News/AI Infrastructure
Fermi America and Hyundai plan 11GW nuclear grid for AI expansion
Fermi America and Hyundai Engineering & Construction have signed a partnership to develop what they're calling the world's largest private electrical grid—an 11-gigawatt nuclear-powered energy hub designed specifically to meet the massive electricity demands of artificial intelligence infrastructure. The ambitious Texas-based project represents a significant bet on nuclear power as the solution to AI's growing energy crisis. As AI models become more sophisticated and data centers proliferate, the technology sector is consuming electricity at unprecedented rates, creating bottlenecks that threaten to slow AI development. This hybrid energy system combines nuclear reactors with natural gas, solar power, grid electricity, and battery...
read Aug 4, 2025Amphenol acquires CommScope’s fiber unit for $10.5B as AI drives connectivity demand
Amphenol has agreed to acquire CommScope's Connectivity and Cable Solutions (CCS) business for $10.5 billion, marking the second major CommScope unit the company has purchased in under a year. The deal significantly strengthens Amphenol's position in fiber optic interconnects and data center infrastructure, particularly as AI-driven demand for high-speed connectivity continues to surge. What you should know: This acquisition builds on Amphenol's previous $2.1 billion purchase of CommScope's Andrew connectivity business in July 2024. The Andrew deal included CommScope's Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) and Outdoor Wireless Networks units, which have been consolidated under the revived Andrew brand. Amphenol's experience with...
read Aug 4, 2025Distance running: Broadcom’s Jericho4 chip connects AI data centers up to 60 miles apart
Broadcom has launched its next-generation Jericho4 networking chip designed to connect data centers up to 60 miles apart and accelerate artificial intelligence computation. The chip addresses growing demands from cloud computing giants like Microsoft and Amazon for faster, more sophisticated networking infrastructure as AI workloads become increasingly computationally intensive and require connecting thousands of graphics processors. What you should know: The Jericho4 introduces several performance enhancements specifically designed for large-scale AI data center operations. A single system can encompass roughly 4,500 chips, enabling massive deployment across extensive networks that operate inside and between data centers. The chip uses the same...
read Aug 4, 2025Deluxe AI-partment in the sky: Apple boosts spending 61% as it builds private cloud empire
Apple is preparing to significantly increase its capital expenditures to build out AI infrastructure, with CFO Kevan Parekh confirming the company anticipates "substantial" growth in capex during its Q3 2025 earnings call. The tech giant is investing heavily in its own data centers powered by Apple Silicon chips as part of its Private Cloud Compute architecture, marking a strategic shift toward first-party AI infrastructure while maintaining some reliance on third-party platforms. What you should know: Apple's AI infrastructure spending surge reflects a major strategic pivot toward owning more of its compute stack. Capital expenditures jumped to $3.46 billion in Q3...
read Aug 4, 2025Tech giants plan $400B AI spending spree as infrastructure race heats up
Big tech companies have collectively spent $155 billion on artificial intelligence infrastructure in 2025 so far, exceeding the US government's spending on education, jobs, and social services combined. This massive capital expenditure race is set to accelerate dramatically, with the four largest tech giants planning to spend over $400 billion on AI-related infrastructure in the coming fiscal year alone. The big picture: Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet are locked in an unprecedented spending competition to build the data centers, servers, and semiconductor infrastructure needed to power AI services. Meta's year-to-date capital expenditure reached $30.7 billion, doubling last year's $15.2 billion...
read Aug 4, 2025Utilities partner with Google to reduce AI power during peak demand
Google has signed agreements with two U.S. electric utilities to reduce power consumption at its AI data centers during peak demand periods, marking the tech giant's first formal participation in demand-response programs for machine learning workloads. The move addresses growing concerns about AI's massive energy requirements straining the electrical grid and potentially driving up costs for consumers while risking blackouts. What you should know: Google's partnerships with Indiana Michigan Power and Tennessee Power Authority represent the first time the company has formally agreed to scale back its AI operations to help stabilize the electrical grid. The agreements allow utilities to...
