AI, data center and sustainability are this week’s stories

1-Apple, Nvidia and Microsoft plan to invest in ChatGPT maker’s OpenAI

Apple, Nvidia and Microsoft are all in talks to join OpenAI’s funding round that would value the ChatGPT maker at more than $100 billion, according toThe Wall Street Journal.  The Journal first reported on Apple’s interest, citing sources, while Bloomberg News reported on Nvidia’s potential involvement. “The news comes a day after the Journal reported that venture capital firm Thrive Capital would invest around $1 billion in OpenAI, leading the funding round,” per Reuters. Apple and OpenAI not didn’t get back to to Reuters’s requests for comment, while Thrive Capital, Nvidia and Microsoft declined to comment.

Let me emphasize that OpenAI has become vital to Apple’s AI strategy, with the introduction of ChatGPT to Apple devices in June as part of “Apple Intelligence.” The exact investment amounts from three companies remain undisclosed. As a side note, Microsoft is OpenAI’s largest strategic investor with over $10 billion, reaching $80B valuation in February.

2- Google to open second data center in Latin America, to invest over $850M

Google announced to open its second data center in Latin America in the Uruguayan city of Canelones. The amount of the investment more than $850 million.

The company opened its first data center in Latin America in Quilicura in 2015.  which is located near Santiago, the capital city of Chile. It invested an initial amount of $150 million in the data center and spent an additional $140 million in 2018 for expansion, according to Reuters.  “We hope our new data center in Canelones will be a significant contribution to the professional and technological development of Uruguay and the entire region,” Google said in a blog post. Let me add that Reuters reported that Google is considering building a “hyperscale” data centre close to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam and that the center would be ready in 2027.

“In April, Google announced a $3 billion investment to set up a data center campus in Indiana and expand sites in Virginia. Google also said in May that it will invest $2 billion in Malaysia to develop its first data centre and Google Cloud region in the country,” explained the story.

3- Australia Senate passed new compulsory climate disclosure regulation

A new regulation launching compulsory climate reporting for large and medium-sized companies passed the Australian Senate, according to a story at ESG Today.

In a statement after the vote in the Senate, Australia Treasurer Jim Chalmers said: “These critical reforms provide investors and companies the clarity and certainty they need to support the net zero transformation and further strengthen Australia’s reputation as an attractive destination for international capital.” (I have a story here about Nivogo, a Turkish circular economy startup)

The legislation launched earlier this year, introduce climate-related reporting requirements broadly in line with the recently-released standards by the IFRS Foundation’s International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB). The regulation covers disclosures on climate-related risks and opportunities, and on greenhouse gas emissions in the value chain. Under the initial draft, the new proposed legislation would apply to all public companies and large proprietary companies required to provide audited annual financial reports to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) that meet specific size thresholds, starting with companies with over 500 employees, revenues over $500 million or assets over $1 billion, as well as asset owners with more than $5 billion in assets, followed two years later by medium-sized companies (250+ employees, $200 million+ revenue, $500 million assets), while smaller companies (100+ employees, $50 million+ revenue, $25 million+ assets) would begin a year later. Reporting requirements for the first wave of companies would begin from the start of 2025, according to story.