The global AI buildout is increasingly shaped by cross-border alliances and strategic delays that reveal the sector’s shifting power map. In Asia, South Korea and BlackRock have forged an agreement to create a renewable-powered hyperscale AI hub, positioning Seoul as a capital magnet and data center anchor for the region. Japan’s Fujitsu is teaming up with Nvidia on an AI agent platform for industries like healthcare and robotics — a partnership blending Monaka CPUs and Nvidia GPUs as Japan accelerates toward its 2030 digital society goals. Meanwhile, a multi-billion-dollar deal between Nvidia and the UAE for AI chips remains in limbo, caught between U.S. investment conditions and geopolitical concerns over China ties. From Seoul to Tokyo to Abu Dhabi, AI infrastructure is becoming a story of alliances, approvals, and ambition. Let’s dive in.
Juan Pedro Tomas
Editor
RCRTech
AI Infrastructure Top 3
Korea, BlackRock target AIDC push : South Korea and BlackRock plan a hyperscale AI data center hub powered by renewable energy, aiming to anchor Asia-Pacific demand and position Seoul as a regional leader in AI infrastructure.
Fujitsu, Nvidia target AI infra: Fujitsu and Nvidia expand collaboration on AI infra combining Monaka CPUs with Nvidia GPUs to co-develop industry-specific AI agents and advanced computing platforms designed to drive industrial applications.
Nvidia–UAE chip pact stalls: A major Nvidia–UAE AI chip deal remains stuck months after its unveiling, with U.S. approval stalled over investment delays and security concerns.
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Nevada’s AI power surge: Data centers from Google, Tesla, and Switch are driving electricity demand up to a projected 20% of Nevada’s total use by 2030, straining utilities and consumers alike.
Meta eyes Alberta hub: Pembina Pipeline nears a deal with Meta to build a massive Alberta data center powered by natural gas, marking a major step for Canada’s industrial AI expansion.
West Virginia fallout: Rising power costs hit West Virginians as AI-driven data centers in Virginia strain the regional grid, forcing residents to shoulder infrastructure and transmission expenses across states.
China dives underwater: Highlander begins testing submerged AI data centers off Shanghai to cut cooling energy by 90%, raising new questions over ecological impact and long-term feasibility.
Cooling market heats up: Global demand for liquid cooling in AI and cloud data centers will reach $12.5 billion by 2031, driven by energy efficiency mandates and dense chip workloads.
Centersquare expands footprint: Dallas-based Centersquare invests $1 billion to acquire 10 data centers across North America, boosting capacity for AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics workloads.
Bezos targets space compute: Jeff Bezos predicts gigawatt-scale data centers will operate in space within 10 to 20 years, using 24/7 solar power to surpass terrestrial energy efficiency.
Huawei chips dissected: TechInsights finds Huawei’s latest Ascend 910C AI chips use parts from TSMC, Samsung, and SK Hynix, exposing China’s ongoing reliance on foreign semiconductor components.
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