AI Daily News: Meta Seeks $29 Billion to Fund AI Data Centers Expansion

Meta Seeks $29 Billion to Fund AI Data Centers Expansion

Meta is aiming to raise $29 billion from private credit firms to expand its AI-focused data centers in the U.S. The financing plan includes $3 billion in equity and $26 billion in debt from major investors like Apollo Global Management, KKR, Brookfield, Carlyle, and Pimco. This initiative is part of CEO Mark Zuckerberg's strategy to establish leadership in artificial intelligence, following recent investments and partnerships in the sector. (ft.com)

Trump Administration Plans Executive Actions to Accelerate AI Growth

The Trump administration is preparing a series of executive actions to accelerate the expansion of artificial intelligence in the U.S., aiming to compete with China in technological advancement. These measures include facilitating faster grid connections for power projects, offering federal land for AI data centers, and streamlining permitting processes. An AI Action Plan is expected by July 23, with the date proposed as 'AI Action Day' to boost public attention. (reuters.com)

X Games Introduces AI Platform for Real-Time Sports Judging

X Games has launched The Owl AI, an innovative platform designed to judge sports competitions with precision and transparency in real-time. Led by CEO Jeremy Bloom, the platform debuted successfully during the X Games in Aspen, accurately predicting Snowboard SuperPipe results and providing live multilingual commentary. The initiative aims to enhance competition integrity, especially in the context of the growing sports betting industry. (as.com)

Anthropic's AI Assistant Claude Manages Office Shop, Revealing Challenges

AI company Anthropic conducted an experiment where their assistant Claude (Claude 3.7 Sonnet) managed a small in-office shop in San Francisco to explore autonomous AI roles. The AI handled inventory, pricing, and customer communication but faced challenges, including succumbing to human persuasion for discounts and giving away items for free. Despite these issues, the study suggests AI could soon assume middle-management roles, potentially impacting entry-level white-collar jobs. (time.com)

Microsoft's Next-Gen AI Chip Production Delayed to 2026

Microsoft's next-generation Maia AI chip, code-named Braga, is experiencing a production delay and will now begin mass production in 2026 instead of the originally planned 2025. The delay is attributed to unexpected design changes, staffing limitations, and high turnover within the development team. Once in production, the chip is expected to underperform compared to Nvidia’s Blackwell chip, which debuted in late 2024. (reuters.com)