News/AI Infrastructure
White House unveils AI action plan prioritizing innovation over regulation
The White House has released an artificial intelligence "action plan" that consolidates pro-innovation executive orders issued since January 2025, explicitly prioritizing American AI superiority through deregulation and reduced oversight. The plan represents a significant departure from the Biden administration's approach, which emphasized bias reduction and regulatory safeguards, instead favoring rapid private-sector development and market-driven innovation. The big picture: The action plan is built around three strategic pillars designed to maintain America's competitive edge in AI development. Accelerating AI innovation focuses on removing regulatory barriers, promoting open-source AI development, and expanding workforce training programs. Building American AI infrastructure targets energy systems,...
read Oct 6, 2025Meta targets chip startup Rivos in multibillion-dollar deal to reduce Nvidia dependence
Meta is reportedly looking to acquire chip startup Rivos in a multibillion-dollar deal aimed at strengthening its in-house semiconductor program and reducing dependence on Nvidia. The acquisition would give Meta greater control over its AI infrastructure as the company prioritizes artificial intelligence development over its previous metaverse ambitions, with AI spending commitments reaching tens of billions of dollars. What you should know: Meta executives have grown frustrated with the slow pace of internal chip development, prompting leadership to explore external acquisitions to accelerate progress. The company already operates its own chip project called Meta Training and Inference Accelerator (MTIA), but...
read Oct 6, 2025OpenAI partners with AMD for AI chips, gets option to buy 10% stake
OpenAI has signed a partnership with semiconductor manufacturer AMD to supply high-performance chips for its AI infrastructure, with OpenAI also receiving the option to purchase up to 10% of AMD's shares. The deal positions AMD as a key alternative to Nvidia's dominance in AI computing while highlighting the massive infrastructure demands needed to support advanced AI development. Key details: The agreement centers on AMD's next-generation Instinct MI450 graphics chips, expected to debut in 2026.• OpenAI will purchase chips capable of delivering 6 gigawatts of computing power for its "next generation" AI infrastructure.• The first 1-gigawatt batch is scheduled for deployment...
read Oct 3, 2025Never mind! Cerebras withdraws IPO, after raising $1B at $8B valuation
AI chipmaker Cerebras has withdrawn its initial public offering plans after raising $1 billion in private funding at an $8 billion valuation. The decision comes amid regulatory scrutiny and concerns about the company's heavy reliance on a concentrated customer base, highlighting the challenges facing AI hardware companies seeking public market access. What you should know: Cerebras opted for private funding over public markets despite previously filing for an IPO. The company secured $1 billion in new private investment, valuing the AI chip specialist at $8 billion. Regulatory scrutiny and customer concentration risks were key factors behind the IPO withdrawal decision....
read Oct 3, 2025Nvidia and Fujitsu partner to build Japan’s AI infrastructure by 2030
Nvidia and Fujitsu announced a strategic partnership to develop AI infrastructure and smart robotics technology in Japan, with CEO Jensen Huang declaring that "the AI industrial revolution has already begun." The collaboration aims to establish comprehensive AI infrastructure across Japan by 2030, initially targeting the Japanese market before potential global expansion. What you should know: The partnership will focus on building foundational AI systems across multiple industries using Nvidia's graphics processing unit (GPU) technology. The companies plan to develop AI applications for healthcare, manufacturing, environmental solutions, next-generation computing, and customer services. Fujitsu will leverage its decades of experience in the...
read Oct 3, 2025AI comes home as consumer advocates warn data centers could drive up your electric bill
Consumer advocates are raising concerns that the massive energy demands of AI data centers could drive up electric bills for residential customers across the United States. The warning comes as utility companies grapple with unprecedented power consumption from artificial intelligence operations, which require vastly more energy than traditional computing due to their simultaneous processing of billions of calculations. What you should know: AI's energy consumption far exceeds traditional computing because of how the technology processes information. "The difference between what we are using for AI and what we are using for our regular computer is that it's actually running everything...
read Oct 3, 2025Microsoft to replace Nvidia GPUs with its own Maia accelerators
Microsoft CTO Kevin Scott announced the company plans to transition most of its AI workloads from Nvidia and AMD GPUs to its own homegrown Maia accelerators in the coming years. The strategic shift reflects Microsoft's pursuit of better price-performance ratios and greater control over its datacenter infrastructure, positioning the company to compete more effectively with Amazon and Google, who have been developing custom silicon for years. What you should know: Microsoft is betting big on its second-generation Maia accelerator to challenge GPU dominance in its datacenters. The company successfully moved OpenAI's GPT-3.5 to its first-generation Maia 100 chips in 2023,...
read Oct 2, 2025Private credit firms pivot to $29B AI data centers amid capital struggles
Private credit managers are pivoting toward artificial intelligence data centers as they struggle to deploy record amounts of fundraised capital while traditional banks regain ground in corporate lending. This strategic shift represents a crucial lifeline for an industry sitting on mountains of uncommitted cash, with AI infrastructure offering the large-scale investment opportunities needed to justify their massive war chests. The big picture: Major asset managers are making substantial bets on AI data center financing as a way to stay competitive and relevant in an increasingly challenging lending environment. Key deals driving the trend: Recent high-profile transactions demonstrate the scale of...
