Nebius and Meta's $27B AI Deal, Google & NVIDIA's Partnership, and SoftBank's Ohio Mega Center - Silicon Brief #61
March 23, 2026 -
Silicon Brief
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In this edition of Silicon Brief, we delve into the latest advancements in AI chips and data centers. Nebius Group has made headlines with a monumental $27 billion AI infrastructure deal with Meta, set to bolster its AI cloud business over the next five years. Meanwhile, OXMIQ Labs and AM Intelligence Labs are joining forces to create a renewable-powered AI compute platform in India, targeting a 2 Gigawatt capacity by 2030. These developments highlight the growing investment and innovation in AI infrastructure worldwide.
Additionally, Frore Systems has reached unicorn status following a $143 million funding round, aiming to enhance AI thermal platforms for data centers. NewPhotonics has launched a groundbreaking 3.2Tbps transmitter-on-chip to improve AI data center connectivity. These stories, along with many others, underscore the rapid evolution and expansion of AI technologies and infrastructure, setting the stage for significant advancements in the sector.
In this edition of Silicon Brief, we delve into the latest advancements in AI chips and data centers. Nebius Group has made headlines with a monumental $27 billion AI infrastructure deal with Meta, set to bolster its AI cloud business over the next five years. Meanwhile, OXMIQ Labs and AM Intelligence Labs are joining forces to create a renewable-powered AI compute platform in India, targeting a 2 Gigawatt capacity by 2030. These developments highlight the growing investment and innovation in AI infrastructure worldwide.
Additionally, Frore Systems has reached unicorn status following a $143 million funding round, aiming to enhance AI thermal platforms for data centers. NewPhotonics has launched a groundbreaking 3.2Tbps transmitter-on-chip to improve AI data center connectivity. These stories, along with many others, underscore the rapid evolution and expansion of AI technologies and infrastructure, setting the stage for significant advancements in the sector.
Nebius Group Signs $27 Billion AI Deal with Meta
On March 16, 2026, Nebius Group N.V. announced a significant AI infrastructure agreement with Meta, valued at up to $27 billion over five years. This deal aims to boost Nebius's AI cloud business growth. Read more
OXMIQ Labs and AM Intelligence Labs Partner for AI Compute Platform in India
OXMIQ Labs and AM Intelligence Labs have announced a partnership to develop a renewable-powered AI compute platform in India, aiming for a 2 Gigawatt capacity by 2030, with the first phase operational by 2027. Read more
Frore Systems Reaches Unicorn Status with $143M Funding
Frore Systems has achieved a valuation of $1.64 billion after a $143 million Series D funding round, aiming to enhance its AI thermal platforms for data centers and edge markets. Read more
NewPhotonics Launches 3.2Tbps Transmitter-on-Chip for AI Centers
NewPhotonics has introduced the NPG10240, a 3.2Tbps transmitter-on-chip photonic integrated circuit, designed to improve AI data center connectivity with high-density and power-efficient technology. Read more
Niv-AI Secures $12M for GPU Power Management
The Tel Aviv-based startup Niv-AI has emerged from stealth mode with $12 million in seed funding aimed at enhancing GPU power efficiency in data centers. Read more
CoreWeave Expands AI Cloud with NVIDIA HGX B300
On March 16, 2026, CoreWeave announced at NVIDIA’s GTC conference the expansion of its AI cloud platform with the NVIDIA HGX B300, enhancing performance for AI workloads in various sectors. Read more
Google Cloud and NVIDIA Expand AI Partnership at GTC 2026
At NVIDIA GTC 2026, Google Cloud and NVIDIA announced an expanded partnership, unveiling the Google Cloud AI Hypercomputer and new G4 VMs to enhance AI workloads. Read more
NVIDIA Launches BlueField-4 STX Storage Architecture
NVIDIA has introduced the BlueField-4 STX storage architecture, aimed at improving AI performance and energy efficiency. Early adopters and partners include CoreWeave, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, Dell Technologies, and IBM. Read more
CoreWeave, Cerebras, and BCE to Build AI Data Center in Canada
CoreWeave, Cerebras Systems, and BCE Inc. are collaborating on a 300-megawatt AI data center in Regina, Saskatchewan, set to launch its first phase in 2027. Read more
Reflection AI and Shinsegae Group to Build AI Data Center in South Korea
U.S. startup Reflection AI, supported by Nvidia, is collaborating with South Korea's Shinsegae Group to invest in a new AI data center. This project aims to boost U.S. tech exports and address China's AI influence. Read more
Intel Xeon 6 Processors Power NVIDIA DGX Rubin NVL8
At the NVIDIA GTC 2026 event, Intel announced that its Xeon 6 processors will be used in NVIDIA DGX Rubin NVL8 systems, highlighting the role of CPU performance in AI workloads. Read more
Nscale Acquires AIPCorp for AI Infrastructure
