NVIDIA's Optics Partnership, Amazon's €33.7B Spain Investment, and AI Chip Export Rules - Silicon Brief #59
March 09, 2026 -
Silicon Brief
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In this edition of Silicon Brief, we're diving into the latest developments in AI chips and data centers. NVIDIA and Coherent have teamed up in a significant partnership to advance optics technology for AI infrastructure, backed by a $2 billion investment from NVIDIA. Meanwhile, Amazon is making waves in Europe with a €33.7 billion investment to expand its data center infrastructure in Spain, a move expected to create thousands of jobs and boost the region's GDP.
On the investment front, MediaTek has poured $90 million into Ayar Labs to enhance AI infrastructure through silicon photonics, while Nvidia is also investing heavily in Lumentum Holdings and Coherent to bolster its AI processors. Additionally, Blackstone is launching a new company focused on acquiring AI data centers, and Ilkari is set to invest $60 million in a Colombian data center to support AI workloads. These stories highlight the dynamic and rapidly evolving landscape of AI technology and infrastructure.
In this edition of Silicon Brief, we're diving into the latest developments in AI chips and data centers. NVIDIA and Coherent have teamed up in a significant partnership to advance optics technology for AI infrastructure, backed by a $2 billion investment from NVIDIA. Meanwhile, Amazon is making waves in Europe with a €33.7 billion investment to expand its data center infrastructure in Spain, a move expected to create thousands of jobs and boost the region's GDP.
On the investment front, MediaTek has poured $90 million into Ayar Labs to enhance AI infrastructure through silicon photonics, while Nvidia is also investing heavily in Lumentum Holdings and Coherent to bolster its AI processors. Additionally, Blackstone is launching a new company focused on acquiring AI data centers, and Ilkari is set to invest $60 million in a Colombian data center to support AI workloads. These stories highlight the dynamic and rapidly evolving landscape of AI technology and infrastructure.
NVIDIA and Coherent Partner for Optics in AI Data Centers
NVIDIA and Coherent have announced a multiyear strategic partnership to enhance optics technology for AI infrastructure. NVIDIA will invest $2 billion in Coherent to advance research and U.S.-based manufacturing. Read more
Amazon to Invest €33.7 Billion in Spanish Data Centers
Amazon has announced a €33.7 billion investment to expand its data center infrastructure in Aragón, Spain, aiming to boost AI and cloud computing capabilities in Europe. This initiative is projected to create nearly 29,900 jobs annually and significantly contribute to Spain's GDP by 2035. Read more
MediaTek Invests $90 Million in Ayar Labs for AI Infrastructure
MediaTek has invested $90 million in Ayar Labs to enhance its capabilities in silicon photonics, crucial for AI data centers. This move follows previous investments in Ayar Labs by companies like NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel. Read more
Nvidia Invests $2 Billion in Lumentum and Coherent
Nvidia is investing $2 billion each in Lumentum Holdings and Coherent to enhance its AI data center technology. This investment aims to improve data center chips and meet the demand for faster AI processors. Read more
Blackstone to Launch AI Data Center Acquisition Company
Investment firm Blackstone is set to create a publicly traded company aimed at acquiring AI data centers, seeking to raise funds from investors including sovereign wealth funds. Read more
STMicroelectronics Supports Qualcomm's Wearable Platform
STMicroelectronics has announced its support for Qualcomm Technologies' Snapdragon Wear Elite platform, providing advanced motion-sensing and secure wireless technologies. This collaboration aims to enhance user experiences in wearables. Read more
Ilkari Invests $60M in Colombian Data Center for AI
Irish company Ilkari plans to invest US$60 million in a Colombian data center to enhance infrastructure for AI workloads, following an initial US$25 million for construction and US$20 million for expansion. Read more
Tencent Cloud Opens New Zone in Frankfurt
Tencent Cloud has launched a new availability zone in Frankfurt, Germany, to enhance its AI services in Europe. This expansion aims to meet the growing demand for cloud and AI solutions while ensuring compliance with local regulations. Read more
SK Telecom, Supermicro, and Schneider Electric Collaborate on AI Data Centers
At MWC26, SK Telecom, Supermicro, and Schneider Electric signed an agreement to create modular solutions for AI data centers, aiming to improve scalability and efficiency. Read more
Ayar Labs Raises $500 Million for AI Chip Technology
Ayar Labs, supported by Nvidia, has secured $500 million in Series E funding, valuing the company at $3.75 billion. The investment aims to advance their light-based chip technology for better data transmission efficiency. Read more
AWS Data Centers in UAE and Bahrain Damaged by Drone Strikes
Amazon Web Services reported that its data centers in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain suffered damage from drone strikes, affecting cloud services and causing recovery challenges. Read more
