HPA Tech Retreat 2025: Key Takeaways and Insights for the Future of Media Production

Written by Bret Brasso, CRO at Cerio

The HPA Tech Retreat 2025 brought together media and entertainment leaders from major studios to explore the latest technologies shaping the future of content creation. From AI-driven production to cost-efficient infrastructure, key themes emerged that are redefining the industry. Here are our top takeaways:  

1. Cost Optimization Media Workflows

Industry leaders emphasized the urgent need to reduce operational costs through automation, cloud-based solutions, and smarter data center management. This aligns with Cerio’s mission—enabling studios to scale efficiently while driving down expenses through high-performance, flexible infrastructure. 

2. AI-Driven Production is Transforming Media 

AI is revolutionizing media workflows by automating repetitive tasks, enhancing creative possibilities, and accelerating content delivery. From real-time rendering to AI-assisted editing, studios are seeking high-performance computing solutions that can support these cutting-edge innovations—an area where Cerio’s infrastructure excels. 

3. The Shift to Open, Software-Defined Media Infrastructure 

The move toward open, software-defined architectures is enabling greater scalability, interoperability, and efficiency. Studios are now prioritizing solutions that provide flexibility in resource allocation, allowing for seamless content creation and distribution. 

Real Conversations, Real Impact 

At HPA, we had incredible discussions with customers, systems integrators, and service partners about their biggest challenges. One recurring theme? The inefficiency of manually reallocating GPUs to meet production needs. When we demonstrated how this could be done in minutes via a command line, it was a game-changer. 

One customer shared how they were purchasing costly accelerators with expensive licensing for every server, despite major underutilization. When we introduced the idea of centralized accelerator allocation, they realized the potential for huge cost savings—aligning perfectly with their cost-cutting goals. 

Another exciting takeaway was how Cerio’s solutions can reduce the cost needed to drive Volume Walls by 50%-75%—a revelation that left many attendees eager to explore further.

The Future is Here—And It’s More Efficient Than Ever 

HPA Tech Retreat 2025 reinforced that the future of media production hinges on cost-efficient, scalable, and AI-powered solutions. As a leader in high-performance computing for media and entertainment, Cerio is at the forefront of this transformation, helping studios maximize resources, streamline workflows, and drive innovation. 

Want to learn more about how Cerio can optimize your media infrastructure? Let’s continue the conversation. 

Why Cerio? 

At Cerio, we help businesses maximize AI infrastructure investments by enabling dynamic, cost-effective, high-performance solutions. Our focus is on delivering evolved, composable systems that challenge outdated models and empower organizations to scale AI intelligently. Whether you’re scaling AI workloads or optimizing existing resources, we provide a smarter, more efficient way to power AI. Talk to us about how Cerio can help you make the most of your AI investment—without unnecessary costs.