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Nvidia Invests $5 Billion in Intel Following 10% Stake from Trump Administration

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Nvidia, a top player in the semiconductor industry, has revealed plans to invest $5 billion in Intel while collaborating with struggling chip manufacturers on various products.

Following confirmation that the Trump administration has secured a 10% stake in Intel, Nvidia announced that it will collaborate with the company on custom data centers essential for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and personal computer products.

Intel’s stock surged nearly 23% after market hours, marking the company’s largest single-day percentage gain since 1987. Nvidia’s stock also climbed by over 3%, enhancing its market valuation to $400 billion.

Nvidia plans to invest $5 billion in Intel common stock at a price of $23.28 per share, pending regulatory approval.

“This groundbreaking partnership combines two leading platforms, accelerating the computing stack with Nvidia’s AI capabilities and Intel’s CPUs within the extensive X86 ecosystem,” stated Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia. “Together, we will expand our ecosystem and lay the groundwork for the next era of computing.”

The companies announced their intention to “seamlessly integrate the architecture.”

For data centers, Intel develops custom chips that Nvidia utilizes in its AI infrastructure. For PC products, Intel manufactures chips that incorporate Nvidia technology.

This deal presents a crucial opportunity for Intel, a pioneering force in Silicon Valley that experienced decades of growth fueled by the personal computer surge but has struggled after failing to adapt to the mobile computing trend initiated by the iPhone’s 2007 launch.

In recent years, Intel fell further behind during the AI boom that propelled Nvidia to become the world’s most valuable company. Last year, Intel reported a loss of nearly $1.9 billion, followed by another $3.7 billion in the first half of this year, along with plans to reduce its workforce by a quarter by the end of 2025.

Conversely, Nvidia is experiencing significant growth, driven by its specialized chips that support the artificial intelligence trend. Graphics processing units (GPUs) have proven particularly efficient in developing advanced AI systems.

Nvidia is the second firm to invest billions in chip manufacturers this year. In August, Japan’s leading high-tech investment firm, SoftBank, announced a $2 billion investment in Intel for a 2% stake in the company. SoftBank’s involvement follows initial reports regarding the US government’s plans to invest in Intel.

Donald Trump has been striving to bolster the US semiconductor sector, previously threatening to implement 100% tariffs on imported chips. He also brokered an export agreement with Nvidia and competitor AMD, which permitted the sale of certain low-power AI chips to China.

Experts believe Nvidia’s recent investment in Intel could strengthen the position of major chip manufacturers and potentially provide the impetus needed for Intel to compete effectively in the AI arena.

“According to Wedbush’s tech analyst Dan Ives: [Nvidia’s] world is waiting for more sovereignty, with businesses lining up for the world’s most advanced chips, while everyone else pays a premium.”

Reports contributed by the Associated Press

Source: www.theguardian.com

Elon Musk Invests Close to $1 Billion in Tesla Shares to Increase Control | US News

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Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, has acquired nearly $1 billion worth of shares in the electric vehicle maker.

Following this announcement, Tesla’s stock surged by over 8% in pre-market trading on Monday.

As Tesla shifts its focus from solely electric vehicle production to becoming a technology powerhouse, the company is racing to achieve ambitious goals in Robotaxis, Artificial Intelligence, and Robotics. By December, Musk held approximately 13% of the company, according to data from LSEG.

On Friday, Musk purchased 2.57 million shares in open market transactions, with prices ranging from $372.37 to $396.54 per share.

Tesla’s shares increased by over 7% on Friday, building on strong gains from the previous session. Despite a year-to-date decline of around 2%, the stock is poised to achieve profits for the third consecutive session if pre-market trends hold steady.

Musk has persistently sought greater ownership interests, enhanced voting power at Tesla, and has threatened to develop AI and robotics ventures outside of Tesla unless he secures 25% voting power.

Earlier this month, Tesla’s board proposed a trillion-dollar compensation package for Musk, even amidst challenges posed by intense competition and declining electric vehicle demand.

On Friday, Robin Denholm, the board chair, downplayed concerns that Musk’s political engagements were negatively impacting sales, asserting that the billionaire had returned to being “front and center” within the company following his time in the White House.

Musk’s political involvement and public disagreements with Donald Trump have placed pressure on the company’s stock this year, raising investor concerns about potential distractions and declines in sales.

