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Foxconn Sees AI Boom Driving 2026 Growth, Hints at OpenAI Collaboration

Foxconn, the world’s largest contract electronics manufacturer and key supplier to Apple and Nvidia, projected strong growth from artificial intelligence (AI) demand heading into 2026 — and teased a major announcement with OpenAI next week.

Chairman Young Liu told investors on Wednesday that the AI industry was only in its early stages and would soon become a central driver of global technology growth.
“Judging from what we see now, I am very optimistic about the AI market next year,” Liu said during the company’s quarterly earnings call. “The development of AI is still just beginning.”

Foxconn’s cloud and networking division, which includes AI server manufacturing, has now surpassed its consumer electronics segment — which includes iPhones — for the second consecutive quarter.

The company expects significant year-on-year revenue growth in the fourth quarter, with AI server sales continuing to rise quarter-on-quarter. Third-quarter profit jumped 17% to T$57.67 billion ($1.89 billion), beating analyst expectations.

Liu also hinted at an OpenAI-related announcement to be revealed during Foxconn’s annual Tech Day in Taipei next week, but declined to provide further details. OpenAI has not yet commented on the matter.

Foxconn — formally known as Hon Hai Precision Industry — has benefited from a global data center expansion led by Amazon, Microsoft, and Google, as they ramp up investments in AI infrastructure.

Beyond AI, Foxconn continues to invest in electric vehicles (EVs), despite recent challenges in its EV manufacturing ventures in the U.S.

So far this year, Foxconn’s shares have risen 36%, outperforming Taiwan’s broader market index, which is up 21%.

Tower Semiconductor Raises Forecasts on AI and Data Center Demand Surge

Tower Semiconductor, the Israeli-based contract chipmaker, forecast fourth-quarter revenue above market expectations, driven by booming demand for chips used in data centers and AI infrastructure. The announcement sent the company’s U.S.-listed shares up 15%, reaching their highest level in over two decades after a 63% surge this year.

The company said it expects revenue of around $440 million, plus or minus 5%, surpassing analysts’ estimates of $434.4 million, according to LSEG data.

CEO Russell Ellwanger attributed the growth to strong demand for Tower’s analog and mixed-signal semiconductors, which are widely used in automotive, industrial, and communications technologies. He added that the company’s Silicon-Germanium and Silicon Photonics technologies — essential for high-speed optical data transmission — are key growth drivers as global data center expansion accelerates.

Tower also announced an additional $300 million investment to expand its manufacturing capacity and advance next-generation chip capabilities across Israel, the United States, Italy, and Japan.

For the third quarter ended September 30, Tower reported revenue of $395.7 million, slightly above forecasts, and adjusted earnings of 55 cents per share, topping estimates of 54 cents.

The results highlight the semiconductor industry’s ongoing shift toward AI-driven infrastructure, where specialized chips for data transmission and network performance are becoming vital to global tech ecosystems.

Rumble to Acquire Germany’s Northern Data in $767 Million AI Cloud Deal

Rumble, the U.S.-based video platform that also hosts Donald Trump’s Truth Social, announced on Monday that it will acquire German AI cloud company Northern Data in an all-stock deal worth about $767 million, sending Rumble’s shares up more than 25% in premarket trading.

Under the terms of the agreement, Northern Data shareholders will receive 2.0281 newly issued Rumble Class A shares for each share held, representing a 12.99% discount to Northern Data’s last closing price. The acquisition gives Rumble access to Northern Data’s AI computing arm, Taiga, and its large-scale data center unit, Ardent.

The deal also includes a $150 million GPU-leasing agreement with Tether, the cryptocurrency firm that owns roughly 48% of Rumble, as well as $200 million in tax liability support from Rumble. Upon completion, Rumble will gain control of 22,400 Nvidia GPUs, significantly boosting its AI computing capacity.

Tether, which invested $775 million in Rumble in December 2024, has agreed to become an anchor customer of the combined group, supporting long-term AI infrastructure demand.

Following the merger, Northern Data shareholders will hold 30.4% of the new company, which will operate under Rumble’s name. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, after which Northern Data will delist from the stock market.

Northern Data had withdrawn its 2025 forecast in October amid volatility in the GPU market, but the merger positions both companies to capitalize on rising global demand for AI data centers.