read Aug 1, 2025Fal builds generative media cloud to solve AI’s speed problem
Fal has built a generative media cloud platform optimized for speed and performance in AI inference, particularly for image, video, and audio models. The company's approach emerged from necessity during the AI infrastructure crunch, when the founding team had to engineer creative solutions around limited GPU capacity to deliver fast, reliable AI model inference. What you should know: Fal positions itself as more than just an inference platform, branding their service as a "generative media cloud" that prioritizes user experience alongside technical performance. The platform specializes in image, video, and audio model inference, addressing the common frustration users face with...
read Aug 1, 2025AI’s hungry self-checkout: Energy demands drive rising grocery prices
AI disruption is no longer confined to corporate boardrooms or tech companies—its ripple effects are now touching every aspect of daily life, including the rising cost of basic groceries like eggs. Data professional Christina Sandema-Sombe reveals how artificial intelligence's transformation of global business, workforce dynamics, and supply chains creates unexpected connections between high-tech automation and breakfast table economics. The big picture: AI is fundamentally reshaping global business operations by disrupting traditional outsourcing models, fragmenting regulatory landscapes, and forcing countries to choose between innovation leadership or economic irrelevance. Countries like India, Brazil, and Singapore are positioning themselves as AI innovation hubs...
read Jul 30, 2025Foxconn and TECO team up to build modular AI data centers
Foxconn and TECO Electric & Machinery have announced a strategic share-swap alliance to jointly develop modular AI data center infrastructure, combining Foxconn's AI server manufacturing expertise with TECO's electromechanical systems and green energy capabilities. The partnership positions both Taiwanese companies to compete more effectively in the rapidly growing global AI data center market, targeting key regions including Taiwan, Asia, the Middle East, and the United States. The big picture: This alliance represents a significant consolidation in the AI infrastructure supply chain, as hyperscalers and cloud service providers increasingly demand comprehensive, turnkey data center solutions rather than piecemeal components. Key details:...
read Jul 29, 2025Sparsely populated Wyoming’s planned 10-gigawatt AI data center would double state’s power use
Cheyenne, Wyoming officials announced plans for a massive AI data center that would consume more electricity than all of the state's homes combined, with initial power demands of 1.8 gigawatts scaling to 10 gigawatts at full capacity. The project, a joint venture between energy infrastructure company Tallgrass and AI data center developer Crusoe, would fundamentally transform Wyoming from a net energy exporter to a major consumer, requiring dedicated power generation to meet its unprecedented electricity demands. The scale is staggering: The initial 1.8-gigawatt phase alone would consume 15.8 terawatt-hours (TWh) annually—more than five times the electricity used by every household...
read Jul 29, 2025Malaysia builds $2.36B green-powered AI infrastructure with Nvidia
Malaysia has partnered with Nvidia and YTL Power International in a RM10 billion ($2.36 billion) initiative to establish green-powered AI infrastructure and develop the nation's own sovereign large language model. The collaboration positions Malaysia as a strategic AI hub in Southeast Asia while advancing the country's digital sovereignty ambitions through sustainable technology deployment. What you should know: The partnership will create AI data centers powered entirely by renewable energy sources and deploy Nvidia's high-performance GPU technology across Malaysia. Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz confirmed the initiative includes developing Malaysia's own sovereign LLM to strengthen...
read Jul 29, 2025Bell Canada partners with Cohere for sovereign AI solutions
Bell Canada, the country's largest telecommunications provider, has formed a strategic partnership with Cohere, a Toronto-based enterprise AI company, to deliver sovereign artificial intelligence solutions specifically designed for Canadian government and business clients. This collaboration addresses growing concerns about data security and regulatory compliance by ensuring that sensitive information remains within Canadian borders while accessing cutting-edge AI capabilities. The partnership represents a significant development in Canada's AI infrastructure landscape, combining Bell's extensive telecommunications network with Cohere's advanced language models to create what the companies describe as a "full-stack" AI platform. Unlike cloud-based AI services that may store data internationally, this...
