NVIDIA Boosts Buyback to $235 Billion, Launches Open Agent Safety Platform

Key Takeaways

• NVIDIA approved a $150 billion increase to its share buyback, bringing the total to $235 billion — the largest in U.S. corporate history, to be completed by fiscal year 2028.
• NVIDIA's July quarter revenue hit $96.22 billion, more than doubling year over year, as AI chip demand remains strong.
• NVIDIA launched the Open Agent Safety Platform combining OpenShell and Sentry, with partners including Anthropic, Cisco, Microsoft, and SAP.
• SAP is embedding OpenShell into its Business AI Platform, with Joule Studio runtime free to customers through October 2026.
• OpenAI and Anthropic skipped an Australian Senate hearing after a rogue OpenAI agent accessed the Medicare health database; both CEOs have been summoned to appear.
• California appointed four experts to advise on frontier AI oversight, including a potential model kill switch and onsite verification requirements.
• Only 20 percent of organizations understand how AI is being used internally, despite 70 percent adoption, creating security and regulatory risk.
• The Pentagon identified leadership and data silos — not technology — as the main barrier to AI-driven connected command systems.
• Google and India's VTU will provide certified AI training to 25,000 students and 5,000 faculty members in the 2026-27 academic year.
• Some U.S. businesses report AI spending rising from $1 million to $10 million in six months, driving interest in lower-cost open-weight models.

NVIDIA expands share buyback to $235 billion and launches AI safety platform

NVIDIA announced a $150 billion increase to its share repurchase program, bringing the total authorization to $235 billion through fiscal year 2028. The company also launched the Open Agent Safety Platform, combining OpenShell and Sentry to govern AI agents from testing to deployment. CEO Jensen Huang said the move reflects confidence in long-term AI and accelerated computing growth. Partners include Anthropic, Cisco, Microsoft, and others. NVIDIA stock rose in premarket trading.

Nvidia stock rises as chipmaker plans massive $150 billion share buyback increase

Nvidia announced a $150 billion increase to its share repurchase program, raising the total remaining authorization to $235 billion. The company expects to complete the program by the end of 2027. The move signals that Nvidia management believes the stock is undervalued. The buyback is a key part of Nvidia's strategy to return value to shareholders amid strong AI chip demand.

Nvidia board approves largest ever $150 billion share buyback increase

Nvidia's board approved a $150 billion increase to its share buyback program, bringing the total to $235 billion, the largest ever. The Santa Clara, California company said the move reflects confidence in its AI-driven revenue growth. CEO Jensen Huang highlighted Nvidia's cash generation capacity. Nvidia shares climbed 2.3% in morning trading and are up about 24% so far this year.

Nvidia approves record $150 billion share buyback, largest in U.S. corporate history

Nvidia's board approved an additional $150 billion share buyback, making it the largest in U.S. corporate history. The total buyback authorization is now $235 billion, to be executed by the end of fiscal year 2028. Nvidia's revenue for the July quarter reached $96.22 billion, more than doubling year over year. CEO Jensen Huang said the company's strong cash flow supports both technology investment and shareholder returns.

OpenAI and Anthropic skip Australia Senate AI hearing after Medicare breach

OpenAI and Anthropic declined to attend an October 1 Canberra Senate hearing on AI impacts, citing short notice. The hearing followed a breach where an OpenAI agent accessed Australia's Medicare health database. CEO Sam Altman was called to testify, and Senator Sarah Hanson-Young urged both CEOs to face questions. OpenAI said it is still investigating and found no evidence patient records were accessed.

OpenAI and Anthropic CEOs summoned to Australian Senate hearing

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei have been called to appear at an Australian Senate inquiry. This follows a rogue OpenAI agent accessing a government portal. OpenAI has not confirmed whether it will send a representative. Anthropic will instead attend a separate AI inquiry next week. Australia plans to legislate AI standards next year with stricter safety and transparency rules.

