The South African rand has jumped 13% against the dollar in 2025, its biggest annual gain in 16 years. Overseas investors have poured a net 72.4 billion rand into local bonds, a massive increase from 2024, as political stability and a weaker dollar boost appeal.
Fund managers warn Europe is at a “fork in the road” between competing in AI and sticking to its climate commitments. The problem? Its own green energy rules are slowing down the data center build-out needed for AI, pushing tech firms to the U.S. and Asia.
The year 2025 was defined by the physical reality of AI’s infrastructure demands. Massive new data center campuses are being built, but the frantic pace raises big questions about sustainability and a potential market correction.
The AI boom is crashing into a brick wall: the power grid. With wait times for connections stretching up to seven years, data center operators are scrambling for alternatives. The future is looking modular, fast, and built on-site.
The channel saw major strategic plays this week. Google Cloud previewed a partner program overhaul for 2026, while Red Hat and Cyderes made acquisitions to boost AI safety and identity security. CrowdStrike and a Redpanda-Akamai alliance rounded out the big news.
OpenAI leadership is making a staggering bet on AI compute, arguing that not spending enough is their biggest risk. The company has committed roughly $1.4 trillion to data center projects over the next eight years but is still five years away from profitability, according to CEO Sam Altman. Execs sa
The explosive growth of AI is creating a massive demand for data center power, but the U.S. grid is already maxed out. A new report highlights the push for “self-supply” energy and the stark contrast with China’s rapid build-out. The solution might even involve moving data centers to space.
Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Chris Van Hollen, and Richard Blumenthal have launched an investigation into major tech and data center companies. They want to know if the massive power demands of AI infrastructure are unfairly increasing utility bills for residential customers. The companies have until Jan
Keppel Ltd. is selling its final stakes in two Singapore data centers to its affiliated REIT. The $50.5 million deal gives Keppel DC REIT full ownership of the stabilized, nearly fully leased assets by Q1 2026.
A surprising political revolt is brewing in Republican-leaning areas against the massive data centers needed for AI. Residents are fighting back over noise, skyrocketing utility bills, and tax breaks for trillion-dollar tech companies, turning it into a potent local election issue.