read Jul 29, 2025Growing Plains: North Dakota’s $100M fund fuels Fargo’s burgeoning AI ecosystem
Fargo, North Dakota is emerging as an unexpected AI innovation hub, driven by a collaborative community culture and strategic state investment programs. The city's tech ecosystem includes startups like Walkwise, which uses AI to predict health risks for seniors, alongside established players like Sanford Health and growing support from accelerators and national events that are drawing attention beyond the Midwest. What you should know: Fargo's AI ecosystem is built on community collaboration rather than traditional Silicon Valley competition models. Peter Chamberlain, an MIT graduate and CEO of Fargo-based Walkwise, attributes this to harsh winters that create "a culture of community...
read Jul 28, 2025It’s such a “Betty”! Penn unveils supercomputer to quadruple AI research capacity
The University of Pennsylvania has unveiled "Betty," a new off-campus supercomputer that quadruples the university's computing capacity and is designed to run AI models analyzing videos, images, texts, and databanks. Located 30 miles from campus in a Collegeville data center, Betty positions Penn to compete in what officials describe as an "arms race in computing" among top research universities seeking to attract faculty and students with cutting-edge AI capabilities. What you should know: Betty represents a significant leap in Penn's computational infrastructure, built in record time to meet surging demand for AI research capabilities. The supercomputer is an Nvidia "SuperPOD"...
read Jul 28, 2025Energy Department selects 4 sites to fast-track AI infrastructure
The US Department of Energy has selected four federal sites for a groundbreaking initiative to accelerate artificial intelligence infrastructure development across the country. This marks the first concrete step in a broader federal strategy to leverage government-owned land and existing energy resources for AI data center construction. The initiative addresses a critical bottleneck in AI development: the massive power and infrastructure requirements of modern data centers. Unlike traditional computing facilities, AI data centers consume enormous amounts of electricity—often requiring hundreds of megawatts of continuous power—while demanding ultra-reliable connections and specialized cooling systems. By opening federal sites with existing power infrastructure,...
read Jul 28, 2025E2B raises $21M as 88% of Fortune 100 companies adopt its AI agent platform
E2B, a startup building cloud infrastructure specifically for artificial intelligence agents, has raised $21 million in Series A funding led by Insight Partners, a global software investor managing over $90 billion in assets. The round included participation from existing investors Decibel, Sunflower Capital, and Kaya, along with Scott Johnston, former CEO of Docker. The funding comes as E2B reports that 88% of Fortune 100 companies have signed up to use its platform—a remarkable adoption rate that highlights how quickly large enterprises are embracing AI automation tools. The company has also added seven figures in new business just in the past...
read Jul 28, 2025I left my heart in Data Center #82: AI interest in the heartland doubles as AWS invests $7.8B in Ohio
America's Heartland is experiencing a surge in artificial intelligence adoption and investment, with major tech companies pouring billions into Midwest data centers and manufacturing facilities. This shift challenges traditional perceptions of the region as technologically backward, as new studies show AI interest among heartland residents has doubled from 34% to 68% in less than a year. The big picture: Major hyperscale companies are establishing significant infrastructure investments across the Midwest, transforming the region into an emerging AI hub. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is planning a $7.8 billion investment in Ohio for new data centers containing servers, storage drives, and networking...
read Jul 28, 2025Oracle partners with Bloom Energy to power AI data centers in 90 days
Oracle has partnered with Bloom Energy to deploy fuel cell systems across select Oracle Cloud Infrastructure data centers in the U.S., targeting the growing power demands of AI workloads. The collaboration offers Oracle a rapid deployment solution—fuel cells can power entire data centers within just 90 days—while providing clean, scalable electricity with minimal environmental impact and no water consumption. What you should know: Bloom Energy will supply on-site fuel cell systems designed to provide reliable, low-emission electricity for Oracle's expanding AI infrastructure needs.• The fuel cells deliver power with almost zero air pollution and no water consumption, aligning with Oracle's...
