Susana SchwartzPCAST is recast with AI, chip, crypto, energy leaders
Supporters say AI and energy dominance requires expertise from “builders” and “doers” in the realms of software, semiconductors, physics and quantum computing, fusion and small modular reactors (SMRs). Critics say the private-sector representation has to be counterbalanced with expertise around civil society (privacy, labor, ethics); environmental science (climate change, conservation); social sciences (psychological and social impacts on “regular people”); health equity; and inclusivity. So far, 15 members have been appointed, which means 9 more spots have to be filled. RCRTech will report on this as it evolves. Below, read our “Top Stories” and news, which includes an update on Anthropic’s lawsuit against the Pentagon, and more.
Susana Schwartz
Technology Editor
RCRTech
AI Infrastructure Top Stories
Tesla’s Texas Terafab: From Travis County, the Terafab will supply chips for Tesla, xAI, and SpaceX, with a facility of unprecedented scale: 100 million square feet and goals for 1 million wafer starts per month, rivaling the output of industry giant TSMC.
Hollow core fiber: STL has launched hollow core fiber (HCF) for AI data centers in India, marking the first such deployment developed and manufactured domestically. By transmitting light through a solid glass core, HCF enables 46% faster speeds.
Bridge 200MW expansion: APAC data center operator Bridge Data Centres is negotiating with lenders for a $6 billion loan to expand its footprint in Thailand. This follows a previously announced S$3-S$5 billion ($2.34-$3.90 billion) in Singapore.
AI Today: What You Need to Know
Anthropic vs. Pentagon: “Nothing in the governing statute supports the Orwellian notion that an American company may be branded a potential adversary and saboteur of the U.S. for expressing disagreement with the government,” said the judge presiding over the Anthropic case against the Pentagon.
Anthropic “Mythos” Leak: Anthropic acknowledged testing a powerful new AI model after an accidental data leak revealed a “step change” in capabilities that may pose new cybersecurity risks. Anthropic is evaluating its capabilities and risks.
New “Pax Silica” Fund: The U.S. government is allocating $250 million in foreign aid to bolster the extraction and processing of critical minerals, as well as the manufacturing assets and infrastructure required to sustain the technology sector.
Nuclear Energy for AI: As the Iran war disrupts energy supplies, Cambodia, Singapore, and Brunei are revisiting nuclear power plans for AI data centers. Also, Bangladesh and Vietnam worked with Russia to advance a nuclear power deal.
Apple’s U.S. Expansion: Apple announced a $400 million investment to expand its American Manufacturing Program, working with Bosch, Cirrus Logic, TDK, and Qnity Electronics to manufacture essential materials and components in the U.S.
TSMC Performance: On an earnings call, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing reported strong fiscal momentum, with 77% of its revenue now coming from advanced 7nm and below nodes, driven entirely by AI demand.
