Microsoft Pledges $17.5B for India's Cloud, AI

Key Takeaways

• SK Hynix launched SK Hynix Ventures in Silicon Valley to invest in AI computing, data centers, system software and optical interconnect technology
• Trump proposed an AI Force modeled on the Space Force and predicted AI could reach 25% of U.S. GDP
• Microsoft India committed $17.5 billion for cloud and AI infrastructure from 2026 to 2029
• Chinese AI firms use proxy entities in Southeast Asia and the Middle East to access Nvidia processors despite U.S. chip restrictions
• DraftKings generated $8.7 billion in gross revenue and gave about $3 billion in promotions last year
• Amazon issued a 4.25 billion pound bond to fund AI infrastructure investments
• ECB policymaker Fabio Panetta says AI gain distribution will shape inflation and aggregate demand
• 55% of organizations faced an identity-related security breach in the past year due to AI-enabled attacks like deepfakes
• South Africa expert Dr Mmaki Jantjies stresses that AI training must lead to real economic opportunity and jobs
• SK Hynix has been making venture investments since 2015 across the U.S., China, Israel and Japan

SK Hynix launches Silicon Valley venture arm for AI investments

SK Hynix has launched SK Hynix Ventures, a new corporate venture capital brand based in Silicon Valley. The company plans to invest in AI computing, data centers, system software and optical interconnect technology. CEO Kwak Noh-Jung announced the initiative at the first SK Hynix Ventures Day. The company has been making venture investments since 2015 across markets including the U.S., China, Israel and Japan. The expanded strategy aims to find technologies that complement SK Hynix's core memory semiconductor business.

SK Hynix Ventures targets AI infrastructure ecosystem investments

South Korea's SK Hynix launched SK Hynix Ventures, a corporate venture capital brand focused on the global AI ecosystem. The new venture arm will invest beyond semiconductors into AI computing, data centers, system software and optical interconnect technologies. The move broadens the company's existing investment activities that started in 2015. SK Hynix aims to build collaborative innovation partnerships with emerging AI companies across the infrastructure supply chain.

Trump proposes AI Force and predicts AI will reach 25% of GDP

President Donald Trump announced plans to create an AI Force to promote the artificial intelligence industry. He compared it to the U.S. Space Force and said details would be announced later. Trump predicted AI could eventually make up 25% of U.S. GDP. He dismissed AI safety concerns as a hoax and said the administration will support U.S. leadership over China. Tech leaders including Sam Altman and Elon Musk have called for slower AI development.

Trump suggests renaming AI to Superior Intelligence or Extreme Intelligence

President Donald Trump proposed three alternative names for AI: Supreme Intelligence, Superior Intelligence and Extreme Intelligence. He held online polls that drew about 300,000 votes, with Superior Intelligence winning the most support. Trump plans to form an AI Force to oversee the industry. He rejected calls from AI leaders like Dario Amodei, Sam Altman and Demis Hassabis for regulation. Trump called AI the next Industrial Revolution that could reach 25% of U.S. GDP.

US cloud computing restrictions could challenge China's AI development

Washington is considering expanding tech restrictions to cloud networks, which could hit China's AI sector hard. Chinese AI developers currently cannot legally buy the world's most powerful AI chips. To work around this, Chinese firms lease server space in data centers across Southeast Asia, Japan and the Middle East. They use proxy entities in foreign countries to sign contracts and train models on Nvidia processors outside U.S. reach. This workaround may face new challenges if cloud restrictions take effect.

ECB's Panetta says AI gains distribution will shape inflation

ECB policymaker Fabio Panetta said central banks must understand who benefits from AI-driven gains. He stated that how these gains are distributed will shape aggregate demand and inflation. Panetta spoke at a conference in Milan. The ECB is actively studying AI's impact on jobs, productivity, and the economy.

Microsoft India commits $17.5 billion for AI and cloud

Microsoft India President Puneet Chandok said AI must serve humanity with humans in control. The company pledged USD 17.5 billion in fresh investment for India's cloud and AI infrastructure from 2026 to 2029. Microsoft has over 23,000 engineers across 10 Indian cities. The company launched its fourth India cloud region in Hyderabad.

DraftKings used AI to target losing bettors, former staff say

Former DraftKings employees say the company used AI and data science to send promotional offers to gamblers likely to lose. One former analyst said the practice is predatory. DraftKings rejected the report as based on a false premise. The company generated $8.7 billion in gross revenue and gave about $3 billion in promotions last year. It also has a team of over 50 employees focused on responsible engagement.

Amazon stock may have upside after AI infrastructure deals

Amazon stock returned 93.3% over three years, raising expectations for future cash flows. The company made heavy commitments to AI data centers, satellite internet, and wage increases. Amazon issued a 4.25 billion pound bond to fund AI infrastructure. Its latest twelve month free cash flow sits at about $32.6 billion, and its intrinsic value is estimated above the current share price of $253.71.

Training people in AI is only the beginning, expert says

Dr Mmaki Jantjies said South Africa's investment in digital skills must lead to real economic opportunity. She stressed that training people in AI is just the start. People need routes into work or markets for what they can build. She called for sustained investment in digital capability across Africa, measuring progress by whether training opens paths to customers and jobs.

AI Is Changing Identity Attacks. Are Your Defenses Keeping Up?

AI is making identity attacks more dangerous through tools like deepfake impersonation and synthetic identities. A 2026 SANS research report found that 55% of organizations faced an identity-related security breach in the past year. Many companies still rely on checking identity only once, which attackers can now bypass more easily. Security leaders need to continuously evaluate trust and update their identity security plans to keep up with these evolving threats.

Sources

• SK Hynix Launches Silicon Valley Venture Arm To Invest Across AI Computing, Data Centers And Optical Interconnects
• SK Hynix launches venture arm to invest across AI infrastructure ecosystem
• Trump Proposes ‘AI Force,’ Says Artificial Intelligence Could Reach 25% of U.S. GDP
• Trump wants to rebrand AI and has three ‘elegant’ suggestions
• In Focus | Will US cloud computing restrictions rain on China’s AI parade?
• AI gains' distribution will shape inflation, ECB's Panetta says
• Microsoft India President On AI's Future And Investment In The Nation
• DraftKings used AI to target losing bettors: 'The best investment would be a problem gambler'
• Amazon (AMZN) Stock May Still Have Upside Following AI Infrastructure Deals
• Training people in AI is only the beginning
• AI Is Changing Identity Attacks. Are Your Defenses Keeping Up?