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Nvidia’s Planned Major Expansion in Israel Sparks Wide Interest from Potential Sites

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Nvidia, the world’s leading AI chipmaker and the first company to reach a $4 trillion valuation, is seeking to dramatically expand its operations in Israel to meet surging demand for AI data centers. The Santa Clara-based firm issued a request for information (RFI) this week to acquire land for a new campus near its existing facility in northern Israel, with the project expected to cost billions and generate thousands of jobs, according to multiple sources.

Nvidia entered the Israeli market in 2020 by acquiring Mellanox Technologies for nearly $7 billion. Its existing site is located in Yokne’am, a technology hub near Haifa. Nvidia declined to comment beyond confirming the RFI request.

One source, speaking anonymously, revealed that the company has received “dozens and dozens and dozens” of site offers from municipalities and other entities, many not near Haifa, reflecting broad local enthusiasm to host the expansion. The deadline for offers is July 23, with Nvidia planning a campus covering up to 180,000 square meters.

The Haifa municipality stated it is preparing a competitive offer, asserting it has the “best potential” for Nvidia’s new campus.

The planned expansion reflects a broader race among tech giants such as Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, Alphabet, and Tesla to build AI data centers and capture leadership in emerging AI technology. This surge is driving increased demand for Nvidia’s advanced processors.

Industry insiders emphasize Israel’s critical role in the AI era, making rapid expansion necessary for Nvidia. Since acquiring Mellanox, Nvidia’s Israeli operations have nearly tripled in size and reportedly contributed $13 billion in revenue last year, though the company has not publicly confirmed this figure.

In addition to acquisitions, Nvidia has built Israel’s most powerful AI supercomputer, which served as a blueprint for Elon Musk’s Colossus supercomputer. The company employs approximately 5,000 people in Israel.

Dror Bin, CEO of the Israel Innovation Authority, described the planned campus as “massive,” potentially housing thousands of employees. He said Nvidia’s expansion signals a long-term commitment and strong confidence in Israel.

Nvidia’s expansion plans contrast with rival Intel, which has been present in Israel since 1974 and employs 9,350 workers but is currently implementing global workforce reductions. Reports suggest a few hundred Intel workers in Israel may be affected, though Intel declined to provide specific numbers.

Meta Signs Deal for Advanced Geothermal Power in New Mexico to Support AI Expansion

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Meta has signed an agreement with XGS Energy to develop 150 megawatts of advanced geothermal electricity in New Mexico. The clean energy will power Meta’s expanding artificial intelligence data centers, marking a step forward in the tech giant’s efforts to source sustainable energy for its operations.

This deal highlights a growing trend among major technology companies to secure large-scale, low-carbon power supplies to meet soaring electricity demands driven by AI development. Advanced geothermal energy, unlike conventional geothermal, generates power without relying on natural water sources and produces no climate-warming emissions.

While 150 megawatts is a small portion of the gigawatts of power that Big Tech firms seek for AI data centers, it represents about 4% of total U.S. geothermal production capacity. New Mexico has significant untapped geothermal potential, estimated at around 160,000 megawatts.

The Meta-XGS project is planned to be phased in and operational by the end of this decade. The electricity generated will feed into the local grid and support Meta’s regional operations.

Urvi Parekh, Meta’s Global Head of Energy, said, “With next-generation geothermal technologies like XGS ready for scale, geothermal can be a major player in supporting the advancement of technologies like AI as well as domestic data center development. We’re excited to partner with XGS to unlock a new category of energy supply for our operations in New Mexico.”

Telus Moves to Fully Acquire Digital Unit to Boost AI Control

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Canadian telecom giant Telus announced Thursday its intention to acquire all outstanding shares of its digital services subsidiary, Telus Digital, aiming for greater control over its artificial intelligence capabilities. The offer values Telus Digital at approximately $946.8 million, with Telus proposing to buy the remaining shares at $3.40 each—a 15% premium over the subsidiary’s last closing price.

Currently, Telus owns about 57% of the digital unit directly and through other entities. The subsidiary’s U.S.-listed shares have declined over 24% this year, underperforming compared to Telus’s parent company stock, which has gained nearly 19%.

This acquisition bid highlights Telus’ strategic move to strengthen operational integration of Telus Digital, which supports businesses in adopting AI and developing data strategies amid a global push toward AI technology adoption. CEO Darren Entwistle emphasized that full ownership would accelerate AI capability enhancement and SaaS transformation across Telus’s operations.

In a related investment push, Telus revealed plans last month to invest over C$70 billion (US$51.4 billion) in expanding Canada’s network infrastructure over the next five years, including the launch of two new AI-focused data centers.

Barclays is advising Telus on the transaction.