Meta has announced plans to harness nuclear energy to meet rising power demands and environmental goals. The company is soliciting proposals for up to 4 gigawatts of US nuclear generation capacity, with projects set to commence in the early 2030s. By doing so, it aims to support the energy-intensive requirements of AI and data centre operations.
Nuclear energy, according to Meta, offers a cleaner, more reliable solution for diversifying the energy grid. Power usage by US data centres is projected to triple by 2030, necessitating about 47 gigawatts of new capacity. However, challenges such as regulatory hurdles, uranium supply issues, and community resistance may slow progress.
The tech giant is open to both small modular reactors and traditional large-scale designs. Proposals are being accepted until February 2025, with a focus on developers skilled in community engagement and navigating complex permitting processes. An official statement highlighted nuclear’s capital-intensive nature, which demands a thorough request-for-proposals process.
Interest in nuclear power among tech firms is growing. Earlier agreements by Microsoft and Amazon have set precedents for nuclear-powered data centres. Meta’s latest initiative underscores a broader shift towards innovative energy solutions within the industry.
Dutch semiconductor equipment maker ASM International (ASMI) said that the new US export controls align with its earlier 2025 revenue outlook. The updated restrictions, which include limits on semiconductor equipment exports to China, are not expected to significantly affect the company’s financial targets. ASM’s larger peer, ASML, has also indicated that the new regulations will not disrupt its financial guidance.
While the export controls include new limits on chip-manufacturing tools and equipment production in countries like Singapore and Malaysia, ASM believes that these changes will have only an indirect impact on its business. The company reaffirmed its 2025 revenue goal of between 3.2 billion and 3.6 billion euros ($3.4 billion to $3.8 billion) and expects a moderate sales decline in China in the first half of 2025, with year-on-year declines in its full-year sales in China.
ASM maintained its fourth-quarter sales guidance for 2024, expecting between 770-810 million euros, with a rise of more than 15% in sales from July to December compared to the first half of the year. Following the announcement, ASM’s shares rose by 1.5%.
Investors are flocking to data centre operators in the Asia Pacific region, driven by the growing demand for AI services and robust market valuations. Major transactions, like Blackstone’s $15.58 billion acquisition of Australia’s AirTrunk, have set high benchmarks for the sector. Industry experts predict that the region’s data centres will continue to see strong valuations due to their nascent stage and promising growth, despite concerns about insufficient infrastructure in some areas.
Several notable investment opportunities have surfaced, such as the sale of stakes in Indonesian data centre NeutraDC and Telkom’s data centre arm, which could be valued at over $1 billion. These deals reflect a broader trend of investors seeking high-growth opportunities in the region. NeutraDC’s expansion plan, which aims to increase capacity to 500 megawatts by 2030, has made it an attractive target, with valuations potentially exceeding 20 times core earnings.
The Asia Pacific region has become a leader in global data centre mergers and acquisitions, surpassing half of the world’s total transactions this year. This surge is attributed to the booming AI demand, with companies rapidly expanding their data processing capacity. However, some investors warn that the sustainability of these high valuations will depend on overcoming challenges like power shortages and the reliable delivery of new infrastructure projects.
While the long-term outlook for Asia Pacific’s data centre market remains positive, experts predict that growth may slow slightly as new capacity is brought online. Investors will need to navigate execution risks to maintain the sector’s momentum and ensure the continued expansion of data centre infrastructure.
South Korean AI chipmakers Rebellions and Sapeon Korea have officially merged, forming a new company valued at approximately USD 928 million. The combined entity will continue under the name “Rebellions,” led by CEO Sunghyun Park. The merger aims to enhance the company’s global competitiveness in the fast-growing AI chip market by leveraging expertise across South Korea‘s telecom, government, and semiconductor sectors.
The merger brings together Rebellions, a fabless AI chip startup established in 2020, and Sapeon Korea, an affiliate of SK Telecom, to combine their strengths in AI chiplet technology. This integration is expected to accelerate innovation and improve efficiency, particularly in developing next-generation AI chips like REBEL, designed to meet the increasing demands of AI applications.
Looking ahead, Rebellions plans to expand internationally, with targeted entry into markets such as the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Japan. Strategic partnerships, including collaborations with SK Telecom and SK hynix, will help fuel the company’s global ambitions and support its expansion efforts.
Chinese semiconductor firms targeted by new US export controls are doubling down on localising their supply chains and leveraging stockpiled resources to maintain production. The restrictions, the third major US crackdown in three years, impact 140 companies and focus on chipmaking equipment, software, and high-bandwidth memory. Despite the curbs, Chinese chip stocks saw slight gains as analysts noted the measures were less severe than expected.
Key companies like Naura Technology and Empyrean have vowed to accelerate domestic technology development. Some, such as Beijing Huafeng Test & Control Technology, reported fully localised supply chains. While the measures hit China’s reliance on foreign manufacturing equipment, imports of semiconductor machinery surged by a third this year, showing resilience in the face of external pressures.
