Omen AI has acquired competitor Aquatic Labs in a $16 million cash-and-stock deal to improve real-time water monitoring for AI data centers. The acquisition unites Omen's water element sensors with Aquatic Labs' alkalinity testing technology to create a unified sensor that provides a richer picture of fluid health. The combined technology aims to replace slow, manual laboratory testing processes and will be integrated into a single sensor expected on the market by early next year.
Founded in 2024, Omen AI builds real-time sensors to detect valve failures and bacteria growth in data center cooling systems. U.S. data centers currently use billions of gallons of water annually to cool hot-running AI chips, a figure projected to triple within five years. By continuously monitoring cooling fluids instead of sending samples away for multi-day lab tests, data center operators can avoid costly shutdowns, safely extend fluid usage, and minimize cleanup expenses.
Omen founder Zach Laberge and Aquatic Labs CEO Allan Adams connected through an investor, leading to the merger of their complementary water-sensing technologies. Adams has joined Omen as chief science officer as the team works toward deployment on massive power loads by the end of 2027. Despite broader investor skepticism regarding AI infrastructure buildouts, Omen remains insulated from market shifts because its technology targets facilities that are already built and financed.
This acquisition matters because efficient real-time fluid monitoring helps data center operators prevent catastrophic equipment damage, reduce massive water waste, and maintain continuous uptime for the booming artificial intelligence sector.