US DFC Triples AI Data Center Funding, Nvidia's $20B Deal, and Alphabet's $4.75B Acquisition - Silicon Brief #50
January 02, 2026 -
Silicon Brief
Hi there,
Welcome to the latest edition of Silicon Brief, where we delve into the dynamic world of AI chips and data centers. This week, the US International Development Finance Corporation announced plans to significantly boost its funding for AI data centers, increasing its investment from $60 billion to $205 billion. This move aims to enhance operations across Latin America, Canada, and Australia. Meanwhile, Element Critical has launched a new data center platform in the U.S., backed by major investors, to cater to the rising demand for AI and digital workloads.
In other news, Moore Threads Technology Co. has introduced its Huagang AI chips, designed to reduce reliance on Nvidia hardware, with production expected in 2026. Additionally, Tsinghua University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University have developed photonic AI chips that outperform NVIDIA GPUs in specific tasks. These advancements highlight the ongoing innovation and expansion in the AI chip and data center sectors, reflecting a global push towards more efficient and powerful AI infrastructure.
Welcome to the latest edition of Silicon Brief, where we delve into the dynamic world of AI chips and data centers. This week, the US International Development Finance Corporation announced plans to significantly boost its funding for AI data centers, increasing its investment from $60 billion to $205 billion. This move aims to enhance operations across Latin America, Canada, and Australia. Meanwhile, Element Critical has launched a new data center platform in the U.S., backed by major investors, to cater to the rising demand for AI and digital workloads.
In other news, Moore Threads Technology Co. has introduced its Huagang AI chips, designed to reduce reliance on Nvidia hardware, with production expected in 2026. Additionally, Tsinghua University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University have developed photonic AI chips that outperform NVIDIA GPUs in specific tasks. These advancements highlight the ongoing innovation and expansion in the AI chip and data center sectors, reflecting a global push towards more efficient and powerful AI infrastructure.
US DFC to Triple AI Data Center Funding
The US International Development Finance Corporation plans to increase its funding significantly, focusing on AI data centers and critical minerals, with an expansion into Latin America and countries like Canada and Australia. Read more
Element Critical Launches AI Data Center Platform
On December 18, 2025, Element Critical announced the launch of a new U.S. data center platform, supported by major investors such as 26North Partners, Arctos, Mercuria, and Safanad. The initiative includes acquiring data centers in Houston and Austin to meet the growing demand for AI inference and digital workloads. Read more
Louisiana Expedites Power Plant Approvals for Meta Data Center
The Louisiana Public Service Commission has implemented a new rule to fast-track power plant approvals for large electricity consumers like Meta, which is constructing a data center in Northeast Louisiana. Read more
Moore Threads Unveils Huagang AI Chips to Rival Nvidia
Moore Threads Technology Co. has introduced a new chip architecture named Huagang, designed to reduce dependency on Nvidia hardware. The chips promise significant improvements in computational density and energy efficiency, with mass production slated for 2026. Read more
Chinese Universities Develop Photonic AI Chips Surpassing NVIDIA GPUs
Researchers from Tsinghua University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University have created photonic AI chips, ACCEL and LightGen, which reportedly exceed NVIDIA GPUs in speed and energy efficiency for specific tasks. Read more
Tencent and Nvidia Collaborate on AI Chips in Japan
Tencent has partnered with Nvidia to access advanced AI chips through Datasection in Japan. This move allows Tencent to utilize Nvidia's processors in a data center near Osaka, amidst US export restrictions on high-performance chips to China. Read more
Evocative Secures Funding for AI Data Center Upgrades
Infrastructure provider Evocative has received debt financing from a global investment firm to enhance its AI data center capabilities, alongside equity support from Crestline Investors. Read more
Fortinet and NVIDIA Collaborate on AI Data Centre Security
Fortinet has launched a new security solution by integrating its FortiGate VM virtual firewall onto NVIDIA's BlueField-3 DPUs. This aims to enhance security in AI data centres by offloading tasks from host servers to DPUs. Read more
TNE and Data District Collaborate on Data Centers in Alberta
Technologies New Energy has teamed up with Data District to develop AI-ready data centers in Alberta, Canada, with an initial phase of four projects totaling 240MW capacity. Operations are expected to start in 2026. Read more
EdgeMode Secures Power for AI Data Centers in Spain