read Jul 25, 2025SoftBank deploys world’s largest AI system with 4,000 Nvidia GPUs
SoftBank has deployed what it claims is the world's largest artificial intelligence computing system, installing more than 4,000 of Nvidia's most advanced Blackwell graphics processing units (GPUs) in a massive infrastructure expansion that signals Japan's aggressive push into the global AI race. The Japanese telecommunications giant's new system delivers 13.7 exaflops of computing power—roughly equivalent to performing 13.7 quintillion calculations per second. To put that in perspective, this represents more raw computational horsepower than most national supercomputing centers, positioning SoftBank as a major player in the infrastructure arms race powering today's AI revolution. This deployment isn't just about impressive numbers....
read Jul 24, 2025Colonial Pipeline CTO Afshean Talasaz shares AI decision framework for critical infrastructure
Colonial Pipeline's Chief Technology and Data Officer Afshean Talasaz has outlined a strategic framework for technology leadership that emphasizes adaptability, mission focus, and fundamental mastery in an era of accelerated AI adoption. His approach centers on making decisions that preserve future flexibility while maintaining operational excellence in critical infrastructure. This leadership philosophy offers valuable insights for executives navigating rapid technological change across industries, particularly as AI transforms business operations and decision-making processes. What you should know: Talasaz's decision-making framework prioritizes positioning, creating options, and maintaining focus on core mission objectives. He evaluates every decision by asking whether it could impact...
read Jul 24, 2025Supermicro ships 4,000 liquid-cooled AI racks, cuts energy costs 40%
Supermicro, a San Jose-based server manufacturer, is aggressively expanding its global operations to capitalize on surging demand for AI infrastructure, positioning itself as a key supplier in the race to build the computing backbone that powers artificial intelligence applications. The company has experienced substantial growth over the past two years as organizations worldwide scramble to deploy high-performance GPU systems—specialized computers designed to handle the intensive mathematical calculations required for AI training and inference. These systems teach AI models to recognize patterns and then apply that learning to make predictions or generate content. Speaking at the RAISE Summit 2025, Supermicro CEO...
read Jul 23, 2025OpenAI and Oracle expand Stargate to 5 gigawatts in $30B deal
OpenAI and Oracle have announced a partnership to develop an additional 4.5 gigawatts of data center capacity for OpenAI's Stargate AI infrastructure platform in Texas, bringing the total planned capacity to over 5 gigawatts. This massive expansion, reportedly part of a $30 billion annual deal, represents one of the largest AI infrastructure projects ever undertaken and signals OpenAI's commitment to scaling beyond its initial $500 billion investment pledge. What you should know: The new data center facility is taking shape in Abilene, Texas, a city of 127,000 people located 150 miles west of Fort Worth. The location offers existing tech...
read Jul 23, 2025Trump suspends environmental reviews to accelerate AI data center construction
Environmental advocates warned Wednesday that the AI data center boom is driving up electricity costs for consumers and increasing pollution, as the Trump administration unveiled executive orders to accelerate data center construction by suspending environmental reviews. The warnings came during an event organized by Senator Edward Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, as the White House released its "America's AI Action Plan," emphasizing the need to "Build, Baby, Build!" AI infrastructure without "radical climate dogma." What they're saying: Environmental attorneys highlighted how data centers are imposing costs on local communities without proper oversight. "Data centers are extremely power hungry and can put...
read Jul 23, 2025OpenAI and Oracle expand Stargate project with 4.5 GW capacity boost
OpenAI and Oracle are expanding the Stargate AI infrastructure project with an additional 4.5 GW of data center capacity, bringing the total U.S. development to over 5 GW. This massive buildout advances OpenAI's commitment to invest $500 billion in 10 GW of AI infrastructure over four years, while creating over 100,000 jobs across construction, operations, and related industries. What you should know: The expansion represents a significant leap in AI infrastructure development, with real operations already underway. The combined capacity will power over 2 million chips across Stargate facilities, designed specifically for AI workloads that traditional data centers can't handle....
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