Looking beyond advanced logic nodes, compound semiconductors have emerged as a strategic priority for applications ranging from power electronics and RF to optoelectronics.

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is making a bold pivot by guaranteeing a US$300 million loan for cloud startup Crusoe, signaling a shift from pure hardware competition to financial engineering in the AI chip market. The loan, arranged by Goldman Sachs, will allow Crusoe to purchase AMD AI accelerators — including the Instinct MI450 series — for installation in a new Ohio data center being built by Canadian firm 5C, backed by Brookfield.

SoftBank Group (SBG) is spearheading an investment alliance to develop a US-based natural gas-fired power plant project valued at US$33.3 billion, aiming to support infrastructure demands driven by artificial intelligence (AI). This initiative is one of three projects launched under the US-Japan trade agreement signed with President Donald Trump in 2025.

Meta is reviving its smartwatch ambitions as part of a broader push to define the next era of AI-powered consumer hardware, setting up a fresh competitive battle with rivals including Apple and Google. According to The Information, Meta plans to release its first smartwatch, code-named “Malibu 2,” in 2026. The device will feature health-tracking capabilities and a built-in Meta AI assistant. This revival comes after the company abandoned an earlier smartwatch project in 2022 amid cost-cutting at its Reality Labs hardware division.