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Applied Digital spins off cloud unit to form ChronoScale as Ekso Bionics stock surges 54%

Applied Digital announced plans to merge its cloud computing arm with Ekso Bionics to create ChronoScale Corporation, a dedicated platform for AI compute infrastructure. The business combination sent Ekso Bionics stock soaring 54% in premarket trading as investors reacted to the strategic separation that will allow both entities to scale independently in the high-demand GPU market.

2 Sources

Octopus Energy spins off Kraken AI unit at $8.65 billion, eyes potential public listing

British energy giant Octopus Energy is spinning off its AI technology unit Kraken Technologies as an independent entity valued at $8.65 billion following a $1 billion funding round. The utility software subsidiary, which serves 70 million customer accounts globally, is targeting separation by mid-2026 with a potential stock market flotation to follow in London or the US.

3 Sources

Yesterday

Nvidia's $5 billion Intel investment already worth $7.58 billion as AI chips partnership takes shape

Nvidia locked in a $23.28 per share price for Intel stock in September, which now trades at $36.68, delivering a $2.5 billion gain. The deal pairs Intel's manufacturing with Nvidia's AI infrastructure to develop next-generation chips for data centers and PCs, marking a strategic reset for Intel under CEO Lip-Bu Tan.

2 Sources

SoftBank Acquires DigitalBridge for $4 Billion to Expand Data Centers Amid AI Boom

SoftBank Group Corp. agreed to acquire private equity firm DigitalBridge Group Inc. for $4 billion, including debt, as founder Masayoshi Son positions the Japanese conglomerate at the center of surging demand for data center infrastructure. The deal brings $108 billion in assets under management and key relationships with investors eager to deploy capital in digital infrastructure fueling the artificial intelligence boom.

12 Sources

Hotel Groups Bet on Loyalty Programs to Fend Off AI Agents and Online Travel Platforms

Major hotel chains are doubling down on loyalty programs as AI agents reshape travel booking. Marriott's Bonvoy reached 260 million members, up 18% year-over-year, while Hilton and Wyndham enhance perks to encourage direct bookings. The push aims to reduce commission fees paid to online travel agents and capture valuable guest data before autonomous AI bots change how customers book rooms.

3 Sources

26 Dec 2025

Oracle's AI spending spree triggers worst stock decline since 2001 as investor concerns mount

Oracle shares have plummeted 30% this quarter, marking the company's steepest decline since the dot-com crash. Wall Street grows skeptical as the software giant's aggressive AI push strains its balance sheet with $50 billion in planned capital expenditures and delayed OpenAI data center projects.

2 Sources

AI Boom Creates Over 50 New Billionaires as Startup Investment Surges Past $200 Billion

The artificial intelligence sector generated unprecedented wealth in 2025, minting more than 50 new billionaires as investors poured $202 billion into AI companies. From data labeling startups to AI agents replacing workers, founders saw their net worth surge to ten-figure amounts in record time, with some reaching billionaire status in less than three years.

5 Sources

Coforge to acquire AI-native firm Encora for $2.35 billion in largest Indian IT services deal

Indian IT services provider Coforge announced plans to acquire California-based AI firm Encora for $2.35 billion from private equity groups Advent International and Warburg Pincus. The technology services deal marks the largest acquisition in India's IT sector by deal value, surpassing HCL Technologies' $1.8 billion IBM products purchase in 2018. The combined entity expects to generate $2 billion in revenue by FY27.

7 Sources

Retired Navy Nuclear Reactors From Warships Could Power AI Data Centers in Tennessee

Texas-based HGP Intelligent Energy has proposed repurposing two retired Navy nuclear reactors from aircraft carriers and submarines to power AI data centers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The $1.8-2.1 billion CoreHeld Project would deliver 450-520 megawatts of carbon-free power, marking the first time military reactors would be converted for civilian use. The company seeks a U.S. Department of Energy loan guarantee to launch what could be a cost-effective solution to AI's escalating energy demands.

4 Sources

24 Dec 2025

Nvidia locks in $20 billion Groq deal, securing AI chip rival's technology and talent

Nvidia has structured a $20 billion agreement with AI chip startup Groq that includes licensing the company's inference technology and hiring key executives like CEO Jonathan Ross. While technically not an acquisition, the deal gives Nvidia control over Groq's assets and expertise in low-latency AI processors, raising questions about whether this arrangement sidesteps antitrust scrutiny while consolidating Nvidia's dominance in AI hardware.

26 Sources

Snowflake eyes $1 billion Observe Inc deal to strengthen AI and monitoring capabilities

Snowflake is negotiating a $1 billion acquisition of application monitoring startup Observe Inc to expand its AI and observability capabilities. The deal would add advanced monitoring tools for AI applications to Snowflake's growing portfolio, following recent acquisitions of Select Star and TruEra. With $1.94 billion in cash and strong Q3 results, Snowflake continues its push into AI-driven analytics and cloud data management.

2 Sources

OpenAI plans to monetize ChatGPT with ads as subscriptions fall short of covering costs

OpenAI is developing an advertising strategy for ChatGPT that could prioritize sponsored content within the chatbot's responses. With 800 million weekly active users but only 35 million paying subscribers, the company faces mounting pressure to monetize its free user base. Internal discussions reveal plans for intent-based monetization and conversational ads that could launch as early as 2026.

5 Sources

23 Dec 2025

AI advertising is going invisible as ChatGPT and Meta build hyper-personalized ad systems

Major tech companies are developing AI advertising that blends seamlessly into user experiences, making it nearly impossible to distinguish recommendations from paid content. OpenAI is exploring ads for ChatGPT's 800 million weekly users, while Meta plans AI systems that generate personalized video content. The shift raises serious questions about transparency and consumer autonomy.

2 Sources

ServiceNow acquires Armis for $7.75 billion to build AI-powered cybersecurity shield

ServiceNow announced its largest acquisition to date, buying cybersecurity startup Armis for $7.75 billion in cash. The deal aims to create an end-to-end security operations platform that protects connected devices across IT, operational technology, and AI systems. With security spending projected to hit $240 billion in 2026, ServiceNow is betting that trust and comprehensive security visibility will determine who wins the enterprise AI market.

5 Sources

AI data centers force aging peaker power plants to cancel retirements amid power shortfalls

Surging electricity demand from AI is forcing obsolete peaker power plants back into service across the U.S. About 60% of oil, gas, and coal plants slated for retirement in the country's largest power grid postponed or cancelled those plans this year. The move raises environmental and social justice concerns as these fossil-fuel-fired plants disproportionately impact low-income communities of color.

3 Sources

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