Biwin has signed a locked-volume, locked-price deal to buy enterprise-grade chips from Q3 2026 to Q2 2028. The contract, valued at 12.6 billion yuan, aims to secure medium- to long-term capacity and reduce supply disruption risks.
AI hyperscalers are causing land surface temperatures around their data centers to rise by an average of 2C, creating 'data heat islands'. This phenomenon affects over 340 million people within 10km of these facilities, raising concerns about community welfare and environmental sustainability.
OpenAI reported that Chinese propagandists attempted to use its ChatGPT chatbot to generate opposition to Donald Trump's tariffs and influence debates on data centers and AI. The campaign, active in late 2025 and early 2026, had minimal impact but highlights AI's role in digital influence.
China has approved licenses for 166 foreign companies to pilot value-added telecommunications services, including internet data centers and information services, in select zones. Analysts believe this move offers opportunities for multinationals but will likely have a limited impact on the domestic market due to existing competition and pilot zone restrictions.
India is exploring Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) to meet the growing demand for reliable power in its defence and data centre sectors. A policy dialogue highlighted SMRs' potential for clean, uninterrupted electricity, crucial for mission-critical operations and energy security, while addressing cost, regulation, and safety.
SoftBank plans a €75 billion investment in 5 GW of AI data centre capacity in France, with initial €45 billion by 2031 for 3.1 GW in Hauts-de-France. The project aims to support AI demand and create thousands of jobs.
As AI computing demands outpace traditional copper interconnect capabilities, photonics (light-based tech) gains investment and attention for its lower-loss optical links, with China's Yuanjie Technology seeing an 11x stock surge.
Residents in NSW's Southern Highlands are devastated by plans for three gas-fired power stations to fuel a data centre. They fear health impacts, environmental damage, and the locking in of heavy industry, while clean energy advocates warn of setting a dangerous precedent.
AI titans seek stable bases for data centers in Australia. The article proposes an "AI sovereign wealth fund" modeled on Norway's oil fund, demanding a share in profits from AI models trained in Australia to benefit creators and displaced workers.
The UAE is accelerating its AI strategy with the delivery of advanced Nvidia chips, aiming to become an AI hub for the Global South. Despite regional conflicts, the nation is investing in US tech and developing its own AI models, adapting to threats against its data centers.
Southeast Asia is exploring a nuclear energy revival, with China emerging as a strong partner. Leveraging its extensive domestic experience and the Hualong One reactor design, China offers advanced technology and energy security to the region.
Asia-Pacific’s commercial property investments surged in the first quarter, according to data tracked by analysts, as early signs of recovery in office and retail segments across Hong Kong and mainland China boosted deal volumes. Total investment in offices, retail spaces, industrial units, data centres, hotels, apartments, senior housing and other asset classes climbed 22 per cent to US$51.1 billion from the same period in 2025, data from MSCI showed. Hong Kong contributed US$1.8 billion, a 367...
Beijing is moving to make green electricity usage a key metric in the operation of new data centre projects, as part of a major push to align the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence with national carbon goals, according to an action plan released Friday. The policy document, jointly released by four bodies – the National Energy Administration, National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and National Data Administration – encouraged operators...
From decade-long grid queues to facilities running at half capacity, a new study exposes the energy crisis at the heart of Europe's push to boost its AI capabilities.
The solar-powered iLamps will have a built-in Nvidia chip but there are questions over their security and scalability.
The solar-powered iLamps will have a built-in Nvidia chip but there are questions over their security and scalability.
Lightelligence, the first mainland Chinese photonics chipmaker to go public in Hong Kong, saw its shares surge nearly 400% on debut, opening at HK$880 versus an offer price of HK$183.20. The company raised HK$2.4 billion ($306 million) in its IPO and closed at HK$886, valuing it at HK$81.5 billion. The oversubscribed listing reflects investor appetite for photonics chips as an alternative to conventional semiconductors for AI data centres.
Lightelligence, the first mainland Chinese photonics chipmaker to go public in Hong Kong, saw its shares surge nearly 400% on trading debut, opening at HK$880 versus an offer price of HK$183.2. The Shanghai-based company raised HK$2.4 billion in its IPO, with the retail tranche oversubscribed 5784.7 times, as investors bet on optical computing chips as an alternative to conventional semiconductors for AI data centres.
Three Chinese optical module manufacturers have seen their stock prices surge 5-10x in the past year, with combined market capitalisation now exceeding baijiu giant Kweichow Moutai. Zhongji Innolight, the world's largest optical module producer, saw shares jump tenfold, while peers Eoptolink and TFC Optical gained more than five times. The firms, which produce components for high-speed data transmission in AI infrastructure, became the second and third most popular stocks among actively managed equity funds in Q1 2026.
China has released new guidelines to reduce carbon emissions across strategic sectors – including energy-intensive data centres – as Beijing pushes to secure its 2030 climate targets amid volatile energy prices triggered by the US-Israeli war in Iran. The 18-point document, issued by the ruling Communist Party’s powerful Central Committee and the State Council, China’s cabinet, called on heavy industries – including steel, non-ferrous metals and chemicals – to boost energy efficiency and...
Chinese battery cell manufacturers are poised to benefit from the US-Israeli war in Iran, according to Fitch Ratings, even as fierce competition, overcapacity and thin margins weigh on some downstream firms. Global demand for energy storage was set to rise, driven by high oil prices and rapidly expanding artificial intelligence (AI) data centres, said Wang Ying, a managing director at the credit rating agency. “We believe that China’s leading energy storage cell manufacturers will be the bigger...
An artist details the negative impacts of generative AI, including art theft, job displacement, and environmental costs, arguing that the tech industry's pursuit of profit disregards human creativity and well-being.
The US FCC is considering new measures to restrict Chinese telecom carriers, potentially barring them from operating data centers and limiting their access to US networks, marking an escalation in the tech crackdown.