Source: www.theguardian.com

California Invests in Iron Salt Batteries to Safeguard Against Wildfires

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Batteries created from iron and salt in ceramic tubes present a reduced fire risk compared to lithium-ion batteries

Inlyte Energy

Batteries utilizing iron and salt can deliver emergency power without fire hazards, located near one of California’s historic redwood forests.

The 200-kilowatt battery will be integrated with solar panels at the Alliance Red Woods Conference Ground in Sonoma County, California. This site is situated in a high wildfire risk zone of Redwood Forest, merely 16 kilometers from Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, and is home to California’s tallest and oldest trees. During severe weather and wildfires, conference facilities often assist firefighters and evacuees, yet they are also prone to power grid outages.

“Our view of technology revolves around establishing a secure, cost-effective energy storage solution.” Ben Kaun from Inlyte Energy in California stated. “This perspective guided us toward developing large cells with affordable and plentiful active materials such as iron and salt.”

The battery projects are expected to provide up to two weeks of emergency backup power, operational by 2027. This capability will enable lighting within the conference grounds and supply power to local firefighter water pump stations without jeopardizing the iconic redwood trees.

This is attributed to the non-flammable nature of these easily sourced battery components (powdered iron and salt contained in ceramic tubes). “These batteries and their cells can be positioned closely together without the typical fire or explosion risks associated with lithium-ion batteries,” says Kaun.

Lithium-ion batteries, commonly used in smartphones and electric vehicles, can ignite under certain conditions, and this risk escalates when batteries are concentrated in large storage facilities. For instance, in January 2025, a fire at California’s largest battery storage site obliterated 300 megawatts of energy storage. Conversely, Inlyte’s iron-salt batteries possess significantly lower risk profiles. The Iron-Salt Battery initiative has secured nearly $4 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to enhance energy resilience in wildfire-prone areas near Redwood Forest.

“These non-flammable batteries are a prudent choice for project developers considering energy storage installations in remote or drought-prone regions or near forests vulnerable to frequent drought,” says Dustin Mulbany from San Jose State University. “Energy technology and infrastructure have historically contributed to wildfires, and utilizing non-flammable batteries offers a way to mitigate some of these risks.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Nvidia Invests Billions in US Manufacturing and CEO

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The CEO of Nvidia, the largest computer chip maker in the world, has committed to investing “tens of billions” of dollars in manufacturing semiconductors and electronics in the United States over the next four years.

Jensen Huang’s remarks indicate a shift in supply chains of California-based AI chip makers away from Asia due to the uncertain tariff threats from Donald Trump.

In an interview with the Financial Times, the co-founder and CEO of Nvidia stated, “Overall, over the next four years, we plan to invest around $50 billion in electronics manufacturing. I believe we can easily surpass hundreds of billions produced here in the US.”

This announcement highlights the impact of Trump’s “America First” policy on business investments, pushing even companies like Nvidia, the most valuable in the world, to reconsider their global presence.

Founded in 1993, the Silicon Valley company has been driving the AI market boom, leading to its staggering valuation of $2.9 trillion. However, other major US tech giants, such as Apple, have become reliant on chip manufacturers in Taiwan, like TSMC and Foxconn.

Huang expressed confidence in Nvidia’s ability to navigate any challenges in Taiwan, a region prone to earthquakes. “We are prepared to manufacture in the US. Our supply chain is fully diversified,” he added.

He also mentioned the potential for the Trump administration to bolster the US AI industry amidst growing competition with China.

Huang criticized the success of Chinese tech giant Huawei, calling it “the most formidable technology company in China.” He argued that efforts to contain Chinese companies have been inadequate, as evidenced by Huawei’s continued dominance.

Having government support for the industry and addressing energy consumption in data centers is a significant boost for American AI, according to Huang.

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The recent $100 million investment in the US by TSMC, a Taiwanese semiconductor company, supports onshore manufacturing efforts. This move ensures that Nvidia’s Blackwell chips are produced in the US, enhancing supply chain resilience.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Australia invests A$1 billion into PsiQuantum for quantum computing efforts

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PsiQuantum silicon photonic chips

Psi Quantum

The Australian government has announced it will invest nearly A$1 billion in developing quantum computers, staking its claim in a race currently dominated by the United States and China.

