"Exactly the opposite of what AI and mission-critical workloads require": Dell VP says recycling enterprise SSDs to save costs could result in catastrophic data loss

• Reused enterprise SSDs amplify failure risks under sustained AI workload pressure
• Flash wear remains a physical limit that software optimization cannot erase
• Drive reclamation trades short-term capacity gains for long-term reliability concerns

The ongoing shortage of enterprise SSDs has forced data center operators to rethink how they manage storage resources as AI workloads increase pressure.

A senior Dell executive has warned reusing enterprise SSDs creates serious reliability risks at a time when storage systems remain in short supply.

Flash media degrades with repeated write cycles, and older drives can fail more quickly once operators place them back into demanding environments.