The exclusion of ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), a major AI chip component maker, surprised analysts. The move eased concerns for South Korean suppliers reliant on Chinese revenue, with shares of key partners like Jusung Engineering and Mirae Corp rebounding. The latest curbs reflect ongoing efforts to balance US security goals with the global semiconductor market’s interdependencies.
Heathrow Airport, one of the world’s busiest, is trialling an advanced AI system named ‘Amy’ to assist air traffic controllers in managing its crowded airspace. Handling nearly half a million flights annually, Heathrow aims to improve safety and efficiency through real-time data and advanced tracking capabilities provided by the AI system.
Amy integrates radar and 4K video data to give controllers a detailed visualisation of aircraft positions, even when out of sight. Designed by NATS, the UK’s air traffic management agency, the system offers vital information such as flight numbers and aircraft types, helping controllers make faster, more informed decisions. After testing on over 40,000 flights, NATS plans to fully operationalise a ‘digital contingency tower’ by 2027 to ensure backup in emergencies.
Despite its promise, experts caution against over-reliance on AI. They highlight potential limitations, such as insufficient contextual judgment and challenges in handling unexpected scenarios. Colin Rigby from Keele University emphasised that AI should complement human operators rather than replace them.
The adoption of similar AI-driven solutions is being explored by major airports worldwide, including those in Singapore, New York, and Hong Kong, signaling a shift toward digital transformation in air traffic management.
A team from Johns Hopkins and Stanford has trained robotic systems to perform surgical tasks with human-like precision. Using a da Vinci Surgical System, the researchers applied ‘imitation learning,’ where robots observe recorded surgical videos to replicate complex movements like suturing and tissue manipulation. This innovative method eliminates the need for manual programming and allows robots to learn from the combined expertise of skilled surgeons.
The AI-powered system combines imitation learning with advanced machine learning techniques, enabling it to convert visual data into precise robotic actions. Not only does it perform surgical tasks proficiently, but it can also self-correct in real time, such as retrieving a dropped needle without human intervention. Such adaptability could reduce complications and enhance patient outcomes.
This breakthrough accelerates the path toward autonomous robotic surgery. Researchers believe robots can now learn new procedures in days rather than months. While full autonomy in surgery remains a future goal, this advancement marks a significant step toward safer and more accessible healthcare worldwide.
The initiative, announced in October 2024, brings together the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) to address growing risks to submarine cables, facilitating over 99% of global data transmission.
The initiative follows high-profileincidents, including damage to undersea cables and will prioritise enhancing cable security, promoting global best practices, and expediting repairs. With around 150 to 200 cable damage incidents annually—mainly due to ship anchors, fishing activities, and natural disasters—the ICPC highlights the urgency of coordinated action.
Officials from Nigeria and Portugal will co-chair the 40-member advisory body. Scheduled to convene twice a year, the body’s first meeting will occur virtually in December, followed by an in-person session in Abuja, Nigeria, in February.
Submarine cable disruptions have significant consequences. Earlier this year, outages from cable cuts in Africa left 13 countries offline for days, while damage in the Red Sea caused widespread internet disruption in the Middle East.
Industry group SEMI Europe has urged the incoming European Commission to adopt a more unified industrial strategy and expand on the existing European Chips Act. The group highlighted the importance of Mario Draghi’s recommendations, including a centralised EU budget and expedited approvals for strategic high-tech initiatives, to maintain competitiveness against the US and China.
SEMI emphasised the need for additional funding to bolster Europe’s semiconductor ecosystem, particularly in light of global export restrictions on chip technology and critical minerals. Quick action on EU export policies is vital to protect strategic interests and strengthen Europe’s global influence, the group said.
While the Chips Act focuses on attracting new manufacturing, SEMI and other industry voices, like ESIA, have called for broader support. This includes incentives for ‘legacy and foundational’ chip production and innovations essential for Europe’s green transition. Together, SEMI and ESIA represent leading players such as ASML, Infineon, and STMicroelectronics.
A revamped Chips Act would not only counter state-subsidised competition from China but also enhance Europe’s semiconductor supply chain resilience, crucial for its economic and technological independence.
French startup Linkup is reshaping how AI applications access web content by creating a marketplace for licensed material. Unlike traditional web scraping, Linkup partners with publishers to fetch content directly through integrated systems, ensuring intellectual property rights are respected. The platform caters to developers enriching large language models (LLMs) with high-quality, fresh data.
CEO Philippe Mizrahi highlighted Linkup’s focus on licensing deals that benefit both publishers and AI developers. The service targets business applications, such as corporate insights or sales tools, utilising databases like Statista and news sources.
With €3 million in seed funding, Linkup aims to expand its team and services, standing out in the growing market of ethical content acquisition for generative AI. Competitors like ScalePost also focus on licensing, indicating a shift in how AI firms source data amid tightening regulations.