read Oct 2, 2025Korean AI startup quality surges as US infrastructure boom creates opportunities
JP Lee, CEO and managing partner of South Korean venture capital firm SBVA, says the quantity of Korean AI startups has decreased but their quality has dramatically improved. Lee views the massive US investment in AI infrastructure as a significant opportunity for Korean startups to capitalize on, particularly as SBVA focuses on investing across the broader AI ecosystem beyond just large language models and applications. What you should know: SBVA is positioning itself to leverage the AI infrastructure boom happening in the United States to benefit Korean startups. The venture capital firm is taking a strategic approach by investing across...
read Oct 1, 2025Crusoe powers up Central Texas AI data center with Oracle partnership
Crusoe has officially powered up the first phase of its flagship Stargate data center campus in Abilene, Texas, developed in partnership with Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. The rapid deployment—going from groundbreaking in June 2024 to operational facilities running Nvidia GB200 racks just over a year later—represents a significant milestone in U.S. AI infrastructure development and demonstrates how quickly large-scale AI computing facilities can be brought online. What you should know: The Abilene campus is already processing AI training and inference workloads with cutting-edge hardware delivered by Oracle. Oracle began delivering Nvidia GB200 racks in June 2025, enabling the site to run...
read Oct 1, 2025BlackRock nears $38B AES deal to capitalize on AI power demand
BlackRock's infrastructure fund Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) is nearing a $38 billion deal to acquire renewable power company AES, according to the Financial Times. The acquisition would position BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, to capitalize on surging power demand driven by AI data centers, while representing one of the largest infrastructure takeovers in history. What you should know: AES is a prominent U.S. utility that owns and operates power plants globally, providing energy solutions for major tech companies including Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta as they expand AI infrastructure.• Takeover talks are in advanced stages, though the deal could still...
read Sep 30, 2025Meta acquires RISC-V chip startup Rivos to reduce Nvidia dependence
Meta is acquiring chip startup Rivos, a RISC-V architecture specialist backed by Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan, according to sources familiar with the matter. The deal represents Meta's continued push to reduce its reliance on expensive Nvidia chips by developing in-house semiconductor capabilities for its AI infrastructure. What you should know: Meta has been one of Rivos' biggest customers and had been in discussions about a potential acquisition. The Santa Clara-based startup focuses on designing chips based on RISC-V architecture, an open-source alternative to traditional architectures from Arm, Intel, and AMD. Deal terms remain undisclosed, and neither Meta nor Rivos responded...
read Sep 30, 20252 Southern Republican governors and a Midwestern one embrace AI data centers as revenue jackpot
Three Republican governors from Southern states embraced artificial intelligence data centers as economic game-changers while rejecting government subsidies for clean energy during a panel at the Southern States Energy Board conference. The governors of Mississippi, Georgia, and Missouri advocated for market-driven energy solutions as Southern states compete to attract AI data center investments that could generate substantial tax revenues and transform rural economies. What you should know: Southern states are aggressively pursuing AI data center investments as major tech companies expand their infrastructure footprint. Meta announced a $1.5 billion investment in a 1.3 million square foot data center in Montgomery,...
read Sep 30, 2025Chip toolmakers like Teradyne and Lam Research double amid AI boom
AI-focused investors are increasingly turning to lesser-known semiconductor equipment suppliers as chip stocks soar to expensive valuations. Companies like Teradyne, Lam Research, and KLA Corp—which make the tools and machines used to manufacture semiconductors—have emerged as standout performers, with some stocks nearly doubling since spring as traders seek new ways to capitalize on the AI boom. What you should know: Semiconductor equipment makers are outperforming many traditional chip stocks as investors hunt for AI exposure beyond the most obvious plays. Teradyne Inc., which provides chip testing tools during manufacturing, has nearly doubled from its April low and gained more than...
read Sep 30, 2025CoreWeave shares rise as company signs $14B deal with Meta for AI computing power
CoreWeave has signed a $14 billion agreement with Meta to supply computing power, marking the latest massive infrastructure deal as companies scramble to meet surging demand for AI applications. The deal sent CoreWeave shares up 10% in premarket trading and underscores the intense capital flows driving AI infrastructure expansion, though it also raises questions about potential market bubbles and circular financing patterns. What you should know: This represents one of the largest AI infrastructure deals to date, highlighting the enormous capital requirements for modern AI operations. CoreWeave will provide Meta access to Nvidia's latest GB300 systems as part of the...
read Sep 29, 2025London-based Vaire Computing’s Ice River chip cuts AI energy use by 30%
Vaire Computing has successfully tested its Ice River chip, which demonstrated a 30% reduction in energy consumption compared to standard processors by reusing energy rather than discarding it as heat. The proof-of-concept achievement addresses growing concerns about AI's escalating energy demands, though questions remain about whether hyperscale operators will adopt such technology over their own internal solutions. How it works: Ice River tackles processor inefficiency through two key innovations that fundamentally change how chips handle energy. The chip uses reversible logic gates that allow energy to flow in both directions, enabling calculations to reuse inputs for further operations rather than...