EdgeMode, in collaboration with Blackberry Alternative Investment Fund, has secured power supply for its AI data center projects in Spain, supporting a pipeline of five data centers with over 1.5 GW capacity. Read more
Enlightra Secures $15M for Light-Based Data Transmission
The Swiss-American startup Enlightra has raised $15 million to develop technology using chip-scale lasers for data transmission, aiming to replace copper cables in data centers. Read more
Alphabet to Acquire Intersect Power for $4.75 Billion
Alphabet, Google's parent company, plans to acquire Intersect Power for $4.75 billion. The acquisition aims to boost data center and energy capacity, with the deal expected to close by 2026. Read more
Adani Group Considers Nuclear Plants for AI Data Centers
The Adani Group is exploring the construction of nuclear energy plants to power its AI data centers, driven by increasing data center demands in India. Read more
Nvidia to Ship H200 AI Chips to China by February
Nvidia plans to begin shipping its H200 AI chips to China by mid-February, pending government approval. This follows a U.S. policy shift allowing such sales with a fee. Read more
Goodman and CPP Launch €8 Billion Data Center Venture
Goodman Group and CPP Investments have announced a joint venture to establish a €8 billion data center platform in Europe, focusing on projects in Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Paris. Read more
EPA Launches Resource Page for Data Centers and AI Facilities
The Environmental Protection Agency has introduced a new webpage to assist developers with the permitting process for data centers and AI construction projects, as part of efforts to modernize regulations and streamline development timelines. Read more
AirTrunk Expands with New Data Centre in Melbourne
AirTrunk has announced the acquisition of a new site in Melbourne for its second hyperscale data centre campus, MEL2, which will significantly increase its capacity and support Australia's AI ambitions. Read more
Rebellions Introduces REBEL-Quad AI Accelerator
AI chip startup Rebellions has launched the REBEL-Quad, an AI accelerator designed for large language models, promising enhanced energy efficiency for data centers. Read more
San Jose Plans Data Center Expansion Amid AI Growth
San Jose is positioning itself as a hub for data center development to support the growing AI industry, with requests for electricity supply to 11 projects. Concerns about environmental impact and power consumption are being raised. Read more
Datasamudra and Elmeasure to Invest in Karnataka AI Data Centres
Datasamudra plans to establish a 35-40 MW AI-driven data centre in Mangaluru, while Elmeasure will invest in manufacturing data centre electrical components in Karnataka. These initiatives aim to boost the state's data centre ecosystem. Read more
VCI Energy and DPS Energy Partner for Solar Project in Malaysia
VCI Energy and DPS Energy are collaborating on a 250MW solar project in Malaysia to power AI data centers. The project will cover 600 acres in Malacca, generating 350 to 450GWh annually. Read more
Lucidean Raises $18 Million for AI Tech Development
Lucidean, a company based in Santa Barbara, has secured $18 million in seed funding to advance its AI interconnect technology. The funding will support research and development and validate the performance of its CohZero™ platform. Read more
Nvidia Licenses Technology from Groq in $20 Billion Deal
Nvidia has signed a non-exclusive licensing agreement with AI chip startup Groq for around $20 billion, including hiring key executives. Groq will remain independent while Nvidia plans to integrate its technology. Read more
US Lawmakers Seek Details on Nvidia H200 Sales to China
Two senior Democratic lawmakers have requested the U.S. Commerce Department to reveal details about license reviews for Nvidia's H200 AI chips sales to Chinese companies, following a policy shift announced by President Trump. Read more
HGP Intelligent Energy Plans to Use Retired Navy Reactors for AI Data Centers
HGP Intelligent Energy LLC has applied to the U.S. Energy Department to convert two retired Navy reactors into a data center in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. This project is part of the White House's Genesis Mission to address the energy needs of the AI sector. Read more
Jet.AI and CCE to Develop 50MW AI Data Center in Nevada
U.S. AI data center developer Jet.AI and infrastructure firm CCE are collaborating to build a 50MW data center in Moapa, Nevada, utilizing existing utility infrastructure near a former coal power plant. Read more
Huawei to Launch AI Solutions and Chip in South Korea
During a press conference in Seoul, Huawei announced plans to introduce AI computing cards and the Ascend 950 chip in South Korea next year, aiming to compete with Nvidia by offering integrated AI infrastructure solutions. Read more
MemryX Unveils MX4 Roadmap for AI Data Centers
MemryX Inc. has announced its roadmap for the MX4, an AI accelerator aimed at enhancing data center efficiency by overcoming memory and bandwidth challenges. The company plans to validate the technology with a test chip and aims for customer sampling in 2027. Read more