Vertiv Launches High-Capacity Busway for AI Data Centers
Vertiv has introduced the Vertiv™ PowerBar Track, a high-capacity double stack busway system designed for AI data centers. This system supports flexible power distribution and real-time monitoring, meeting global safety standards. Read more
Qualcomm Unveils AI-Native Wi-Fi 8 Portfolio
Qualcomm Technologies has announced its new Wi-Fi 8 portfolio, designed to enhance connectivity for AI applications with speeds over 10 Gbps. The portfolio includes the FastConnect 8800 and Dragonwing Networking Platforms, available by late 2026. Read more
Akash Systems Unveils Diamond-Cooled AI Servers
Akash Systems has introduced AI servers utilizing diamond cooling technology, featuring AMD Instinct™ MI350X GPUs, marking a first in AI data centers. Read more
Trump to Meet Tech Leaders for Energy Pledge
U.S. President Donald Trump plans to meet with leaders from major tech companies, including Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI, to discuss the 'Ratepayer Protection Pledge' aimed at addressing electricity costs from data centers. Read more
Flex and AMD Partner for U.S. GPU Production
Flex has started manufacturing the AMD Instinct™ MI355X GPU platform in Austin, Texas, to boost domestic AI technology production and support future AMD Instinct platforms. Read more
CoreWeave Partners with Perplexity for AI Inference
On March 4, 2026, CoreWeave announced a strategic partnership with Perplexity to support its AI inference workloads on the CoreWeave Cloud, utilizing NVIDIA-powered clusters. Read more
BioInnovation Institute Invests €1.3 Million in Diasense
The BioInnovation Institute has invested an additional €1.3 million in the startup Diasense, which is developing a quantum diamond magnetic microscope for semiconductor chip diagnostics. Read more
ASRock Industrial Unveils iEPF-11000S Series for Edge AI
ASRock Industrial has introduced the iEPF-11000S Series, an Expandable Edge AIoT Platform aimed at advanced edge AI applications, featuring Intel® Xeon® 600 processors and support for multiple graphic cards. Read more
Nebius Approved for AI Factory in Missouri
Nebius has received approval from the Independence City Council to build its first gigawatt-scale AI factory, with a capacity of up to 1.2 GW. The project is expected to create significant employment opportunities and generate substantial revenue over 20 years. Read more
Bridge Data Centers and Concord New Energy to Develop Hydrogen Power Solution
Bridge Data Centers and Concord New Energy have signed an agreement to create Singapore's first barge-based hydrogen power generation solution to support AI digital infrastructure. Read more
Broadcom Forecasts $100 Billion AI Chip Sales by 2027
Broadcom anticipates its AI chip revenue will surpass $100 billion by 2027, fueled by a surge in demand for custom chips. The company has seen a significant increase in AI revenue and is working with major clients to develop specialized chips. Read more
Rebellions Inc. Chooses JPMorgan for South Korea IPO
Rebellions Inc., an AI chip startup, has appointed JPMorgan Chase & Co. as the lead underwriter for its planned IPO in Seoul, targeting a listing by late 2026 or early 2027. Read more
CIQ Launches CIQ Linux Kernel for AI Hardware
On March 5, 2026, CIQ introduced the CIQ Linux Kernel (CLK) to boost AI hardware performance in enterprises. The kernel offers enhanced support and optimizations for modern AI infrastructure. Read more
Aikido Technologies Unveils Offshore Datacenter on Wind Platform
Aikido Technologies has launched the AO60DC, a floating offshore wind platform that combines AI-grade computing with renewable energy. This technology aims to meet the growing demand for AI infrastructure by integrating data centers with wind turbines and battery storage. Read more
University of Tokyo, NTT, and NEC Showcase 6G/IOWN AR Technology
The University of Tokyo, NTT, and NEC have collaborated to demonstrate real-time augmented reality assistance using 6G/IOWN platform technologies, focusing on enhancing AI agents for safety and security. Read more
Cisco Highlights Fiber Networks for AI at MWC 2026
At MWC 2026, Cisco emphasized the significance of fiber-heavy data center interconnects for AI infrastructure, focusing on investment in east-west traffic for training workloads. Read more
Nexperia China Resumes Operations After Account Issues
Nexperia's Chinese subsidiary has resumed most operations after disruptions from disabled employee accounts by its Dutch headquarters. The incident led to an emergency response plan amid Europe-China trade tensions. Read more
Ampace Introduces AI Power Solutions at DCW London 2026
Ampace is presenting its AI Continuity Infrastructure solutions at DCW London 2026, focusing on power continuity challenges in AI data centers. The company features its PU Series and semi-solid LFP cell technology to enhance safety and reliability. Read more
Samsung SDI Showcases AI and Battery Innovations at InterBattery 2026
SAMSUNG SDI announced its participation in InterBattery 2026, presenting new battery technologies and AI software for energy storage systems, emphasizing advancements in safety and performance. Read more
