Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn More. As artificial intelligence drives unprecedented demand for data processing, a Mountain View startup is offering a solution to one of AI’s least discussed but most critical challenges: moving and transforming massive datasets quickly enough to keep up.Voltron Data, which announced a strategic partnership with Accenture today, has developed a GPU-accelerated analytics engine that could help enterprises overcome the data preparation bottleneck hampering AI initiatives. The company’s core product, Theseus, enables organizations to process petabyte-scale data using graphics processing units (GPUs) instead of traditional computer processors (CPUs).“Everyone’s focused on the flashy new stuff that you can touch and feel, but it’s that data set foundation underneath that is going to be key,” said Michael Abbott, who leads Accenture’s banking and capital markets practice, in an exclusive interview with VentureBeat. “To make AI work, you’ve got to move data around at a speed and pace you just never had to before.”Building for the AI tsunami: Why traditional data processing won’t cut itThe partnership comes as companies rushing to adopt generative AI are discovering their existing data infrastructure isn’t equipped to handle the volume and velocity of data required. This challenge is expected to intensify as AI agents become more prevalent in enterprise operations.“Agents will probably write more SQL queries than humans did in a very short time horizon,” said Rodrigo Aramburu, Voltron Data’s CTO and co-founder

Today, Voltrondata is introducing Theseus Test Drive, a SQL editor designed to showcase the cost-saving advantages of running SQL on accelerated hardware.

Voltron Data, a startup whose software helps companies use artificial intelligence, has switched CEOs and laid off around half its staff of 120 employees after struggling to meet its revenue target, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter.