Here are 5 important things happening in tech around the world today.
Nvidia’s $3.5 billion (R57 billion) outlay in MediaTek, its largest direct investment outside the US, has thrust a little-known Taiwanese chip designer into the centre of the global AI infrastructure boom.
Taipei-listed MediaTek gained 10% or $20 billion (R323 billion) of market value on Tuesday after Nvidia agreed to buy bonds convertible into MediaTek shares.
That’s reinvigorated a stock that’s tripled in value over the past year as the company steadily expanded its footprint in the business of designing AI chips for data centres.
MediaTek has emerged as a key beneficiary of a push by technology companies to design custom semiconductors, using its expertise in mobile processors to participate in the AI infrastructure rush.
With a market value of around $220 billion (R3.5 trillion), it’s Taiwan’s second-largest firm after Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, which eclipses it with a capitalisation of nearly $2 trillion (R32 trillion).
Led by former TSMC chief Rick Tsai, the company has collaborated closely with Nvidia in the past and has now committed to using Nvidia’s NVLink Fusion and other technologies in helping its future data centre customers.
It’s looking to boost its AI chip business, projecting it will grow to $2 billion (R32 billion) this year and $12 billion (R194 billion) in 2027.
“There are different customers needing obviously smaller amount of computing power,” Rick Tsai told Bloomberg Television in an interview on Monday.
“This NVLink Fusion again will accelerate their go-to-market capability, and that will be beneficial for them, for Nvidia, and for MediaTek.”
After years of competing against Qualcomm, now valued at around $180 billion (R2.9 trillion), MediaTek’s shift to data centres means it’ll be taking on the likes of Broadcom, worth about $1.8 trillion (R29 trillion).
The goal is to partner with major tech firms seeking to build their own AI chips. MediaTek is helping Alphabet Inc.’s Google manufacture and engineer its custom AI chips for data centres, giving the US company an alternative to Broadcom’s chip-design service.
Getting Nvidia’s financial backing helps build its credibility, beyond the praise that Nvidia Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang has heaped upon the Hsinchu-based chipmaker. [Bloomberg]
**Anthropic introduces Claude Fable 5.1 and Claude Mythos 5.1: **Anthropic has announced the introduction of Claude Fable 5.1 and Mythos 5.1, which it describes as the world’s most advanced models for coding and knowledge work. The company said the new models address concerns about price, data retention, and overzealous safeguards. [Anthropic]
**PwC says AI data centre spending will reach $32 trillion by 2050: **PwC forecasts that global data centre spending will reach $31.6 trillion (R512 trillion) by 2050 on the back of surging AI demand. The US is expected to attract nearly half of this investment. PwC said affordable electricity will be the biggest factor determining where infrastructure is built, while chip supply disruptions could replace investment by nearly 20%. [Bloomberg]
**Razer launches pocket-sized gaming controller for iPhone and Android: **Razer has launched the Prio, a foldable smartphone gaming controller that folds down to a size that can fit in your pocket. The Prio supports phones up to 7 inches, including cases, and offers cloud gaming and remote pay. It has a recommended retail price of $99 (R1,600 excl. VAT and duties). [Digital Trends]
**High-energy laser takes out drones near US-Mexico border: **The United States Army used a 20kW high-energy laser to shoot down 3 drones near the US-Mexico border. Known as the Locust system, it uses concentrated laser beams to damage or disable targets. It can also integrate radar and command-and-control systems. [US Northern Command]
**New Apple CEO teases “huge launch” next week: **John Ternus has officially replaced Tim Cook as Apple CEO. He wrote a memo to staff teasing a “huge launch” next week, as the company prepares to launch new iPhones and possibly its first foldable iPhone. Apple is also reportedly developing camera-equipped AirPods, smart glasses, and a touchscreen Mac. [TechCrunch]
