Schneider Electric has announced an $850 million deal to acquire a 75% controlling stake in Motivair Corp, a US company specialising in liquid cooling solutions for high-performance computing. The French firm expects to complete the all-cash deal in the coming quarters, with plans to acquire the remaining stake by 2028. The acquisition is part of Schneider’s strategy to expand its offerings for the rapidly growing data centre market, which increasingly demands efficient cooling solutions for technologies like generative AI.
Motivair, located in Buffalo, New York, manufactures advanced cooling systems that pump coolant directly near chips, efficiently managing the heat produced by high-performance computing—something traditional air cooling struggles to do. Schneider CEO Peter Herweck emphasised the expansion of the data centre and networks sector, which accounted for 21% of the company’s 2023 orders, approximately 8 billion euros. He also noted strong global demand for these technologies.
Herweck stated that Schneider is not actively pursuing further acquisitions in the data centre sector but remains open to opportunities as they emerge. The company’s shares have climbed 31% this year, driven by its strong market presence and the growing demand for advanced cooling solutions in data centres.
Blackstone, the world’s largest alternative asset manager, is set to invest €7.5 billion ($8.2 billion) in developing data centres in Aragon, Spain, further establishing the region as a key cloud computing hub in Europe. This investment follows similar moves by tech giants like Microsoft and Amazon, who are also investing heavily in data centre projects in the area.
The US private equity firm will concentrate on building facilities with cooling systems and cable connections, which will be leased to companies for server installations. The Aragon regional government has indicated that 19 data centre projects are currently pending approval.
In recent announcements, Microsoft revealed plans for a €6.69 billion investment in Aragon, while Amazon’s AWS intends to invest €15.7 billion in its own data centres. Notably, Amazon has committed to powering its facilities with renewable energy, leveraging Aragon’s significant wind power resources.
USAID announced a groundbreaking $5 million funding initiative aimed at fostering a new public-private partnership involving the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Government of Armenia, and Amazon Web Services (AWS). That collaboration seeks to leverage the strengths of the private sector to address global challenges, particularly in the realm of digital transformation.
Moreover, the partnership is specifically designed to enhance the resilience of Armenian institutions, thereby ensuring they are better equipped to serve citizens and maintain continuity during disruptions. Furthermore, this initiative aligns with Armenia’s recently adopted Cloud First Policy (CFP), which focuses on innovating public services through cloud technology and represents a significant step toward modernising the country’s technological infrastructure. Through strategic consultations with AWS leadership, the Armenian government aims to improve data safety, cost-efficiency, and overall resilience in its service delivery.
The implementation of the Continuity of Government IT (CGIT) solution on AWS will be crucial for protecting Armenia’s digital assets during disruptions. Specifically, this cloud-based solution will help the government align its continuity goals with technology paths that support its digital transformation objectives.
Additionally, this collaboration has the potential to create a replicable public-private model that other regions can adopt. By amplifying this approach, governments can not only enhance cyber resilience but also leverage cloud computing to accelerate sustainable development goals, ultimately contributing to a more robust global technological landscape.
Siemens is relying on its digital platform, Xcelerator, to drive future growth, especially in its factory automation business, which has faced slowing demand in China and Europe. Despite lowering its full-year sales forecast, Siemens reported an 82% jump in industrial software sales for the three months ending in June, mainly due to Xcelerator’s offerings, according to Peter Koerte, the company’s chief technology and strategy officer.
Xcelerator, launched in 2022, is a cloud-based platform that delivers hardware and digital services to a global customer base, boasting over a million monthly users. Siemens’ divisions, including mobility, smart infrastructure, and digital industries, leverage its offerings to enhance its operations. The platform collaborates with 400 partner companies, providing more than 900 solutions worldwide. However, Siemens has not disclosed specific financial figures for Xcelerator.
Xcelerator has achieved significant success in key markets, including China, India, Germany, and the US. Its advanced capabilities have enabled Siemens to secure major contracts, such as an order for 90 regional trains from Deutsche Bahn in August. By analysing data from these trains, Xcelerator enhances maintenance practices, boosts energy efficiency, and improves punctuality, showcasing its effectiveness in integrating digital and physical services to address customer needs.
Epic Games has accused Google and Samsung of conspiring to protect Google’s Play Store from competition through Samsung’s Auto Blocker feature. The gaming company plans to file a lawsuit in a United States court, alleging that the Auto Blocker, introduced in late 2023, deters users from downloading Android apps from sources outside Google’s Play Store or Samsung’s Galaxy Store.
Epic argues that Samsung’s Auto Blocker was made the default setting in mid-2024 to reduce the impact of a 2023 US court ruling that required Google to make it easier for users to access apps from alternative sources. Epic claims this action violates US antitrust laws by reducing consumer choice and stifling competition, which would otherwise drive down app prices.
Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, described the lawsuit as part of a larger global effort to defend competition and its benefits for consumers. The company also plans to raise these concerns with regulators in the European Union, which has scrutinised Google’s business practices in the past.