Headquartered in the US, PsiQuantum was co-founded by a team including two Australian researchers and has received funding from both the Australian Federal and Queensland Governments of A$470 million, for a total of A$940 million ($600 million). The project will receive funding of $13 million. In return, the company will build and operate a next-generation quantum computer in Brisbane, Australia.

stephen bartlett Researchers at the University of Sydney said the announcement amounted to Australia asserting sovereign capabilities in quantum computing and building a quantum technology ecosystem.

“What I'm really excited about about this is that the size of the investment means we're serious,” Bartlett says. Big technology companies such as IBM, Google and Microsoft are investing billions of dollars in quantum computing, but Australian funding makes PsiQuantum one of the world's largest dedicated quantum computing companies.

Quantum computers offer the possibility of completing some tasks much faster than regular computers. So far, such capabilities have only been demonstrated in non-practical problems, but as research teams in the U.S., China and elsewhere race to build larger and less error-prone machines, they are becoming increasingly common. It is hoped that this will begin to prove useful.

Many teams have built quantum computers based on superconductors, but PsiQuantum's approach involves particles of light called photons, which were thought to be difficult to scale up. However, ahead of the Australian announcement, PsiQuantum Published a paper The paper details how standard semiconductor manufacturing equipment, of the type used to make regular computer chips, could be used to build the photonic chips needed for quantum machines.

Australia has exported generations of quantum researchers, including the co-founders of PsiQuantum. Jeremy O'Brien and Terry Rudolph. Mr Bartlett said government investment could allow these scientists to return to Australia and start building their careers here. “Australia is saying we have a seat at the big table when it comes to quantum computing.”

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  • quantum computing

Source: www.newscientist.com

Verdane invests $65 million in media monitoring startup Meltwater

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melt waterwhich first made its name in media monitoring and has since become active in business intelligence using AI and big data analysis techniques, is welcoming new investors. VardhanThe Norwegian private equity firm, which earlier this year closed a more than $1 billion fund to invest in the expansion of high-tech companies, acquired an 11% stake in Meltwater, valuing the company at €542 million. 92 million dollars), with a stock value of approximately 542 million euros (approximately 592 million dollars). $65 million. But that’s not the only sticking point in the deal.

The investment will be made through Verdan, which will acquire a significant stake in Fountain Venture, an investment vehicle controlled by Meltwater’s founder and current chairman, Jørn Risegen.

Meltwater was listed on the Norwegian Stock Exchange until early this year.Mr. Risegen oversaw the company’s taking private. early this year The remaining stake was held through Fountain in a deal with two private equity firms, Alter and Merlin. (This go-private deal was the last disclosed valuation and the one currently cited by Meltwater.) Verdhan invested in Fountain Venture rather than directly in Meltwater. This is because, in partnership with Fountain, we plan to jointly invest in startups active in the following areas in the future. love.

Joakim Kaempferd, president of Verdun, said the partnership will also allow the company to acquire a stake in HR firm Jobilon, but Meltwater has much larger assets.

“The trade here is really a portfolio trade,” he said. “We have acquired Mr Jorn’s investment company and have an implied direct stake in Meltwater and Nordic recruitment company Jovilon, with Meltwater being the largest asset in our portfolio.” Jovilon’s current ARR is approx. 5 million euros, but Meltwater, which was founded in Norway but is now headquartered in San Francisco, has an ARR of about 500 million euros, he added.

The deal highlights several important themes in Europe’s technology industry and the world of venture capital.

The first is the fact that tech companies continue to put significant pressure on their valuations. Meltwater’s current market cap is just under $600 million, which is actually less than the funding the company raised over the years (more than $700 million) when it was a private startup. pitch book data), and less than half of its valuation when it went public in December 2020 at more than $1 billion.

The second is the nature of the trade at the moment and the efforts investors are making to avoid risk. The European market is particularly tight at the moment. Venture capital firm Atomico conducts deep research into Europe’s funding landscape each year (along with a number of third-party research firms and other companies participating in the ecosystem), and estimates that funding will be halved in 2023. It turned out that That has fallen to just $43 billion, with private equity firms participating more heavily in deals to make up for the decline from VCs.

In this context, it is noteworthy that Verdane chose to invest in Fountain Venture rather than directly in Meltwater. This would give Verdan a stake in Meltwater, as well as Jovilon and any other stake that Fountain and Lysegen might be interested in. Then you lose the leverage of focusing on just one business. Verdane itself has only recently begun spreading its wings into investing in startups across Europe and beyond. Partnering with a partner to help lead the way is a much lower-risk approach to more ambitious initiatives.