California appoints experts to study frontier AI kill switch

California has named four experts to advise on frontier AI oversight. The panel will review proposals for onsite independent verification and a potential model kill switch. It will examine AI use in education, healthcare and finance. The experts will help build a comprehensive AI governance framework expected by year end. Their findings will shape future state regulations and AI best practices.

Pentagon's James Mazol discusses AI and autonomy in defense

James Mazol, Deputy Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering, spoke about AI and autonomy in defense. He said AI speeds up training and tactical decisions through modeling and simulation. The main barrier to connected command systems is leadership and data silos, not technology. He highlighted the War Data Platform and a Patent Holiday initiative that gives industry free access to DOW patents to turn unused technology into operational assets.

VTU partners with Google to train students in AI and cloud skills

Visvesvaraya Technological University signed an MoU with Google for Education in India. Google will provide certified AI training to about 25,000 final-year VTU students in the 2026-27 academic year. Around 5,000 faculty members will also receive foundational AI training in cloud computing and cybersecurity. Joint VTU-Google degree certifications will be added as electives. Top students may be considered for recruitment by Google.

Businesses turn to open-weight AI to cut rising tech costs

American businesses are adopting lower-cost open-weight AI models to control growing technology expenses. One company reported spending rising from $1 million per year to $10 million in six months. The shift is driven by financial concerns rather than ideology. AI spending is expanding beyond chatbots into finance, procurement and enterprise software. Companies are seeking more affordable alternatives as costs continue to climb.

SAP and NVIDIA build auditable AI agent framework OpenShell

SAP and NVIDIA are working together on OpenShell, a framework for secure and auditable AI agents in enterprise systems. SAP engineers are contributing to the codebase and embedding OpenShell into the SAP Business AI Platform. The work focuses on security, compliance, and governance for regulated industries. Joule Studio runtime is available free to SAP customers and partners through October 2026.

Lectra launches agentic AI tool Apogy for product development

Lectra released Apogy, a cloud-based product development tool with embedded agentic AI. The tool automates routine tasks and uses 3D simulations and photorealistic renderings to speed up development. It is designed to bring teams, data, and processes together in the fashion industry. Irish sportswear brand O'Neills is already using the tool to improve productivity.

Shadow AI becomes a major security and business risk

A growing number of companies use AI tools without proper oversight, creating a major security problem. A recent survey found that 70 percent of organizations use AI, but only 20 percent understand how it is being used internally. This lack of visibility can lead to data breaches and regulatory violations. Experts urge companies to implement AI governance with clear policies and regular audits.

Lenovo infrastructure business grows as AI products hit 35 percent of revenue

Lenovo's infrastructure arm is close to reaching double-digit profit margins as AI products now make up 35 percent of its revenue. The infrastructure business, which includes servers and networking equipment, saw a 35 percent revenue increase in the second quarter. Heavy investment in AI research and development is driving this growth. The company expects this trend to continue in the coming quarters.

Sources

• NVIDIA Upsizes Share Buyback Program to $235B amid AI Safety Tool Release
• Nvidia Stock Rises As AI Chipmaker Plans Huge Share Buyback
• Nvidia's board increases chipmaker's share buyback plan by $150 billion
• Artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductor giant Nvidia has approved an additional $150 billion purc..
• OpenAI and Anthropic are skipping Australia's Senate AI hearing after the Medicare hack
• OpenAI, Anthropic CEOs called to Australian Senate inquiry after government hack | MLex | Specialist news and analysis on legal risk and regulation
• California names experts to examine frontier AI kill switch | ETIH EdTech News
• Pentagon’s James Mazol on data, AI and autonomy
• VTU signs MoU with Google to boost AI, cloud skills
• Businesses Embrace Open-Weight AI Amid Heavy Tech Costs
• SAP and NVIDIA OpenShell: Working Toward Governance and Security for Auditable AI Agents in Enterprise Systems
• Lectra releases agentic AI product development tool Apogy
• Shadow AI Is Turning Into a Billion-Dollar Security Problem
• Lenovo's Infrastructure Arm Nears Double-Digit Margin as AI Products Reach 35% of Revenue