Omen AI has acquired rival Aquatic Labs for $16 million in a cash-and-stock deal to develop real-time sensors for monitoring data center cooling systems. The acquisition, announced on November 2, 2026, combines both companies’ sensor technologies to help operators detect cooling problems, reduce water consumption, and prevent equipment downtime.
Founded in 2024, Omen AI develops sensors that continuously analyze cooling fluids, identifying potential issues such as equipment failures, bacterial contamination, and changes in water composition. The company raised $31 million in Series A funding in June 2026, several months before announcing the acquisition.
Combining Sensor Technologies for Real-Time Monitoring
Omen AI founder Zach Laberge was introduced to Aquatic Labs CEO Allan Adams through an investor in the filtration industry. Both companies were developing real-time water monitoring systems, although their sensors measured different properties.
Omen AI’s technology analyzes elements and biological contaminants in cooling fluids, while Aquatic Labs specializes in measuring alkalinity, which indicates a fluid’s ability to neutralize acid. Combining these capabilities could help operators identify conditions that contribute to corrosion, mineral buildup, and restricted water flow.
Adams, a former MIT physics professor and researcher at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, will join Omen AI as chief science officer. He will oversee research and development as the combined teams integrate their technologies into a single sensor, which they expect to introduce in early 2027.
Expansion Plans and Water Conservation
According to TechCrunch, Omen AI expects its initial sensors to monitor chips consuming between 250 and 300 megawatts of power by the end of 2026, representing approximately $5 billion to $7 billion in computing infrastructure. The company aims to expand coverage to the equivalent of 1 gigawatt of chips by the end of 2027.
The technology addresses a longstanding challenge in data center operations, where cooling fluids are typically tested by laboratories over several days. Continuous monitoring could allow operators to identify problems earlier instead of draining cooling systems and shutting down equipment for maintenance.
U.S. data centers consume approximately 17 billion to 19 billion gallons of water annually for cooling, according to The Water Foundation. The organization estimates that consumption could triple over the next five years as demand for computing infrastructure increases.
Adams also identified potential applications beyond data centers, particularly in monitoring wastewater before it enters municipal systems. Laberge said Omen AI’s current business remains focused on existing and already-financed data center projects, limiting its immediate exposure to changing investor sentiment toward AI infrastructure spending.
Featured image credits: Omen AI
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