Intel & TSMC Join Forces, Nvidia's $16B Chip Order, Meta's $1B Data Center - Silicon Brief #12

Hi there, In this edition of Silicon Brief, we're diving into the latest developments in AI chips and data centers. Intel and TSMC have formed a joint venture to enhance chipmaking capabilities, while Nvidia has received a significant $16 billion order from Chinese firms for its H20 chips. Meanwhile, Hon Hai has reported a 24% sales increase, attributing this growth to the rising demand for AI technology. On the data center front, IBM has launched its new Cloud Multizone Region in Montreal, and Meta is planning a $1 billion data center in Wisconsin. Additionally, Amazon's Project Rainier is making strides in the AI data center race, and Microsoft has halted data center projects in multiple regions. These developments highlight the ongoing expansion and strategic shifts within the AI and data center industries.

Preferred Computational Chemistry Inc. announced a collaboration with ENEOS Corp. on March 31, 2025, to optimize chemical formulations for data center cooling using NVIDIA ALCHEMI software. US data center developers are considering constructing facilities near natural gas wellheads to secure a reliable power supply, potentially impacting gas market dynamics. The 2025 Data Center Energy Storage Industry Insights Report by ZincFive highlights AI's influence on energy storage strategies, focusing on efficiency and sustainability. Navitas Semiconductor has partnered with Great Wall Power to develop a 2.5kW DC-DC converter for AI data centers using Navitas' GaNSense technology.

Cloudflare has introduced a new feature allowing developers to build and deploy remote Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers, enhancing accessibility and security with OAuth integration. Ambarella unveiled its latest edge AI technology at ISC West, featuring the CVflow® 3.0 AI SoC portfolio for real-time processing without cloud reliance. XNRGY Climate Solutions appointed Glenn Brandon as Executive Vice President for Mission Critical, focusing on energy-efficient cooling solutions for data centers.

IBM has launched a new Cloud Multizone Region in Montreal to enhance AI and data services for Canadian organizations. Meta Platforms is investing nearly $1 billion in a data center in Wisconsin to boost its AI technology. Carnegie Mellon University has partnered with Google Public Sector to enhance AI research with a new cloud-based GPU cluster.

Akamai has introduced Cloud Inference and video processing units to enhance AI capabilities and improve media transcoding efficiency. Kamiwaza CEO Luke Norris will present at Intel Vision 2025, showcasing the company's AI orchestration engine and its capabilities in data insights, security, and compliance. Gallant Micro, associated with TSMC, has announced receiving a record $30 million in orders for AI chips.