SK hynix and Kioxia Partner with NVIDIA for AI SSD Development
SK hynix and Kioxia are working with NVIDIA to develop SLC-based AI SSDs to improve data processing in data centers, responding to increased demand for high-performance storage in AI environments. Read more
Bernie Sanders Calls for AI Datacenter Moratorium
US Senator Bernie Sanders has raised concerns about AI, describing it as a pivotal technology and suggesting a halt on new AI datacenters. He highlighted the economic impact on Americans and the financial motives of tech leaders. Additionally, Senator Katie Britt proposed legislation to safeguard minors from harmful AI interactions. Read more
SoftBank to Acquire DigitalBridge for $4 Billion
SoftBank Group plans to acquire DigitalBridge for $4 billion to enhance its AI infrastructure. The acquisition aims to expand data center and connectivity capacity for next-generation AI services. Read more
Goldman Sachs Finances AI Power Campuses in Texas
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. is co-leading a financing project with Newmark Group Inc. to construct private power campuses for AI in Texas. The project, developed by GridFree AI, aims to support data centers with modular natural gas-fired generation in south Dallas. Read more
xAI Expands Data Center with New Facility in Mississippi
Elon Musk's AI startup, xAI, is expanding its data center complex by acquiring a warehouse in Southaven, Mississippi, to support its Colossus centers. Read more
Nota AI to Enhance Samsung's Exynos 2600 with AI Tech
Nota AI has entered into an agreement to provide AI model optimization technology for Samsung Electronics' Exynos 2600 mobile processor. This collaboration aims to boost the performance of Generative AI models on mobile devices. Read more
Create Capital Vietnam JSC and Haimaker.ai Plan $1 Billion AI Data Centers in Vietnam
A joint venture led by Create Capital Vietnam JSC and Haimaker.ai plans to develop a $1 billion network of AI data centers in Vietnam, aiming to enhance digital infrastructure and provide AI services. Read more
CapitaLand India Trust Sells Stake in Data Centres for 7 Billion Rupees
CapitaLand India Trust has sold a 20.2% stake in three data centre assets to the CapitaLand India Data Centre Fund for 7 billion rupees. The assets will include AI capabilities and sustainable designs. Read more
China Requires 50% Domestic Equipment for AI Chipmakers
The Chinese government has introduced a rule for chipmakers to use at least 50% domestically produced equipment for new capacity expansions, aiming to boost self-sufficiency amid U.S. export restrictions. Read more
FTAI Aviation Launches FTAI Power for AI Data Center Solutions
FTAI Aviation has introduced a new division, FTAI Power, to convert jet engines into gas turbines for power generation, targeting AI hyperscalers' needs. Read more
Caterpillar Sees Sales Boost from AI Data Center Demand
Caterpillar is experiencing growth in its power and energy sector due to increased generator demand from AI-supporting data centers. The company plans a $725 million investment to expand production in Indiana, forecasting significant sales growth. Read more
Novacore Partners with Cocoon for AI Infrastructure
In a recent agreement, Novacore Innovations will provide NVIDIA Blackwell-powered GPU servers and cloud computing infrastructure to Cocoon, a decentralized network launched by Pavel Durov. Read more
Daikin Enters AI Data Center Cooling Market with Acquisitions
Daikin Industries has announced its entry into the AI data center cooling market by acquiring two U.S. companies. This move aims to meet the increasing demand for efficient cooling technologies in the U.S. data center sector. Read more
Samsung to Develop Custom GPU for Exynos 2800 by 2027
Samsung Electronics plans to create its first fully custom GPU for the Exynos 2800 chip, aiming for a 2027 release. This development seeks to improve AI application efficiency and performance while reducing costs. Read more
iFlytek Launches New Entity for AI Semiconductor Design
iFlytek has established a new company, Shandong Yixun Information Technology, to focus on semiconductor design and AI software development, aligning with China's tech self-sufficiency goals. Read more
Fujitsu and SoftBank Collaborate on AI Memory Project
Fujitsu Limited is partnering with SoftBank Group Corp. to develop high-performance memory for AI and supercomputers. The project, named Saimemory, aims to create alternatives to high-bandwidth memory with significant investments planned by fiscal 2027. Read more
Vladimir Potanin Acquires Stake in Selectel
Russian billionaire Vladimir Potanin has acquired a 25% stake in cloud provider Selectel to enhance AI development, aligning with government initiatives. Read more
Brookfield Launches AI Chip Leasing Business
Brookfield is starting a cloud business to lease chips to AI developers, connected to a $10 billion AI fund. This initiative involves a cloud company named Radiant, with access to data centers in France, Qatar, and Sweden. Read more
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