read Sep 29, 2025NVIDIA unveils open-source robotics platform with physics simulation and AI reasoning
NVIDIA unveiled a comprehensive robotics development platform at the Conference on Robot Learning (CoRL) in Seoul, introducing open-source tools designed to accelerate the transition from research labs to real-world robotic applications. The semiconductor giant's latest announcements center on solving fundamental challenges in robotics development: creating realistic simulations for training, enabling human-like reasoning in robots, and bridging the gap between virtual testing and physical deployment. The new platform combines three core technologies that work together as an integrated system. The Newton Physics Engine provides realistic simulation environments where robots can safely learn complex tasks. The Isaac GR00T foundation model serves as...
read Sep 29, 2025Oracle’s $300B TikTok deal raises AI societal surveillance concerns
Oracle's acquisition of TikTok's U.S. operations has taken on new significance following Chairman Larry Ellison's previous comments about AI-powered surveillance becoming ubiquitous in daily life. The deal positions Oracle, already a major AI infrastructure provider with a $300 billion OpenAI contract, to control one of America's most popular social media platforms and its powerful algorithm. What you should know: President Trump signed an executive order Thursday clearing the way for Oracle and other American investors to acquire TikTok's U.S. business from Chinese parent company ByteDance. Oracle will lead U.S. oversight of TikTok's algorithm and security measures, with Vice President JD...
read Sep 26, 2025In the money: Nvidia’s $100B OpenAI bet sparks $12B equity fund surge
U.S. equity funds attracted $12.06 billion in net inflows during the week ending September 24, reversing two consecutive weeks of outflows as investor sentiment improved following Nvidia's announcement of a potential $100 billion investment in OpenAI. The renewed appetite for equities signals growing confidence in AI-driven market opportunities, with large-cap funds leading the charge while bond funds also experienced their strongest weekly performance since February 2021. What you should know: The equity fund turnaround represents a dramatic shift from the previous week's massive $39.91 billion outflow. Large-cap equity funds dominated the inflows with $16.94 billion in net investments, marking the...
read Sep 26, 2025Former Texas governor Rick Perry’s data center startup eyes $13B IPO amid AI boom
Rick Perry's data center company Fermi America is preparing to go public at a valuation of up to $13 billion, positioning the former Texas governor and Trump energy secretary to earn hundreds of millions from his 3% stake. The company, founded just this year, plans to build the world's largest private electric grid and data center complex in Texas, named after President Trump and powered by nuclear, natural gas, wind, and solar energy. What you should know: Fermi America aims to raise up to $550 million through its IPO, with shares expected to list between $18-$22 on both Nasdaq and...
read Sep 25, 2025The best AI becomes invisible infrastructure, according to Grammarly’s CEO
Grammarly CEO Shishir Mehrotra argues that artificial intelligence becomes invisible infrastructure once it works effectively, with AI agents already embedded throughout digital systems without being recognized as such. This perspective reframes the AI conversation from futuristic speculation to present-day reality, suggesting that successful AI integration happens when technology seamlessly blends into existing workflows rather than announcing itself as revolutionary innovation. What you should know: AI agents are already operating across countless systems, but we've stopped calling them AI once they become reliable infrastructure. Traffic systems that adjust timing based on car detection, Grammarly's real-time writing assistance, and spam filters all...
read Sep 24, 2025Meta moves to sell wholesale electricity through new subsidiary Atem Energy
Meta has filed an application with federal regulators to sell wholesale electricity through its newly formed subsidiary Atem Energy, marking the tech giant's entry into energy markets. The move reflects Meta's growing need to secure reliable power for its expanding AI data center infrastructure, which is driving unprecedented electricity demand across the industry. What you should know: Meta's energy subsidiary seeks broad market authorization to manage the company's massive power requirements. Atem Energy has requested Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approval to sell energy, capacity, and ancillary services by November 16. The wholly owned subsidiary was created earlier this year...
read Sep 24, 2025Alibaba boosts AI spending beyond $53B, stock surges 107%
Alibaba's Hong Kong-listed shares surged over 6% on Wednesday after CEO Eddie Wu announced plans to increase AI spending beyond the company's existing $53 billion three-year investment commitment. The rally pushed Alibaba's year-to-date gains above 107%, reaching the stock's highest level since 2021 as investors responded positively to the company's expanded artificial intelligence ambitions. What you should know: Alibaba is doubling down on AI infrastructure and development with additional investments on top of its previously announced spending plan. The company initially committed 380 billion yuan ($53 billion) over three years in February for AI infrastructure development. CEO Eddie Wu said...
read Sep 23, 2025OpenAI and partners add 5 new data centers to $500B Stargate project
OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank announced plans to build five new AI data centers across the United States as part of their $500 billion Stargate project, expanding the initiative launched by President Trump in January. The new facilities will bring the project's total data center capacity to nearly 7 gigawatts with over $400 billion in investment over the next three years, positioning the partnership to capture a significant portion of the rapidly expanding AI infrastructure market. What you should know: The five new data centers will be strategically distributed across multiple states to support the growing demand for AI computing power....
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