Microsoft Invests $135 Billion in OpenAI; AWS to Invest $5 Billion in South Korea AI Data Centers
Key Takeaways
- AWS to invest $5 billion in South Korean AI data centers by 2031.
- Microsoft invests $135B in OpenAI, extending IP rights through 2032 for joint development.
- Trump to meet Nvidia CEO Huang before meeting with China's President Xi on AI chips.
- PayPal integrates digital wallet into ChatGPT, enabling purchases through the AI platform in 2026.
- Microsoft's valuation surpasses $4 trillion as OpenAI finalizes restructuring for ChatGPT funding.
Top Stories
AWS to invest $5 billion in AI data centers in South Korea.
On October 29, 2025, AWS CEO Matt Garman announced a $5 billion investment in AI data centers in Incheon and Gyeonggi, South Korea, by 2031, as part of a $9 billion total investment, highlighting the growing importance of AI infrastructure.
Microsoft invests $135 billion in OpenAI, extending IP rights.
On October 28, 2025, Microsoft and OpenAI signed a new agreement where Microsoft invested approximately $135 billion, extending Microsoft's IP rights through 2032, and OpenAI will jointly develop products with third parties, with AGI verification by an independent panel.
Trump to meet Nvidia CEO before China meeting.
On October 28, 2025, former US President Trump announced a meeting with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on October 29, 2025, before his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on October 30, 2025, where AI chips will be a key topic.
PayPal integrates digital wallet into ChatGPT.
On October 28, 2025, PayPal and OpenAI announced a deal to integrate PayPal's digital wallet into ChatGPT, enabling purchases through the AI platform starting in 2026, positioning PayPal as a key payments provider for AI-driven shopping.
Microsoft's valuation surpasses $4 trillion as OpenAI restructures.
On October 28, 2025, Microsoft's valuation surpassed $4 trillion as OpenAI finalized its restructuring to secure funding for the ChatGPT developer.
AI Funding Tracker
Nvidia invests $1 billion in Nokia.
On October 28, 2025, NVIDIA announced a $1.0 billion equity investment in Nokia, in addition to a strategic partnership focused on shaping the AI-RAN market and supporting data center network evolution.
OpenAI completes recapitalization, strengthens governance.
On October 28, 2025, OpenAI completed a recapitalization, strengthening its mission-focused governance, with the OpenAI Foundation holding approximately $130 billion in equity and committing to a $25 billion philanthropic initiative focused on health and AI resilience.
Foxconn invests up to $1.37 billion in AI compute cluster.
On October 28, 2025, Foxconn's board approved an investment of up to $1.37 billion for an AI compute cluster and supercomputing center, to be implemented between December 2025 and December 2026, expanding its cloud compute services.
Saudi Aramco to acquire stake in HUMAIN, an AI company.
On October 28, 2025, Saudi Aramco and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) signed a non-binding term sheet for Saudi Aramco to acquire a minority stake in HUMAIN, an AI company, aiming to combine AI assets and strengthen Saudi Arabia's position as an AI hub.
Hyperscalers' capital spending on generative AI drives infrastructure boom.
On October 27, 2025, ClearBridge Investments highlighted that significant capital spending by hyperscalers on generative AI projects is driving a once-in-a-decade boom in technology infrastructure, benefiting providers of cloud infrastructure software and custom silicon.
AI Infrastructure
Data center power usage to increase 160% by 2030.
A Goldman Sachs report projects a 160 percent increase in global data center power usage by the end of 2030, driven by energy-intensive AI operations, with transmission bottlenecks complicating new supply.
OpenAI urges increased US investment in energy capacity for AI.
On October 27, 2025, OpenAI urged the White House to substantially increase U.S. investment in new energy capacity to stay ahead of China in AI, advocating for a commitment to building 100 gigawatts of new energy capacity each year.
AI Innovation Spotlight
Adobe introduces new AI tools in Adobe Firefly.
On October 28, 2025, Adobe introduced new AI tools, models, and agents in Adobe Firefly, including studio-quality audio and video tools and the new Firefly Image Model 5, integrating partner models and previewing a conversational AI assistant.
AI Societal Impact
Experiment on living without AI reveals its prevalence.
On October 28, 2025, A.J. Jacobs conducted a 48-hour experiment to live without AI, finding that avoiding AI impacted nearly every aspect of life, highlighting its prevalence and sparking debate on its impact.
AI Tech Today
Race for AGI: US, China, and open-source organizations.
On October 28, 2025, Dr. Ben Goertzel identified the US, US big tech, China and its big tech, and open-source organizations as key players in the race for Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and superintelligence, which he believes is inevitable and potentially only two years away.
Nvidia to build seven new AI supercomputers for US Department of Energy.
On October 28, 2025, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang announced that Nvidia will build seven new AI supercomputers for the US Department of Energy to aid in maintaining the US nuclear arsenal and researching alternative energy sources.
HUMAIN and QUALCOMM collaborate on AI infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.
On October 27, 2025, HUMAIN and QUALCOMM announced their collaboration to deploy AI infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, aimed at facilitating global inferencing.
US Department of Energy to build supercomputers with AMD.
On October 27, 2025, the US Department of Energy announced a $1 billion agreement with AMD to build two new supercomputers, including Lux with 50 exaflops AI performance and Discovery with next-generation MI430 series AI chips.
Business AI Edge
Advanced semiconductor packaging market to reach $80.5 billion by 2033.
On October 27, 2025, a Bloomberg Intelligence report predicted the advanced semiconductor packaging market will grow eightfold to $80.5 billion by 2033, driven by the spread of AI chips into consumer devices, with a 26% CAGR.
Uber to expand autonomous vehicle fleet powered by Nvidia.
Uber Technologies Inc. announced plans to expand a fleet of 100,000 autonomous vehicles powered by Nvidia Corp. technology starting in 2027, building on a January partnership to improve AI and chip tech for carmakers.
Nvidia CEO holds AI conference in Washington D.C.
On October 27, 2025, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang held a major AI conference in Washington D.C., highlighting the growing importance of the US capital for Nvidia, as the US nears a trade deal with China.
RIB Software and Microsoft partner to accelerate AI in construction.
In October 2025, RIB Software and Microsoft announced a partnership to accelerate the use of AI in the construction industry, combining RIB's industry expertise with Microsoft's cloud and AI capabilities.
Samsung SDI in talks with humanoid robot makers for batteries.
On October 28, 2025, Samsung SDI is in talks with multirole humanoid robot makers to supply batteries, seeking to diversify revenue and mitigate the impact of US tariffs and tepid global electric vehicle demand.
Ethical AI Watch
Nations must adopt purposeful AI strategies.
On October 28, 2025, AI researcher Cornelia C. Walther argued that nations must adopt purposeful AI strategies to ensure human agency and planetary health amid global competition, proposing integration of double literacy in education.