AIBusinessTechnology

Applied Digital Secures Landmark $5 Billion AI Infrastructure Lease Amid Market Volatility

Applied Digital has signed a 15-year, $5 billion lease agreement with an unnamed U.S. hyperscaler for 200 MW of AI infrastructure capacity. The deal comes as the company’s stock faces recent declines, though it has nearly quadrupled in value this year.

Major AI Infrastructure Expansion

Applied Digital has reportedly signed a $5 billion infrastructure lease agreement with a U.S.-based hyperscaler, according to company reports. The 15-year lease will provide 200 megawatts of capacity at the Polaris Forge 2 campus in North Dakota, bringing the company’s total leased capacity across its two campuses to 600 megawatts. Sources indicate that this move aligns with the tech industry’s rapid investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure to meet anticipated demand surges.

AutomationStartups

Former Luminar CEO Austin Russell Makes Surprise Bid to Acquire Lidar Company He Founded

Billionaire founder Austin Russell has launched a bid to acquire Luminar Technologies five months after being replaced as CEO. The proposed acquisition would involve his new company, Russell AI Labs, purchasing all outstanding shares of the lidar maker according to regulatory filings.

Surprise Acquisition Bid Follows CEO Ouster

Austin Russell, the billionaire founder of lidar company Luminar Technologies, has reportedly made a bid to acquire the company just five months after being replaced as CEO following an ethics inquiry, according to recent SEC filings. The proposed takeover would involve his new venture, Russell AI Labs, purchasing 100% of Luminar’s outstanding Class A Common Stock at an undisclosed price.

HardwareTechnology

AI Hardware Price Wars Intensify as GPU Rental Costs Plunge

Nvidia’s flagship AI accelerators now rent for as low as $2.80 per hour, representing significant declines from previous pricing. Industry analysts suggest this reflects an emerging divide between hyperscale cloud providers and smaller competitors in the AI infrastructure market.

AI Computing Market Shows Divergent Pricing Trends

The artificial intelligence hardware market is experiencing dramatic price fluctuations, with GPU rental costs for AI training plummeting while major cloud providers maintain stable premium pricing, according to recent industry analysis. Sources indicate that Nvidia’s B200 GPU accelerator, which reportedly cost approximately $500,000 upon its late 2024 release, now rents for as low as $2.80 per hour—representing a significant decline from earlier pricing levels.