National Grid UK invests $1.75 billion in US-based AI Power.
Related
Kingsoft Cloud accelerates GPU computing power construction, securing a 10 billion yuan budget from Xiaomi and a multi-billion yuan long-term contract from Alibaba.
According to a report by Jiemian News, as reported by Mars Finance, Kingsoft Cloud will accelerate the construction of its GPU computing power clusters in the second half of the year to meet the explosive growth in computing power demand from leading clients. Xiaomi's GPU computing power requirement for Kingsoft Cloud has been upgraded from a 10,000-GPU cluster, with the related budget increasing significantly from the initial nearly 4 billion yuan to over 10 billion yuan. In addition, Alibaba's big data model team has signed a 5-year computing power leasing contract with Kingsoft Cloud, involving more than 3,000 eight-GPU servers. Based on the contract price, the annualized revenue after full delivery will exceed 4 billion yuan. To meet the surging customer demand, Kingsoft Cloud has increased its 2026 capital expenditure plan to 15 billion yuan, with a full-year revenue target of 12.5 billion to 13.5 billion yuan. It is understood that due to tight upstream supply, Kingsoft Cloud is currently only accepting long-term contract customers for 3 to 5 years for its GPU computing power, and some orders are facing delivery delays. Due to concerns about the risk of asset impairment from stockpiling high-priced computing cards, Kingsoft Cloud is currently suspending its aggressive expansion of hardware, anticipating that computing hardware prices may reach a turning point in the third quarter of this year.
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company's distribution arm plans to acquire 100% of Shell's South African downstream business for $1 billion.
Mars Finance reported on July 7th that ADNOC Distribution, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, announced its plan to acquire 100% of Shell's South African downstream business for approximately US$1 billion. Following the transaction, a 28% stake will be sold to local empowerment partners and an employee stock ownership plan. The company expects the transaction to drive EBITDA growth of approximately 13% and earnings per share growth of approximately 6% in the first year after completion. The transaction is expected to close in 2027. (Wide Angle Observation)
The National Development and Reform Commission disclosed five key work plans for the artificial intelligence industry during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, emphasizing the strengthening of key technologies such as models, computing power, and data.
According to Mars Finance, at a press conference held by the Shanghai Municipal Government on July 7, Wang Ruomeng, Deputy Director of the Innovation and High-Tech Development Department of the National Development and Reform Commission, disclosed the working plan for my country's artificial intelligence industry during the 15th Five-Year Plan period: First, accelerate independent innovation. Strengthen research on key technologies such as models, computing power, and data; increase basic research; generate more original achievements; and contribute Chinese wisdom to the global development of artificial intelligence. Second, strengthen application-driven development. Focus on areas with significant economic contributions, high strategic value, and good social benefits; open up a number of high-value scenarios; and create a number of benchmark applications. At the same time, pay attention to the impact of artificial intelligence on employment, promote the creation of new jobs and empowerment of traditional jobs through artificial intelligence, and prioritize its application in "dangerous, dirty, tiring, and heavy" scenarios. Third, deepen ecological collaboration. Continuously promote deep adaptation of software and hardware, common prosperity of open and closed sources, integration of industry, academia, research, and application, and differentiated regional development to significantly improve the efficiency of ecological collaboration. Fourth, adhere to openness and win-win cooperation. Extensively carry out international cooperation in artificial intelligence, promote open-source and inclusive technology, support the Global South in strengthening artificial intelligence capacity building, and actively participate in international governance in the field of artificial intelligence. Fifth, ensure safety and controllability. We must coordinate development and security, accelerate legislation in the field of artificial intelligence, improve the system of rules and regulations, prevent risks such as data misuse, deepfakes, and privacy breaches, and ensure that the development of artificial intelligence is for human use and under human control. (Cailian Press)
Apple invests over $30 billion to deepen its partnership with Broadcom and expand its domestic chip manufacturing operations in the United States.
According to ChainCatcher, citing CNBC, Apple announced on Wednesday a multi-year partnership with chipmaker Broadcom, expected to exceed $30 billion. This is Apple's largest commitment to U.S.-made manufacturing to date. Under the agreement, Broadcom will continue to develop and supply customized ASIC chips (increasingly used in AI workloads) and wireless components for cellular networks, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connectivity for multiple generations of Apple products until 2031. The report indicates that the partnership is expected to facilitate the production of more than 15 billion U.S.-made chips and includes a $1.5 billion expansion of Broadcom's Fort Collins, Colorado factory. Outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook stated that this move is the largest single project in Apple's $600 billion U.S. investment plan announced in 2025, aimed at responding to the Trump administration's call to promote domestic manufacturing and helping to establish an end-to-end silicon supply chain in the United States.
AI-powered legal services company Norm has raised $120 million in funding, led by Khosla Ventures.
PANews reported on July 7th that, according to Bloomberg, AI legal startup Norm has completed a new funding round of $120 million, valuing the company at approximately $1.2 billion post-money. The round was led by Khosla Ventures, with participation from Blackstone, Bain Capital Ventures, Coatue Management, and others, bringing its total funding to over $260 million. Founded in 2023, Norm differs from traditional software vendors by operating its own Norm Law firm, providing clients directly with legal services delivered by lawyers and AI engineers, charging based on results rather than hourly rates. The company is also developing "AI-driven regulatory AI" compliance agents for regulated industries such as finance and healthcare, and plans to use the new funding to expand its engineering and legal teams and strengthen its systems.
Shenzhen-based smart glasses company Ewen Technology has completed a $150 million funding round, valuing the company at over $1 billion post-investment.
Mars Finance reported on July 7th that Shenzhen-based smart glasses company Even Realities announced the completion of a $150 million Pre-B round of financing, valuing the company at over $1 billion post-money and officially joining the ranks of unicorns. This round was led by Meituan Dragon Ball and Meituan Strategic Investment, with existing shareholders Yuan Yi Capital and Tencent oversubscribing. Earlier this year, Even Realities also completed an A++ round of financing, co-led by Guanghe Venture Capital and Yuan Yi Capital, with existing shareholders including Dachen Capital oversubscribing. (Venture Capitalist CLUB)