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News reporting focused on AI and machine learning, covering the companies behind these technologies, their real-world applications, and the ethical concerns they raise. This includes areas like generative AI (large language models, text-to-image and video), speech tech, and predictive analytics.
Alphabet announced plans to raise $80 billion through stock sales to fund AI infrastructure. The company will sell $10 billion in shares to Berkshire Hathaway. Alphabet cited strong demand for AI services exceeding supply, and plans to spend up to $190 billion on capital expenditures this year.
SoftBank has announced plans to build AI data centers in France with a total capacity of 5 gigawatts, representing an investment worth up to 75 billion euros. The first phase includes 45 billion euros for 3.1 gigawatts in the Hauts-de-France region, with sites in Dunkirk, Bosquel, and Bouchain targeted by 2031. The project, unveiled at President Macron's Choose France summit, is SoftBank's largest AI infrastructure investment in Europe.
SoftBank Group announced plans to invest up to €75 billion (around $87 billion) to build and operate data centers in France, aiming to add 5 gigawatts of capacity. The first phase targets 3.1 gigawatts by 2031 across three sites in Hauts-de-France. SoftBank calls it its largest AI infrastructure investment in Europe.
OpenAI has reorganized its leadership to unify ChatGPT and Codex into one product experience. Cofounder Greg Brockman now permanently oversees product strategy alongside AI infrastructure. Other executives take expanded roles amid ongoing changes and competitive pressures.
Tesla plans to spend $25 billion on capital expenditures in 2026, up from earlier estimates and past years like $8.5 billion in 2025. The funds target AI infrastructure, robotics production including Optimus, and manufacturing expansions. CEO Elon Musk calls the increase essential for future revenue, amid similar big spends by Amazon and Google.
Thinking Machines Lab, founded by former OpenAI executive Mira Murati, has agreed to a multi-billion-dollar deal with Google Cloud for AI infrastructure powered by Nvidia's GB300 chips. The agreement, valued in the single-digit billions, supports model training and deployment. This marks the startup's first cloud provider partnership amid fierce competition from Amazon and others.
TechCrunch's Equity podcast examines the growing divide between AI experts and the public, marked by heavy spending and new terms. OpenAI acquires finance apps and talk shows, while a shoe firm shifts to AI infrastructure. Anthropic demos a powerful unreleased model to Fed Chair Jerome Powell. The episode covers investments in Wayve, Fluidstack's deal with Anthropic, and the OpenAI-Anthropic contest.
AI infrastructure startup Upscale AI is negotiating its third funding round since starting operations seven months ago. The proposed raise of $180 million to $200 million would set the company's value at around $2 billion, according to Bloomberg. Earlier rounds included a $200 million Series A in January and a $100 million seed in September, backed by investors like Tiger Global Management.