AMD targets 250 MW of AI infrastructure in Saudi Arabia by 2027 and up to 1 GW by 2030

Key Takeaways

• Big Tech faces backlash over AI data centers due to noise, air pollution, and high utility bills.
• AMD targets 250 MW of AI infrastructure in Saudi Arabia by 2027 and up to 1 GW by 2030.
• Firmus Technologies invests $300m in SUBCO's APX East submarine cable system.
• Meta expands enterprise AI push with new integrations with Innovid and Genesys Cloud.
• Nasdaq acquires AI-assisted due-diligence and monitoring platform Dasseti.
• VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9.1 includes AI security features and integration with Hugging Face.
• Rizap suffers data breach when employee uploads customer health data to generative AI service.
• Senator Josh Hawley expands investigation into AI-powered surveillance systems.
• SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, has ambitious plans for AI, including manufacturing GPUs and operating data centers in space.
• President Trump has come out in support of data centers.

Big Tech Faces Backlash Over AI Data Centers

The G20 summit highlighted the growing controversy over AI data centers. US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick argued that data centers are crucial for AI growth, but many are unpopular due to noise, air pollution, and high utility bills. Local residents and students protested outside the summit, citing concerns about the impact on their communities. The backlash against AI and Big Tech has become a bipartisan issue, with some politicians and experts calling for more regulation.

Americans Love AI but Not Data Centers

A growing number of Americans are embracing AI tools, but they are also rejecting the data centers that power them. The disconnect has become a political problem for politicians, who are struggling to balance the economic benefits of AI with the concerns of local communities. President Trump has come out in support of data centers, but his administration's efforts to promote their development are being met with resistance.

Firmus Invests in Trans-Pacific Cable

Australian AI infrastructure company Firmus Technologies has made a $300m cornerstone investment in SUBCO's APX East submarine cable system. The deal will enable Firmus to expand its operations in the Asia-Pacific region and support the growth of the region's AI ecosystem.

AMD Scales AI Push in Saudi Arabia

AMD is scaling its AI push in Saudi Arabia with its HUMAIN initiative, targeting 250 MW of AI infrastructure by 2027 and up to 1 GW by 2030. The company is working with local partners to develop a comprehensive plan for the buildout, which will include research centers, incubators, and other infrastructure.

Senator Hawley Probes AI Surveillance

Senator Josh Hawley is expanding his investigation into AI-powered surveillance systems, citing concerns about the misuse of personal data. The senator is looking into three other companies that have developed similar systems.

Rizap Data Breach

Rizap, a Japanese company, suffered a data breach when an employee mistakenly uploaded customer health data to a generative AI service. The company has apologized and taken measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Nasdaq Acquires AI Due-Diligence Platform

Nasdaq has completed its acquisition of Dasseti, an AI-assisted due-diligence and monitoring platform. The deal will enhance Nasdaq's ability to provide data-driven insights to its clients.

VMware Cloud Foundation Gets AI Security Boost

VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9.1 has been released with AI security features and integration with Hugging Face. The new features aim to improve security and simplify the deployment of AI applications.

Provenance Density for AI-Generated Content

Researchers have proposed a new method for visualizing the provenance of AI-generated content. The approach, called Provenance Density, aims to help users distinguish between human-generated and AI-generated content.

Pointerra Eyes Recurring Sales with Spatial AI

Pointerra, a cloud-based platform for managing 3D datasets, is seeking to convert its data into recurring sales with the help of spatial AI. The company has seen a surge in interest in its technology, which is used by utilities and infrastructure operators.

Meta Expands Enterprise AI Push

Meta is expanding its enterprise AI push with new integrations with Innovid and Genesys Cloud. The company aims to embed its platforms more deeply into enterprise marketing and customer experience systems using AI, integration, and automation.

SpaceX AI Ambitions

SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, has ambitious plans for AI, including manufacturing its own GPUs and operating data centers in space. The company's AI vision has the potential to drive significant growth, but also poses significant risks.

Sources

• At G20, Big Tech and Global Leaders Can’t Escape AI’s Data Center Problem
• Americans love AI. They don’t want the data centers that power it.
• Firmus powers AI export ambitions with 6m cornerstone deal for SUBCO's Trans-Pacific cable
• Can AMD's Saudi AI Buildout Challenge NVIDIA and Broadcom?
• Hawley expands Flock camera probe to other AI-powered surveillance systems
• Rizap mistakenly uploads customer health data to generative AI; denies use in AI training
• Nasdaq Bought an AI Due-Diligence Platform as ICE Built Private-Credit Intelligence. Which Data Moat Is Deeper?
• AI security, VKS boost VCF 9.1 appeal as support deadline looms
• Beyond "Made with AI": Visualizing Provenance Density to Mitigate the Transparency Penalty
• Pointerra (ASX:3DP) Edges Higher—Can Spatial AI Convert Data Into Recurring Sales?
• Meta (META) Deepens Enterprise AI Push Across Ads And Customer Service
• Not Nvidia. Not Palantir. This AI Stock Could Have the Most Upside.