As AI workloads keep ballooning and data needs stretch wider every quarter, the phrase “ai storage” suddenly feels heavier. It’s the backbone – capacity, speed, efficiency, reliability – all rolled into one system – that lets AI actually function at scale. Seagate’s Exos Mozaic 3+ hard drives nail that balance.
Redefining AI Storage with Higher Areal Density
At the heart of Mozaic 3+ is a sharp leap forward in Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR). It delivers 3 TB per platter, which stacks up to 36 TB inside a regular 3.5″ drive.
For data centres, this shift means you can park enormous AI datasets in half the physical space. That also cuts power consumption and lowers cost per terabyte – two things that always end up on the balance sheet.
Efficiency Scaled Up: Storage That Fits AI Budgets
AI pipelines – whether it’s massive training clusters or just inference racks – demand scale without emptying budgets or choking energy supply. Mozaic 3+ has:
- Up to 300 % more capacity without needing more rack space.
- Around 25 % cheaper per TB, plus 60 % less power draw per TB, compared with older drives.
When storage economics align like this, it flips the equation – suddenly every gigabyte isn’t a liability.
Built with AI in Mind
So why is Mozaic 3+ such a fit for “ai storage”? It’s not simply the sheer size. It’s the engineering underneath:
- Works seamlessly with enterprise setups – basically plug it in and run.
- Carries over 90 % of proven Exos design DNA, so reliability isn’t in question.
- HAMR tech done right: Superlattice Platinum-Alloy platters, plasmonic writer that heats to 800 °F in under 2 ns, a Gen 7 Spintronic reader, and a 12 nm controller – all ensuring data flows in and out accurately.
AI loads thrive on throughput and uptime, and this drive architecture was clearly designed around that.
Durability and Sustainability
Operational costs and sustainability go hand in hand here:
- About 45 % more efficient per TB, with over 50 % lower embodied carbon in production.
For data centres under constant scrutiny – both financial and environmental – this matters a lot more than it sounds.
From Lab to Reality
These drives aren’t prototypes – they’re already in the field:
- Seagate shipped early samples of Exos M drives (Mozaic 3+ based) at 36 TB in early 2025.
- By mid-2025, production units – 30 TB and 28 TB Exos M, plus IronWolf Pro – were hitting the market, hitting 275 MB/s, with HAMR-enabled Mozaic 3+ now part of mainstream storage.
- Reviews called the Exos M 30 TB “a dream for serious data hoarders,” citing 300 MB/s sustained speeds, crazy density, and enterprise stability – exactly what’s needed in AI training stacks or long-term archives.
What’s Next for AI Storage?
The roadmap isn’t slowing:
- The 36 TB Mozaic 3+ is the current high mark.
- But by 2026 we’re looking at 40 TB models, then 50 TB by 2028, and a stretch goal of 100 TB drives by 2030.
That trajectory means AI storage doesn’t just keep pace with demand – it leads it.
Why Mozaic 3+ Sets the Standard for AI Storage
| Feature | Why It Matters for AI Storage |
|---|---|
| 3 TB per platter / 36 TB capacity | Keep massive training datasets without ballooning costs |
| 3× power-efficiency per TB | Handle AI compute needs without tripping energy limits |
| Plug-in integration | Fits right into current racks – no redesign headaches |
| Enterprise reliability & security | Critical for nonstop inferencing and data retrieval |
| Sustainability gains | Aligns with green data-centre mandates and regulations |
Whether it’s training pipelines or hyperscale inference, Exos Mozaic 3+ is more than just another drive. It defines what AI storage means right now.
Contact Seagate’s specialists here: https://exertisenterprise.com/seagate/