Nscale has acquired American Intelligence & Power Corporation to develop a major AI infrastructure in West Virginia, including a state-certified AI microgrid with over 8 gigawatts of power capacity. Read more
Supermicro Unveils AI Data Platforms with NVIDIA
Supermicro has introduced seven AI Data Platform solutions in collaboration with NVIDIA and other partners, aimed at boosting enterprise AI innovation. Read more
SK hynix Presents AI Memory Solutions at NVIDIA GTC 2026
SK hynix is showcasing its AI memory innovations at the GTC 2026 event in San Jose, California, with key executives in attendance to discuss global AI collaborations. Read more
AMD and NAVER Cloud Partner to Boost AI in Korea
On March 18, 2026, AMD and NAVER Cloud announced a strategic partnership to enhance AI infrastructure in Korea, involving the use of AMD EPYC processors and early access to AMD Instinct MI455X GPUs. Read more
Google Negotiates with Chinese Firms for Data Centre Cooling
Google is in discussions with Envicool and other Chinese companies to purchase liquid cooling systems for its data centres, addressing supply challenges in AI infrastructure. Read more
Germany to Expand AI Data Centres by 2030
The German government plans to significantly increase its AI data centre capacity and processing capabilities by 2030, as part of efforts to enhance its competitiveness in the AI sector. Read more
Infineon Exec Advocates for Larger Automated Fabs in Europe
At a conference, a Infineon Technologies executive urged Europe to invest in larger automated semiconductor fabs to compete with China. Read more
NVIDIA Unveils AI Rack at GTC 2026
At GTC 2026, NVIDIA introduced the Panoramic Intelligent AI Rack, co-developed with Lens Technology and Yuans, featuring innovative glass panels for improved thermal management. Read more
imec Receives ASML EUV System for AI Chip Development
imec has announced the arrival of the ASML EXE:5200 High NA EUV lithography system in Leuven, Belgium, to aid in developing advanced semiconductor technologies for AI and computing. Read more
Elon Musk Confirms Continued Nvidia Chip Orders for SpaceX AI and Tesla
Elon Musk announced that SpaceX AI and Tesla will continue to order Nvidia chips at scale. Tesla is developing its fifth-generation AI chip for autonomous driving and plans to update its Full Self-Driving software soon. Read more
Marvell CEO to Keynote at COMPUTEX 2026
Marvell Technology CEO Matt Murphy will deliver a keynote at COMPUTEX 2026, focusing on AI infrastructure innovations. Read more
NVIDIA Collaborates with Industry Leaders on AI for Chip Design
NVIDIA has partnered with Cadence, Dassault Systèmes, Siemens, and Synopsys to develop AI agents to improve chip design and manufacturing. These agents will leverage NVIDIA's technology to optimize semiconductor design workflows. Read more
AIC Launches AI Platforms at CloudFest 2026
At CloudFest 2026, AIC introduced new AI infrastructure platforms for data centers, including GPU computing servers and AI-optimized storage systems, to support intensive AI workloads. Read more
SWI Group Secures €260M for North America Expansion
SWI Group has raised €260 million to expand its AI and data center operations in North America, following its recent acquisition of a stake in a US data center company. Read more
JinkoSolar Launches AIDC Modules for AI Data Centers
On March 22, 2026, JinkoSolar announced the global launch of its AIDC modules designed for AI data centers, featuring high efficiency and durability. Read more
Siemens Introduces Fuse EDA AI Agent for Automation
On March 16, 2026, Siemens announced the launch of the Fuse EDA AI Agent, aimed at automating semiconductor, 3D IC, and PCB workflows. The system enhances engineering efficiency and design quality by integrating with NVIDIA technologies. Read more
Nebius Partners with NVIDIA for Robotics Cloud
On March 16, 2026, Nebius announced a collaboration with NVIDIA to create a cloud platform to advance physical AI and robotics, integrating NVIDIA's Physical AI Data Factory Blueprint. Read more
NVIDIA Unveils Vera CPU for AI
On March 16, 2026, NVIDIA announced the Vera CPU, tailored for agentic AI and reinforcement learning, boasting enhanced efficiency and performance. Collaborators include Alibaba, Meta, and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, with manufacturing by Dell Technologies and Lenovo. Read more
Nvidia Develops Groq AI Chips for China
Nvidia is creating a version of its Groq AI chips for the Chinese market, following a significant licensing deal with Groq. The chips are set to support AI inference tasks and are expected to be available in May. Read more
Samsung Electronics to Implement Multi-Year Chip Contracts
Samsung Electronics plans to adopt multi-year chip contracts with major customers to address demand fluctuations amid a surge in AI investments. The company acknowledges potential risks from global economic uncertainties and labor union issues. Read more
Nvidia Expands Networking Division