Epic previously sued Google in 2020, accusing the tech giant of maintaining an illegal monopoly over app distribution and payments. The lawsuit follows the verdict in that case, where a US court found Google had acted unlawfully.
Malaysian tech firm Dagang NeXchange Berhad (DNeX) and Google Cloud have signed a multi-year agreement to provide sovereign cloud services in Malaysia. That partnership aims to meet the country’s growing demand for secure and compliant cloud solutions, particularly in regulated sectors such as public services, finance, healthcare, and energy. The collaboration will allow DNeX to operate Google Distributed Cloud, which offers ‘air-gapped’ solutions that can run without an internet connection, ensuring strict data privacy and residency.
This deal follows Google’s announcement in May to invest $2 billion in its first data center and Google Cloud region in Malaysia. The partnership also includes plans to establish an AI centre of excellence designed to foster local talent in AI. Both companies aim to drive digital transformation in Malaysia through cutting-edge infrastructure and AI tools.
While the financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, Google Cloud’s Vice President for Asia Pacific, Karan Bajwa, emphasised that the deal would empower Malaysian organisations to advance their digital capabilities while maintaining control over their data.
Alphabet Inc.’s Google has announced a $1 billion investment in Thailand to establish a data centre and cloud region, aimed at meeting the increasing demand for cloud services and supporting AI adoption in Southeast Asia. This investment is projected to create approximately 14,000 jobs annually until 2029, according to a Deloitte study.
Google’s new cloud and data centre infrastructure will be situated in Chonburi and Bangkok, respectively, improving access to Google Cloud capabilities and AI innovations while also supporting popular services like Search, Maps, and Google Workspace. This announcement follows Microsoft’s launch of its own regional data centre in Thailand in May, aimed at expanding cloud services in the region.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra praised Google’s investment, stating that it aligns well with the country’s Cloud First Policy, which promotes the adoption of cloud technologies across various sectors.
Dell has launched the Dell AI for Telecom Program, a strategic initiative to streamline the integration of AI solutions for communications service providers (CSPs). The program addresses the rising demand for advanced technologies in the telecommunications sector, empowering CSPs to optimise operations and meet evolving customer needs.
A cornerstone of this initiative is the expanded partnership with NVIDIA, which focuses on co-developing customised AI solutions through the Dell AI Factory. The program aims to enhance network performance and customer service, offering solutions such as advanced customer care platforms, operational automation, and robust network troubleshooting capabilities.
Dell is forging strategic partnerships with key industry players to drive innovation and expedite AI adoption. For example, its collaboration with Lintasarta, an Indonesian ICT solutions provider, aims to offer GPU-as-a-Service to national businesses, granting them access to high-performance AI infrastructure.
Furthermore, Dell is working with SK Telecom to develop an AI chat agent and the Mobile Network Operator (MNO) AI Platform, seamlessly integrating AI into existing business support systems to streamline telecom operations. To bolster these initiatives, Dell Professional Services will assist CSPs in strategising, implementing, and managing AI solutions tailored explicitly for the telecommunications sector. Overall, these concerted efforts position Dell’s initiatives as pivotal in driving network cloud transformation, reducing operational costs, and unlocking new revenue streams through innovative AI applications.
Microsoft has announced a significant investment of $1.3 billion in Mexico over the next three years, aimed at strengthening its cloud computing and AI infrastructure. During an event in Mexico City, CEO Satya Nadella emphasised the company’s commitment to enhancing connectivity and promoting AI adoption, particularly among small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). The initiative is expected to reach 5 million people and support 30,000 SMBs in the region.
Major Mexican companies, including Bimbo and Cemex, are already utilising Microsoft’s AI tools, showcasing the growing integration of technology in the country. Additionally, in partnership with Viasat, Microsoft plans to extend internet access to 150,000 Mexicans without connectivity by the end of 2025.
The investment has been positively received by Mexico’s incoming Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard, who believes it will significantly accelerate the nation’s AI development.
Slack is undergoing a major transformation as it integrates AI features into its platform, aiming to evolve from a simple messaging service to a ‘work operating system.’ CEO Denise Dresser said Slack will now serve as a hub for AI applications from companies like Salesforce, Adobe, and Anthropic. New, pricier features include AI-generated summaries of conversations and the ability to interact with AI agents for tasks such as data analysis, web searches, and image generation.
This shift follows Salesforce’s 2021 acquisition of Slack and its broader move toward AI-driven solutions. Slack’s AI integration seeks to enhance productivity by offering tools to catch up on team discussions, analyse business data, and create branded content, all within the chat environment. However, questions remain about whether users will embrace and pay for these premium features and how this change aligns with Slack’s core identity as a workplace communication tool.
Concerns around data privacy have also surfaced as Slack leans further into AI. The company faced criticism earlier this year for handling customer data, which was used for training purposes, but maintains that it does not use user messages to train its AI models. As Slack continues integrating AI, it must address growing scepticism around managing and safeguarding data.