La Caisse Invests CAD 240 Million in Cologix's Montréal Data Centre
On March 5, 2026, La Caisse announced a CAD 240 million investment in Cologix's MTL8 data centre in Montréal, enhancing AI-ready digital infrastructure. Read more
US Considers New Export Rules for AI Chips
The U.S. government is evaluating new regulations for exporting AI chips from Nvidia and AMD, focusing on national security concerns related to China. Read more
Atlas Data Storage and imec Partner for DNA-Based AI Data Storage
Atlas Data Storage and imec have announced a collaboration to scale DNA-based data storage solutions for artificial intelligence applications, aiming to enhance storage capabilities with innovative DNA technology. Read more
Mirantis Collaborates with Neocloud Providers for AI Infrastructure
On March 6, 2026, Mirantis announced a partnership with emerging neocloud providers to develop AI infrastructure, aiming to build 'AI factories' to meet the rising demand for AI applications. Read more
xAI to Develop 1.2 Gigawatts for AI Supercomputer
At a White House event, xAI President Gwynne Shotwell announced plans to develop 1.2 gigawatts of power for its AI supercomputer and data centers, aiming to prevent increased electricity costs for households. Read more
Malaysia Halts Non-AI Data Center Approvals
The Malaysian government has stopped approving new data centers that do not support AI, prioritizing applications related to AI due to resource concerns. Read more
Schroders Greencoat Launches AI Data Center in Ireland
The investment platform Schroders Greencoat has started a 36MW data center project in Drogheda, Ireland, focusing on integrating renewable energy with digital infrastructure to support AI and hyperscale data centers. Read more
Prologis Announces Data Center Campus in Ohio
Prologis has revealed plans for a new data center campus, Project Mila, near Cincinnati, Ohio. The development will feature four buildings totaling 880,000 sq ft, with construction expected to start this year. Read more
HighBrook Investors Raises $266 Million for Data Center Fund
HighBrook Investors has successfully closed its first data center fund, securing $266 million to develop 300 megawatts of data center capacity in Northern Virginia. The initiative seeks to address the increasing demand for data center infrastructure in power-constrained markets. Read more
Marvell Technology Shares Rise on AI Chip Demand Forecast
Shares of Marvell Technology surged nearly 11% after the company released a strong forecast for AI chip demand, potentially increasing its market value by over $10 billion. The company expects a 40% revenue increase by fiscal 2028, driven by AI infrastructure investments from major tech companies. Read more
Nscale Secures $2 Billion in Series C Funding
U.K.-based AI infrastructure company Nscale has raised $2 billion in Series C funding, marking the largest in European history. The investment will boost Nscale's AI infrastructure capabilities globally. Read more
Huawei Unveils Atlas 950 SuperPoD at MWC 2026
At MWC Barcelona 2026, Huawei introduced the Atlas 950 SuperPoD and a range of AI computing solutions, focusing on their 'cluster + SuperPoD' architecture to enhance AI capabilities. Read more
Amazon Buys GWU Virginia Campus for AI Expansion
Amazon has acquired the Virginia Science and Technology campus of George Washington University for $427 million. This move is part of Amazon's plan to enhance its AI data center infrastructure. Read more
U.S. Government Plans New Export Controls on AI Chips
The U.S. Government is drafting new rules that would require approval for exporting AI chips, affecting companies like AMD and Nvidia. This aims to control semiconductor exports to foreign entities. Read more
Oracle to Cut Jobs for AI Data Center Expansion
Enterprise software company Oracle plans to cut thousands of jobs to address financial pressures from its AI data center expansion. The layoffs are part of a strategy to raise significant funds for cloud infrastructure. Read more
Oracle and OpenAI Cancel Texas Data Center Expansion
Bloomberg News reports that Oracle and OpenAI have halted their Texas data center expansion plans due to financing issues and changing requirements from OpenAI. The expansion was part of the Stargate initiative. Read more
ModelCat AI Launches Model Retargeting for AI Portability
On March 5, 2026, ModelCat AI announced Model Retargeting, a feature enabling AI model transfer across devices, including cloud to edge, without training data access. Currently in limited Beta, it supports Keras V2 models. Read more
KKR Plans to Sell CoolIT Systems for $3 Billion
U.S. private equity firm KKR is considering selling CoolIT Systems, a company known for its liquid cooling technologies for data centers, with a potential valuation over $3 billion. The sale process is in early stages with multiple potential buyers. Read more
California Commission Calls for Data Center Regulations
The California Little Hoover Commission has recommended new regulations for data centers to address the rising electricity demands driven by AI, suggesting that these centers should cover their impact on the grid. Read more
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