AI investment

words.President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing a nationwide AI regulatory framework, preempting state rules and aiming to boost innovation for U.S. firms. Developed with advisors David Sacks and Chamath Palihapitiya, the order favors industry giants like OpenAI and Google, creates an AI Litigation Task Force to challenge conflicting state statutes, and ties federal funding to compliance. Supporters claim it prevents a fragmented “patchwork” of regulations and enhances global competitiveness, while critics warn it may ignore regional issues such as bias, consumer protection, and environmental impact.

San Francisco’s Downtown Development Corporation, launched by Mayor Daniel Lurie, has secured over $60 million in early commitments from tech giants—including Google and OpenAI—and other donors such as Visa and Salesforce. The funds will fuel the “Heart of the City” program, covering grants, low‑interest financing, and legal support to revive vacant storefronts on Powell and Stockton, as well as a new Embarcadero Park. Officials cite falling crime, rising venture capital, and upcoming major events as signs of a post‑pandemic rebound and a growing AI‑driven economic surge.

words.SoftBank sold its entire Nvidia stake for $5.83 bn to free capital for a new AI push, chiefly a larger OpenAI investment and data‑center projects. Founder Masayoshi Son said he “cried” selling the shares, emphasizing the need for funds rather than a strategic shift. The move backs SoftBank’s Vision Fund AI war chest, Ampere Computing acquisition, and the Stargate data‑center rollout. While analysts warn of an AI bubble, Son predicts AI‑enabled robotics could soon contribute at least 10 % of global GDP, making the high‑risk bet potentially transformative.

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OpenAI has taken an equity stake in Thrive Holdings, a new operating platform launched by Thrive Capital, embedding its engineering, research and product teams within Thrive’s portfolio companies—primarily in accounting, IT services and other “core economy” sectors. The deal ties OpenAI’s equity upside to the growth of these businesses and creates a recurring revenue stream for its AI services, reflecting a broader “circular” strategy that mixes licensing with equity participation. Concurrently, OpenAI will deploy ChatGPT Enterprise to tens of thousands of Accenture employees.

.AI spending hit $252 bn in 2024, fueling a bubble debate. Yet only 5 % of firms profit from AI; they allocate >20 % of digital budgets, pursue transformational change, redesign workflows, and enforce strong governance. Building proprietary models is costly, so successful enterprises diversify across hyperscalers, validate alternatives, and mitigate supply constraints. Best practices focus on high‑impact use cases with measurable ROI, invest in talent, data pipelines, and agile delivery, and embed governance early. Pragmatic, value‑driven AI adoption yields competitive advantage regardless of market hype.

Malaysia has emerged as a leading AI hub in Southeast Asia, attracting 32% of the region’s AI funding (US$759 million) between late 2024 and mid-2025, driven by significant infrastructure expansion. Data center capacity has dramatically increased, attracting investments from tech giants like Google. While funding is concentrated in digital financial services, investor sentiment remains positive, with high consumer adoption and engagement of AI technologies. Challenges remain in diversifying investments, fostering local AI capabilities, and navigating data privacy concerns and regulatory environments.

The CNBC Investing Club’s “Morning Meeting” discussed market pressures on Big Tech due to CoreWeave’s weak outlook, raising concerns about AI investment sustainability and debt levels. Soft labor market data also contributed to downward pressure. Linde shares rose after a UBS upgrade citing future earnings growth. Nvidia declined following SoftBank’s stake sale to fund OpenAI, reinforcing debt concerns around AI data centers despite the Club’s long-term view. The rapid-fire segment covered CoreWeave, Paramount Skydance, Amgen, Dutch Bros, and Coterra Energy.

This earnings season, tech giants are increasing capital expenditure for AI-driven growth, but smaller players like DoorDash, Duolingo, and Roblox face investor skepticism after announcing similar spending increases. DoorDash’s investments in autonomous delivery and acquisitions, Duolingo’s focus on user growth with AI, and Roblox’s platform safety measures all raise concerns about near-term profitability. While companies argue these are essential for long-term growth, analysts question if returns will justify the investments, contrasting with the confidence afforded to larger firms like Amazon and Alphabet.

SoftBank Group reported a significant $19 billion gain on its Vision Fund for Q2, exceeding expectations and driven by strategic investments. Profit reached 2.502 trillion yen, surpassing last year’s 1.18 trillion yen. Despite market anxieties, SoftBank is doubling down on AI, including a reported $30 billion investment in OpenAI, and remains committed to Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI), though facing potential regulatory and ethical concerns. The company’s stock, while volatile, is up over 140% YTD, reflecting confidence in its tech investment arm.

HSBC CEO Georges Elhedery and General Atlantic CEO William Ford addressed concerns about the disconnect between massive AI infrastructure investments and revenue growth at a Hong Kong summit. While acknowledging AI’s transformative potential, they cautioned that significant productivity gains and consumer willingness to pay for AI-driven services are longer-term prospects, potentially lagging behind investor expectations. Ford compared AI to railroads and electricity, technologies with profound impacts realized over extended periods, highlighting the need for patience and awareness of early-stage pitfalls like capital misallocation.