In a surprising move, Microsoft is reportedly reducing its data center footprint by canceling leases with several data center providers that together amount to a "couple hundred megawatts" of capacity - roughly equivalent to two full data centers.
he reason behind Microsoft's decision remains unclear, prompting industry observers to speculate whether the tech giant is resetting its expectations for future AI demand. This comes as a contrast to broader industry trends: while Microsoft appears to be scaling back, other major players are significantly expanding their data center investments.
Earlier in January, incoming President Donald Trump announced a $20 billion data center funding initiative led by Emirati billionaire Hussain Sajwani. Shortly after, OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank unveiled project Stargate—a bold plan to channel up to $500 billion into data center infrastructure for AI applications.
Microsoft's lease cancellations suggest a more cautious approach to AI infrastructure expansion, potentially reflecting shifting priorities or revised projections on the growth of AI workloads. As the debate over future AI demand intensifies, analysts will be watching closely to see whether Microsoft's decision signals a broader trend or is an isolated strategic adjustment.
The company has not provided additional commentary on the lease cancellations, leaving the market to interpret the implications. Meanwhile, with competitors forging ahead with substantial data center investments, the contrasting strategies underscore the uncertainty and dynamic nature of the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
Venezuela’s oil shipments have plunged following the United States’ seizure of a tanker earlier this week....
The Kremlin on Friday dismissed proposals for a ceasefire to allow a territorial referendum in Ukraine, describing any pause in hostilities as a tacti...
A new batch of photographs from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate has been released by the House Oversight Committee, shedding light on the financier’s con...
The European Union has announced plans to indefinitely freeze Russian assets held within the bloc, in a move aimed at ensuring up to $246 billion in R...
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Russian President Vladimir Putin met for a closed-door discussion on the sidelines of the International Fo...
Microsoft has agreed a $9.7 billion partnership with data centre operator IREN, granting it access to Nvidia’s latest chips in a move designed to ease the computing bottleneck that has hampered the company’s ability to fully capitalise on the artificial intelligence boom.
Microsoft and OpenAI announced Thursday a non-binding deal outlining terms that would allow OpenAI to restructure into a for-profit company, marking a key step in the high-profile partnership fueling ChatGPT’s growth.
Microsoft has dismissed four employees for protesting against its ties to Israel, including two who staged a sit-in at the office of company president Brad Smith this week.
Microsoft has revealed that Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) is using local internet providers to launch malware attacks on foreign embassies in Moscow, in a targeted cyber espionage campaign.
Japan has lifted a tsunami advisory issued after an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 hit the country's northeastern region on Friday (12 December), the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said. The JMA had earlier put the earthquake's preliminary magnitude at 6.7.
The United States issued new sanctions targeting Venezuela on Thursday, imposing curbs on three nephews of President Nicolas Maduro's wife, as well as six crude oil tankers and shipping companies linked to them, as Washington ramps up pressure on Caracas.
Iran is preparing to host a multilateral regional meeting next week in a bid to mediate between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Kyiv has escalated its naval campaign against Moscow’s economic lifelines, claiming a successful strike on a vessel suspected of skirting international sanctions within the Black Sea.
An extratropical cyclone has caused widespread disruption across Brazil’s São Paulo state, with powerful winds toppling trees and power lines, blocking streets and leaving large parts of the region without electricity.
Time Magazine has chosen the creators behind artificial intelligence as its 2025 Person of the Year, highlighting the technology’s sweeping impact on global business, politics and daily life.
Children are forming new patterns of trust and attachment with artificial intelligence (AI) companions, entering a world where digital partners shape their play, their confidence and the conversations they no longer share with adults.
The International Robot Exhibition (IREX) opened in Tokyo on 3 December, bringing together visitors to explore robotics applications for industry, healthcare, logistics, and everyday life.
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators, including prominent Republican China hawk Tom Cotton, introduced the SAFE CHIPS Act on Thursday, aiming to prevent the Trump administration from easing restrictions on China’s access to advanced artificial intelligence (AI) chips for a period of 2.5 years.
A former Apple engineer has unveiled a new Chinese chip designed to compete directly with Apple’s Vision Pro headset.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment