AI Scales Up as the Biggest Players Battle for Supremacy  The AI industry is careening headlong towards a huge shakeout that’s going to separate the haves from the have-nots and concentrate power in the hands of just a few major players. Just as we saw in the public cloud infrastructure battle, when the dust settles, only a few, all-powerful companies will emerge unscathed, ready to dominate the AI industry for decades to come.  Acquisitions in AI are picking up pace. In the last few months, numerous multi ...

美国商务部长Howard Lutnick称这座位于俄亥俄州的设施为"史上最大的天然气发电厂"。该项目将由日 本软银旗下子公司SB Energy运营，旨在增强电网可靠性、扩大基荷电力供应，并以可负担的能源支持 美国制造业。 剩余资金将用于建设一座合成钻石工厂和德克萨斯州的Texas GulfLink深水石油出口码头。后者预计每 年将产生200亿至300亿美元的美国原油出口额，日出口能力达100万桶。 日本已兑现其对美5500亿美元投资承诺的首笔资金，总额达360亿美元，其中最引人注目的是一座装机 容量9.2吉瓦的天然气发电厂项目。这是去年日美贸易协议的核心内容之一。 这笔投资反映出美国电力需求激增的现实，尤其是人工智能驱动的数据中心需求。国际能源署本周表 示，全球电力需求正以15年来最快速度增长，而天然气已成为提供全天候不间断电力的首选能源。 商务部在关于日本协议的情况说明书中表示，该深水设施将在20年内产生4000亿至6000亿美元收入，并 推进特朗普总统的能源主导议程。 贸易协议下的能源承诺 去年与特朗普达成贸易协议以避免对美出口遭受大规模关税的大多数国家都做出了能源进口承诺，关税 威胁被证明是追求能源主导 ...

Photographer: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images US President Donald Trump’s proposal for a massive gas-fired power plant in Ohio would likely create one of the nation’s largest sources of carbon dioxide emissions from electricity generation. While details of the potential $33 billion development are scarce so far, it’s intended to be led by SoftBank Group Corp. and is envisaged as having capacity of 9.2 gigawatts, according to a fact sheet from the US Department of Commerce. Most Read from Blo ...

美国总统特朗普与日本达成的、在俄亥俄州建设美国最大天然气发电项目的 330 亿美元协议，目前尚未 获得具有约束力的承诺，仍需敲定设备供应商，且该计划对该州监管机构与电网运营商而言完全是个意 外。 日本经济产业省及当地媒体确认，软银集团、松下控股等至少 13 家日本企业或机构参与该项目。但彭 博新闻社联系时，上述实体均未证实已签署任何具有约束力的文件或作出投资承诺。 一名白宫官员表示，由于项目刚启动，多数供应商尚未签约，但随着项目推进，相关合同将陆续敲定。 用缺乏即时具体细节来支撑高调宣布与巨额数字，已成为特朗普执政的一大特点 —— 他常在正式协议 敲定数月前就大肆宣传贸易协议。但这种做法与美国电力行业长期惯例相悖：项目开发商通常要应对漫 长的许可审批延误与关键设备排队等待，在宣布项目前一般会采取更严谨的推进方式。 负责审批发电企业并网的区域电网运营商 PJM 互联公司表示，未收到特朗普支持的、计划在俄亥俄州 朴茨茅斯建设的项目通知。"PJM 此前对该项目一无所知，" 发言人丹尼尔・洛克伍德在邮件中称。 负责审批 50 兆瓦以上项目建设的俄亥俄州电力选址委员会同样不知情。委员会发言人马修・巴特勒周 三表示，尚未 ...

Core Insights - OpenAI is set to complete a new funding round that may exceed $100 billion, aimed at developing its artificial intelligence tools [1][3] - The total valuation of OpenAI, including this funding, is expected to surpass $850 billion, higher than the initial estimate of $830 billion, with a pre-money valuation maintained at $730 billion [1][3] Funding Details - The first part of this funding round will primarily come from strategic investors, including Amazon, SoftBank Group, NVIDIA, and Microsoft, with total commitments potentially nearing $100 billion if investments reach the upper limits of discussions [1][4] - Amazon is expected to invest up to $50 billion, SoftBank plans to invest up to $30 billion, and NVIDIA has discussed a potential investment of $20 billion [4] Future Investment Stages - The next phase of the deal will involve venture capital firms, sovereign wealth funds, and other financial investors, which could significantly increase the total fundraising amount [4] - Funds from corporate investors are anticipated to be received in batches or installments throughout the year [4] Strategic Partnerships - As part of its partnership with Amazon, OpenAI plans to expand its use of Amazon's chips and cloud computing services [4] - OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, noted the remarkable advancements of Chinese tech companies across the entire technology stack, indicating that they are approaching the technological frontier in many areas, including AI [4]

Japan has made the first commitments under a $550-billion investment program that made part of its trade deal with President Trump. Those first commitments are worth $36 billion and include what Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has called “the largest natural gas generation facility in history.” The U.S. and Japan sealed a trade deal last summer, featuring a reduction in proposed tariffs—from 25% to 15%—on Japanese imports and a $550-billion Japanese investment pledge for the U.S. economy. Japan also p ...

