If you know one thing about AI, it’s that it requires a lot of data to train. The more data you can feed into a large language model (LLM), image generator, or recommendation algorithm, the better the results become. But AI’s relationship to big data goes deeper than just its diet. AI can also help us make sense of the large data volumes we own.  

Through indexing, cataloging, and image-recognition capabilities, AI has become a powerful search engine that has redefined the way enterprises treat their data. Suddenly,  almost all enterprise data could be seen as valuable if made available to an AI engine. Even long-dormant archival “cold” data might contain valuable insights when presented to an AI model.  

Types of cold data in active archiving 

Of course, an organization has more than just archival data. Media-heavy organizations in particular must contend with a steady stream of new and actively utilized data on a regular basis. However, organizations must thoroughly understand their cold data assets to unlock their full strategic value.  

The three key types of cold data, according to the Active Archive Alliance's annual report are:  

• Historical data: Data collected for past projects or analyses that are no longer actively used or trained on. These could include previous data versions that newer or updated data have superseded.  

• Long-term compliance data: Data stored for reference or compliance purposes but not actively accessed for ongoing AI tasks. These could include data collected for regulatory compliance, legal requirements, or long-term analysis.  

• Experimentation data: Data used for experimental purposes or preliminary investigations that are not part of the primary workflow. These data sets may be kept for reference but are not regularly accessed once the experimentation phase is complete. 

The key to creating an AI-friendly archive environment comes down to selecting the right storage for each stage of the AI pipeline. Our focus at Wasabi is on the data ingest and archive stages. Storage must scale efficiently to accommodate extensive media archives, provide seamless on-demand access for both human and AI users, and keep costs down to ensure practical implementation. Cloud object storage represents the nexus of these requirements and more, and it’s why we’re thrilled to join the Active Archive Alliance as the organization’s newest cloud object storage vendor. 

The cost factor 

If you’re in the archive space, you may have heard the term “cheap and deep” used to refer to archive storage mediums. While “cheap and deep” cloud storage may come with an initial low cost per terabyte, it often comes with unexpected or hidden costs that quickly increase the overall price.  

In the realm of cloud object storage, you may incur exorbitant data access and utilization fees that far exceed what you’re paying in storage. In fact, nearly half of an organization’s storage bill can go to non-storage fees, according to the Wasabi 2025 Cloud Storage Index Report. These colder and cheaper storage tiers charge for every instance of data access and though the fees appear small (only fractions of a penny per 1,000, for example) they have a way of adding up quickly.  

This is especially true for AI, where data stored in archives is regularly accessed for new model training and fine-tuning. Organizations who want to pursue an AI-forward active archive strategy should be wary of what may seem like a good deal when choosing a cloud storage destination. Instead, consider a storage provider that does not penalize your access and data movement with hefty fees that can quickly steamroll out of control and break your budget.  

The Wasabi difference 

Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage is highly available, cost-effective, and secure cloud object storage. Our combination of price, performance, and cyber-resilience make us an ideal destination for active archive workloads.  

• Availability: our storage is instantly accessible and usable in AI workloads.  

• Cost: We provide low per-TB storage rates with no hidden charges for API requests or data transfers (egress). This pricing model delivers both affordability and predictable monthly storage expenses.  

• Cyber-resilience: Our cloud object storage keeps your archive stored securely using a multilayered, zero trust approach at the physical, data, and account security levels. 

As the newest cloud storage provider in the Active Archive Alliance, our combination of affordability with high performance delivers on the Alliance’s values. We are thrilled to participate in the group’s AI Virtual Showcase on March 19 where I will speak on the intersection between AI and active archiving. We hope to see you there!