Nvidia is expanding its networking division, now its second-largest revenue source, with $11 billion reported last quarter. This growth is fueled by AI processing technologies and stems from the acquisition of Mellanox in 2020. Read more
TEASK, OneQode, and Tigasfera Greentech Collaborate on AI Sustainability
Companies TEASK, OneQode, and Tigasfera Greentech are working together to create a framework for sustainable AI infrastructure, focusing on eco-friendly practices. Read more
LightSpeed Photonics and Infraeo Collaborate on AI Data Center Tech
LightSpeed Photonics and Infraeo have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop and commercialize optical interconnect technologies for AI and high-performance computing data centers in India. Read more
Conecta Infra Launches with $350 Million Investment
Conecta Infra has launched with a $350 million investment to build a fiber network connecting data centers in Brazil, Chile, and Argentina, supporting AI and cloud computing growth in South America. Read more
Super Micro Co-Founder Resigns Amid AI Chip Smuggling Charges
Yih-Shyan Liaw has stepped down from the board of Super Micro Computer following his arrest by the U.S. Justice Department for allegedly smuggling AI chips to China. The company stated his resignation was not due to any disagreement. Read more
Elliott Investment Management Invests in Synopsys
Activist investor Elliott Investment Management has taken a multibillion-dollar stake in Synopsys to boost its sales and profit margins amid a stock price decline. Read more
SoftBank Announces $500 Billion AI Data Center in Ohio
SoftBank Group Corp. has announced plans to develop a $500 billion AI data center in Ohio. The project aims to create one of the largest data centers globally, with the first phase expected to be completed by early 2028. Read more
Ecolab Acquires CoolIT Systems for $4.75 Billion
Ecolab has announced its acquisition of CoolIT Systems, a leader in liquid cooling technology for AI data centers, for approximately $4.75 billion. This move aims to enhance Ecolab's position in the data center market by integrating CoolIT's technologies with its own expertise. Read more
AtkinsRéalis and NVIDIA Partner for AI Data Centers
AtkinsRéalis has partnered with NVIDIA to develop nuclear-powered AI data centers. The collaboration will combine expertise in nuclear infrastructure and advanced computing to meet the demand for AI facilities. Read more
DHL Supply Chain Expands Logistics with New Warehouses
In response to growing demand, DHL Supply Chain plans to open 10 new warehouse sites in North America by 2026, aimed at supporting data center operations. Read more
Wipro Launches AI-Data Center Solution with NVIDIA
Wipro Limited has introduced its AI-Data Center solution, leveraging NVIDIA's technology to boost AI adoption across industries. This initiative aims to enhance enterprise-scale AI deployment and improve customer experiences. Read more
SK Telecom AI Data Center Standard Approved
The ITU-T has approved SK Telecom's proposal for a new international standard for AI Data Centers, establishing a framework to enhance global interconnection and efficiency. Read more
Siemens and Rittal Partner for AI Data Center Power Systems
Siemens and Rittal have announced a strategic partnership to develop efficient power distribution solutions for AI-driven data centers. Their collaboration focuses on innovations like a 'sidecar' power rack to support the growing demands of AI applications. Read more
PADO AI Secures $6 Million for AI Workload Orchestration
PADO AI has completed a $6 million seed funding round led by NovaWave Capital to enhance its AI-powered workload orchestration software for mid-market data centers. Read more
Blue Origin Plans Satellite Data Center for AI and Cloud
Blue Origin has proposed 'Project Sunrise', aiming to launch over 50,000 satellites to create an orbital data center. This initiative seeks to support AI and cloud services by moving computing resources to space. Read more
U.S. Data Center Power Market to Reach $21.89 Billion by 2031
A report by Mordor Intelligence forecasts the U.S. data center power market to grow significantly, driven by AI demand and increased data consumption. Read more
T1 Energy Secures 50MW for AI Data Center in Norway
T1 Energy has received a 50MW power allocation from Norway's grid operator, Statnett, to develop a data center in Mo i Rana, utilizing the region's hydroelectric power. Read more
Australian Government Sets Expectations for AI Infrastructure
The Australian Government has introduced a framework to guide data centers and AI infrastructure developers, focusing on community benefits, renewable energy, and local job investments as part of the National AI Plan. Read more
Perma-Pipe Expands with New U.S. Facility for AI Data Centers
Perma-Pipe International Holdings, Inc. is expanding with a new facility in the U.S. Northeast to cater to the AI-driven data center market. The facility is set to be operational by the second quarter of 2026. Read more
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