working on a blockbuster film with complex VFX and virtual production scenes. Using Cerio’s M&E Package, the team composes a pool of GPUs for real-time rendering on LED volume walls during shooting. Post-production begins, and the same GPUs are dynamically reallocated for AI-augmented editing, such as automated color grading or audio enhancement. This unified infrastructure streamlines workflows, cuts costs, and accelerates delivery—enabling the studio to meet tight deadlines while staying within budget. 

Cerio’s platform also empowers smaller studios to compete with industry giants. By eliminating the need for expensive, dedicated hardware, our solution democratizes access to AI-driven tools, allowing independent creators to produce high-quality content with minimal investment. 

Why Cerio is the Right Choice for M&E 

As consumer demand for immersive, on-demand content grows, M&E companies need infrastructure that’s as dynamic as their creative vision.  

Cerio’s M&E Package delivers: 

• Unmatched Cost Savings: Achieve premium content at half the cost of traditional systems. 

• Sustainable Innovation: Reduce energy consumption and align with green data center initiatives. 

• Scalable Flexibility: Adapt to new AI and GPU-driven workflows without infrastructure overhauls. 

At Cerio, we’re not just reimagining infrastructure—we’re empowering the future of storytelling in Media & Entertainment.