Core Insights - OpenAI is nearing the completion of a funding round that could exceed $100 billion, marking a record-breaking financing deal aimed at enhancing its artificial intelligence tools [5] - The overall valuation of OpenAI, including the anticipated funding, may surpass $850 billion, which is an increase from the previously expected $830 billion [5] - The pre-money valuation of OpenAI is reported to be $730 billion [5] Funding Details - The initial phase of the funding will primarily involve strategic investors such as Amazon, SoftBank, Nvidia, and Microsoft, with potential commitments nearing $100 billion if investments are made at the higher end of discussions [1][5] - Amazon is expected to invest up to $50 billion, SoftBank up to $30 billion, and Nvidia around $20 billion, with funds anticipated to be disbursed in multiple tranches throughout the year [3][5] - The subsequent phase of the funding will include venture capital firms, sovereign wealth funds, and other financial investors, which may significantly increase the total fundraising amount [2][5] Strategic Partnerships - As part of its collaboration with Amazon, OpenAI plans to enhance its utilization of Amazon's chips and cloud computing services [4][5]

格隆汇2月18日｜美国总统特朗普表示，位于俄亥俄州的一座巨型天然气设施将成为全美最大的发电 厂，其容量足以支撑数百万家庭的用电需求。日本预计将为该项目投资330亿美元。该项目将由日本软 银集团旗下子公司SB Energy领衔，美国商务部长卢特尼克（Howard Lutnick）宣称，该场址的发电容量 可能达到9.2吉瓦（GW）——相当于约9座传统核反应堆的容量。目前该项目的最终成本及买单者尚不 明确。通常情况下，新电厂的成本由消费者承担，而近年来大型气电厂的建设成本已翻了一倍以上。 ...

Market Overview - U.S. stock futures are trending higher, with S&P 500 futures up 0.6%, Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.7%, and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures up 0.5% [1] - This upward movement indicates a "dip-buying" mentality as investors balance concerns over AI valuations with a strong domestic economy and potential global trade shifts [2] Index Performance - Major market indexes are looking to build on gains, with S&P 500 near 6,843, Nasdaq Composite around 22,578, and Dow Jones Industrial Average near 49,553 [3] Sector Trends - The broader market is affected by a rotation out of software-as-a-service stocks due to AI disruption, while defensive sectors like Utilities and Health Care show strength [4] - Current trends suggest a potential return to growth-oriented sectors if economic data supports a "soft landing" narrative [4] Economic Catalysts - Focus is on the release of FOMC minutes at 2:00 PM ET, with traders looking for insights on interest rate cuts [5] - Economic data to be released at 8:30 AM ET includes January Building Permits (expected at 1.400M) and Durable Goods Orders, forecasted to show a 1.7% decline [6] Corporate News - Nvidia remains a key market bellwether, with premarket interest surrounding its $4.66 trillion valuation ahead of its earnings report on February 25 [7] - Paramount Global shares rose nearly 5% amid a bidding war, while Amazon seeks to recover from recent pressures [8] - General Mills stock fell 7% due to concerns over consumer sentiment, while Tesla and Meta Platforms see modest gains [9] International Developments - A $550 billion Japan-U.S. trade deal is expected to benefit American industrial stocks, enhancing domestic capital investment [10]

Group 1: SoftBank and Energy Investment - SoftBank Group is leading a consortium to invest in a $33.3 billion gas-fired power project in the U.S., involving major players like Panasonic, Murata Manufacturing, Mizuho Financial Group, and Goldman Sachs [2] - The project aims to provide electrical capacity for AI-focused data centers and is part of a broader $550 billion investment commitment from Japan to the U.S. to enhance economic security and infrastructure [3] Group 2: Digital Euro Development - The European Central Bank (ECB) is developing a Digital Euro with a transaction fee model intended to be lower than international card costs but potentially higher than some domestic payment schemes [4] - The Digital Euro will function as "digital cash" with offline transaction capabilities, and pilot programs are set to begin in 2027, with a full launch targeted for 2029 or 2030 [5] Group 3: Geopolitical Tensions and Economic Implications - The Kremlin supports China's rejection of U.S. allegations regarding a secret nuclear test, which has heightened diplomatic tensions following the expiration of the New START treaty [6][7] - The National Bank of Romania has maintained its key interest rate at 6.5% amid persistent inflation, forecasting a drop to 3.7% by the end of 2026, but warns that this does not account for potential impacts from extended gas price caps [10]