Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) shares hit a record high this week, fueled by the relentless boom in artificial intelligence hardware. The surge underscores how deeply the technology sector's fortunes are now tied to the infrastructure powering generative AI. AMD's rise is part of a broader wave of investment in data centers, GPUs, and specialized chips that are essential for training and running large language models.

AMD's Record High: Anatomy of the AI Hardware Boom

AMD's stock climbed to an unprecedented level as investors bet that the company's MI300 series accelerators will capture a significant slice of the AI chip market, long dominated by Nvidia. The MI300X, a direct competitor to Nvidia's H100, has been adopted by major cloud providers such as Microsoft Azure, Oracle Cloud, and others. AMD CEO Lisa Su has positioned the company as the leading alternative for enterprises seeking to diversify their AI hardware supply chains. The chipmaker's quarterly earnings report showed a sharp increase in data center revenue, which now accounts for over 40% of total sales. Analysts note that AMD's ability to offer a competitive software ecosystem, including the ROCm platform, is critical to sustaining growth. The AI hardware boom is not only lifting AMD but is also reshaping the entire semiconductor landscape. Companies like Intel and startups such as Cerebras and Graphcore are racing to deliver more efficient and powerful chips. However, AMD's trajectory is particularly remarkable given that just two years ago it lagged far behind Nvidia in AI accelerators. The recent record high reflects a fundamental shift: the AI revolution is moving beyond hype into tangible investment and deployment.

SpaceX's Starlink Feuds With Pentagon Over Pricing Ahead of IPO

SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet division is embroiled in a pricing dispute with the U.S. Department of Defense just as the company prepares for a potential initial public offering. The Pentagon has pushed for lower rates for military and government contracts, arguing that Starlink's prices are too high relative to other satellite providers. SpaceX, however, contends that its unique low-Earth orbit constellation offers superior bandwidth and low latency, justifying premium pricing. The feud is significant because Starlink revenue from government contracts is critical for SpaceX's IPO valuation. Analysts estimate that Starlink could be worth between $150 billion and $200 billion in a public listing. The dispute also highlights the growing tension between commercial space operators and the military, as the Pentagon seeks to leverage private investment while maintaining cost controls. Meanwhile, Starlink continues to expand its consumer base, now serving over two million subscribers globally. The company's ability to resolve the pricing conflict will be closely watched by investors.

Anthropic AI's Thirst for Processing is Consuming Nearly All SpaceX's GPU Capacity

Anthropic, the AI company behind the Claude model, is reportedly using so much computational power that it consumes nearly all of SpaceX's available GPU capacity. This revelation, reported by industry insiders, underscores the immense resource demands of frontier AI training. SpaceX, through its private Starlink satellite network and ground infrastructure, has accumulated a vast fleet of Nvidia GPUs for internal use and external leasing. Anthropic's heavy consumption has put pressure on SpaceX to expand its GPU cluster, and it has prompted conversations about dedicated AI data centers near SpaceX facilities. The partnership between the two companies—both backed by Elon Musk—has deepened as AI models grow larger. Anthropic's Claude competes with OpenAI's GPT-4, and the race for better performance requires ever more compute. This development also raises questions about the environmental impact of AI, as data centers consume enormous amounts of electricity and water for cooling. Anthropic and other AI firms are under scrutiny to adopt more sustainable practices.

Musk Looks Likely to Keep Fighting OpenAI Despite Setback, as IPO Approaches

Elon Musk's legal battle against OpenAI continues despite a recent court setback. Musk, who co-founded OpenAI in 2015, has accused the company of abandoning its non-profit mission and becoming a for-profit entity controlled by Microsoft. He has demanded that OpenAI open-source its technology and halt what he calls a 'closed-source monopoly.' A California judge ruled against Musk's request for an injunction, but Musk's legal team has vowed to appeal. Meanwhile, OpenAI is moving toward an IPO, with executives hinting at a public listing in the next 18 months. The lawsuit adds uncertainty to the IPO timeline, as investors will need to assess the risk of ongoing litigation. Some observers argue that Musk's campaign is partly motivated by his own AI ambitions, including xAI's Grok model, which competes with ChatGPT. The feud highlights the philosophical divide between open-source advocates and proprietary AI developers. Musk's relentless opposition ensures that OpenAI will remain under legal pressure even as it seeks public investment.

What the Palantir-NHS Data Access Controversy Reveals About the Fragile Boundaries of Patient Trust

Palantir Technologies, the data analytics firm co-founded by Peter Thiel, has come under fire over its contract with the UK's National Health Service (NHS). The company gained access to vast amounts of patient data to support the NHS's pandemic response. However, a recent investigation revealed that Palantir's data sharing agreements lacked sufficient patient consent and transparency. Privacy advocates have raised alarms about the potential commercial exploitation of sensitive health data. The controversy has eroded public trust in the NHS's data handling practices. Palantir argues that its systems improve operational efficiency and clinical outcomes, but critics say the boundaries between public health and corporate profits are dangerously blurred. The incident serves as a cautionary tale for other governments considering similar partnerships with technology firms. As AI and big data analytics become integral to healthcare, ensuring robust ethical safeguards is paramount.

eBay Rejected GameStop's Bid but the Bigger Idea Behind It Isn't Going Away

eBay recently rejected a takeover bid from GameStop, but the underlying concept of merging physical and digital retail remains compelling. GameStop, revitalized by meme-stock mania and a pivot to high-end collectibles, sought to acquire eBay to expand its marketplace reach. The rejection has not deterred GameStop's leadership from exploring other consolidation opportunities. The episode underscores the ongoing convergence of traditional e-commerce and phygital retail. Collectors and investors are watching closely for the next move. Meanwhile, eBay continues to focus on its own growth through AI-powered recommendations and enhanced authentication services.

Ask.com Has Shut Down, but Ask Jeeves' Vision of Search is Everywhere

Ask.com, the pioneering question-and-answer search engine originally known as Ask Jeeves, has officially shut down. The site redirected to a simple landing page, ending a two-decade run that peaked in the early 2000s. Ask Jeeves once offered a conversational alternative to keyword search, allowing users to type natural language questions. Today, that vision is fulfilled by AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Google's Gemini. The shutdown is a nostalgic moment but also a testament to how far search technology has evolved. The legacy of Ask Jeeves lives on in the very interfaces that now power modern AI assistants.

Source: Techopedia News