Microsoft has struck a $9.7 billion deal with data-center operator IREN that includes access to Nvidia's advanced chips, aiming to ease the computing crunch that has kept the tech giant from fully cashing in on the artificial intelligence boom.

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Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman's opinions on AI's shape and development carry some weight, which is why it felt like a breath of fresh air to hear him say that AI cannot achieve consciousness and that pursuing it misunderstands the point of the technology.

Microsoft’s decade-long investment in the United Arab Emirates underscores its commitment to building a robust artificial intelligence ecosystem, advancing digital infrastructure and fostering local talent through a strategic partnership with G42.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is coming in a big way. A recent United Nations Trade and Development report estimates that the global artificial intelligence market will grow to $4.8 trillion by 2033, a staggering 25-fold increase in just a decade.

In 2023, Microsoft partnered with an Abu Dhabi-based company called Group42 to grow its UAE data center presence. The tech giant disclosed today that it will have invested more than $7.3 billion in the partnership by the end of the year. Over half the sum was allocated to capital expenditures, a line item that includes data center infrastructure.

AI is driving a surge in global energy demand as oil and gas giants embrace artificial intelligence to boost efficiency, reliability, and growth across the energy value chain.

As AI spending grows, so will the need for semiconductor capacity from TSMC. This should enable it to keep increasing revenue rapidly -- 41% year over year last quarter -- and perhaps eclipse $200 billion in sales in 2027. With a 50% operating margin, that would equate to $100 billion in bottom-line operating earnings.