AI News on July 15th
1. Meta Announces Multi-Billion Dollar Investment in AI Data Centers
#Meta #AIdatacenters #superintelligence
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed plans to invest "hundreds of billions of dollars" in building multiple gigawatt-scale AI data centers, including the Prometheus cluster (set to launch in 2026) and the Hyperion cluster (expected to expand to 5 GW). This signals Meta’s aggressive push toward developing "superintelligence".
2. Elon Musk Opposes Tesla-xAI Merger, Says Shareholders Will Decide
#ElonMusk #xAI #Semiconductors
Elon Musk clarified on social media that he does not support merging Tesla with xAI, stating that any investment decision must be put to a shareholder vote. This comes amid debates over Tesla’s AI strategy and xAI’s independence.
3. Amazon Launches Kiro, an AI Coding Assistant with Collaborative Features
#Amazon #AIcodingassistant #GeminiCodeAssist
Amazon unveiled Kiro, a new AI-powered programming tool that helps developers define requirements and system designs before writing code. Unlike traditional AI coding assistants, Kiro emphasizes collaboration and competes with GitHub’s Copilot and Google’s Gemini Code Assist. It will be free during preview, with tiered pricing later.
4. Microsoft Faces Shareholder Pressure Over AI Ethics in Israel Contracts
#Shareholder #humanrights #shareholder
Over 60 Microsoft shareholders submitted a proposal demanding the company review its human rights due diligence (HRDD) process, particularly regarding AI and cloud services provided to Israel’s Defense Ministry (IMOD). The proposal questions whether Microsoft’s tech could be used in violations of international humanitarian law.
5. Microsoft’s Energy Consumption Surges 168% Due to AI Expansion
#sustainability #windpower #liquidcooling
Microsoft’s sustainability report revealed a 168% increase in energy use due to AI operations, with carbon emissions up 23.4% compared to five years ago. The company is adopting wind-powered data centers, liquid cooling, and energy-efficient chips to mitigate environmental impact.
6. China’s Zhijiang Lab Showcases GeoGPT & OneAstronomy at Global AI Summit
#ZhijiangLab #GeoGPT #scientificAI
China’s Zhijiang Lab presented two scientific AI models—GeoGPT (for geoscience research) and OneAstronomy (for cosmic data analysis)—at the "AI for Good Global Summit" in Geneva. Both models were recognized as "Innovative AI for Humanity" by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
7. Apple Reportedly in Talks to Acquire Europe’s Largest AI Startup, Mistral
#MistralAI #acquisition #OpenAI
Rumors suggest Apple is considering acquiring Mistral AI, a leading European AI firm, to bolster its generative AI capabilities and compete with OpenAI and Google.
8. CoreWeave’s Texas Data Center Expansion Could Double Local Power Demand
#CoreWeave #electricitydemand #energystrain
AI infrastructure firm CoreWeave is expanding a data center in Texas, potentially doubling the city’s electricity consumption. This highlights the growing energy strain caused by AI workloads in the U.S.
9. Trump Plans $70 Billion AI & Energy Investment Push
#DonaldTrump #AIinvestment #techfunding
According to U.S. media, former President Donald Trump is set to announce a $70 billion investment plan in AI and energy sectors, signaling a major policy focus if he returns to office.
10. MiniMax Nears $300M Funding Round at $4B+ Valuation
#AIfunding #ChineseAI #valuation
Chinese AI firm MiniMax is close to securing $300 million in new funding, pushing its valuation above $4 billion, as demand for large language models grows.