From a technology perspective, companies like Meltwater are at a crossroads these days. The company’s roots lie in humans physically sifting through stacks of newspapers every day, cutting out the parts that mention company names, collating them, and sending them to their customers so they can better track their status. It probably came from business. It was featured in the media.

The decline of print media digitized that effort, but then the rise of social media turned it into a broader game, sentiment analysis, where words became structured and usually unstructured data. Ta. The influx of a whole new set of tools to glean insights from data has turned a media challenge into a technical challenge. Meltwater built his AI in-house and acquired a series of companies in his analytics integration efforts. (The most high-profile of these acquisitions was undoubtedly DataSift, a groundbreaking company that was an early Twitter friend of his and used to monetize Twitter’s firehose.) has worsened.)

But now it has a much bigger competitive threat. Companies like OpenAI and generative AI innovations will once again change the game from a search (consumer and business) perspective and how all kinds of business intelligence work is performed.

Unsurprisingly, Lyseggen said Meltwater’s focus feels like a throwback to what is essentially a solved problem, although it could well be made more efficient by competitors. Despite this, we believe there are further opportunities for our company.

“I see OpenAI’s ChatGPT as the ‘Netscape moment’ that ushered in this new era,” he said. This is interesting. Although Netscape isn’t part of what we use today, it certainly changed the way the world searches for information. “AI is changing the game as players challenge the old guard. We think Meltwater’s tech stocks are already the most modern and AI-centric of its category. We’re going to continue to do that and we’re really looking forward to it. We’re working very hard.” Meltwater today announced that it produces approximately 1 billion daily transactions for its communications, marketing and PR clients. announced that they were analyzing the document.

Source: techcrunch.com

Metafuels invests $8 million in sustainable aviation fuel industry

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meta fuel aims to change the landscape of sustainable jet fuel and has just received an $8 million suitcase from local ZRH baggage carousel 3. Ah, Zurich. The company is literally turning the skies green with a new fuel called Aerobrew. Sure, it might sound like a French press, or even a boomerang, but the company has a few tricks up its sleeve, and it’s a sustainable aircraft made using renewable electricity. We are creating fuel, or eSAF.

The company is focusing on jet fuel as its main product and has purchased tickets to produce jet fuel that complies with aviation standards. That’s a tall order. Fuels must operate in all kinds of harsh environments. From the freezing cold of the highlands and blues to the sweltering heat of the Houston runways and everything in between.

“From fuel handling on the ground to combustion performance at high altitude, operational safety is paramount,” said Leigh Hackett, co-founder and CCO of Metafuels.

The company aims to produce a viable 100% synthetic jet fuel alternative by 2030, which will seamlessly integrate into existing global renewable energy systems and replace traditional fossil fuel supplies. The company claims to offer energy solutions that operate outside the chain. Competitors in this space include LanzaJet.

The new $8 million investment is a major boost to Metafuels’ ambitious plans. The company sees rising costs of conventional fuels, impending environmental taxes and increased stakeholder pressure for sustainability as factors that will offset ISAF’s initial production costs. This round was led by energy impact partner and contrarian venture.

Metafuels’ eSAF technology uses a process developed to convert green methanol to eSAF, enabling a seamless transition from fossil-based kerosene. Methanol is hydrogen (H2) and provide sustainable carbon dioxide. green H2 Can be produced from water electrolysis and CO using renewable electricity2 In the short term, it can be captured from biological sources such as waste and residues. The long term plan is to start direct air capture, which seems nice and poetic to me. It captures gas, puts it into an airplane, flies it through the air, and puts it back into the air.

It could be an interesting stepping stone before battery- or hydrogen-powered planes really take off — the magic of Metafuels’ Aerobrew is that it can fuel aircraft without modification, the company says.

“Once we get past the building blocks of choosing sustainably sourced carbon and hydrogen, we move on to the relatively simple but breakthrough technology of converting those ingredients into jet fuel.” Metafuels Saurabh Kapoor, CEO and Co-Founder of “And because this is a type of kerosene, we can use the same pipelines, infrastructure, storage, transportation and aircraft.”

Source: techcrunch.com