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Meta has finalized three significant nuclear energy agreements to power its data centers, signaling a major shift in how technology giants intend to address the surging electricity demands of artificial intelligence. In a week marked by substantial infrastructure and regulatory developments, Amazon also announced a massive expansion of its physical retail footprint, while regulators in Indonesia and the United States increased pressure on X (formerly Twitter) regarding AI safety protocols.
Key Developments
- Meta's Energy Pivot: The tech giant secured deals with Vistra, Oklo, and TerraPower to add gigawatts of nuclear capacity for AI operations.
- Amazon's Mega Store: A new 229,000-square-foot retail format in Illinois will combine groceries, merchandise, and logistics, rivaling Walmart Supercenters.
- AI Regulatory Backlash: Indonesia has blocked X's Grok chatbot over deepfake concerns, while U.S. Senators are pressuring Apple and Google to remove the app.
- Robotics in Manufacturing: Hyundai confirmed plans to deploy Boston Dynamics' humanoid Atlas robots at its Georgia plant starting in 2028.
- Consumer Tech Wins: Bose reversed plans to disable older hardware following customer backlash, opting to open-source the software instead.
Meta Leads Push for Nuclear-Powered AI
As the computational power required for artificial intelligence rises, Meta has entered into strategic partnerships to secure a carbon-free energy supply. The company announced three separate deals aimed at bringing substantial nuclear capacity online over the next decade.
The largest agreement involves Vistra, which will sell 2.1 gigawatts (GW) of power from its existing Ohio reactors. Additionally, Vistra plans to add 433 megawatts (MW) of capacity through upgrades at facilities in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Analysts note that Vistra’s supply is expected to be the most cost-effective of the three deals due to the established nature of the infrastructure.
Meta is also betting on the unproven economics of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). The company struck deals with startups Oklo and TerraPower to provide 1.2 GW and 690 MW, respectively. The agreement with TerraPower includes options for an additional 2.8 GW. Timelines for these projects stretch into the next decade, with Oklo targeting delivery by 2030 and TerraPower by 2032.
Amazon and Hyundai Expand Physical Footprints
Amazon has secured local approval to construct a 229,000-square-foot "mega store" in Orland Park, Illinois. This facility exceeds the size of the average Walmart Supercenter and marks a significant departure from Amazon’s smaller Fresh and Whole Foods formats. The new location will integrate groceries, general merchandise, prepared foods, and an on-site pickup service for online orders. Concurrently, the company is testing a "rush pickup" service and fulfillment-only stores in Seattle and Philadelphia, promising 30-minute delivery times.
In the automotive sector, Hyundai announced it will integrate Boston Dynamics’ humanoid Atlas robots into its manufacturing lines. Deployment is scheduled to begin in 2028 at the company’s Savannah, Georgia plant, where the robots will initially arrange components before graduating to complex assembly tasks by 2030. Hyundai projects a manufacturing capacity of up to 30,000 robots annually at a new U.S. facility. Google is also partnering with Boston Dynamics to integrate its Gemini AI model into these machines in the coming months.
Regulatory Pressure Mounts on X
Social media platform X is facing heightened scrutiny regarding its AI chatbot, Grok. Indonesia has temporarily blocked access to the tool, citing the proliferation of AI-generated sexualized images and deepfake content involving minors. Government officials characterized the non-consensual deepfakes as a severe human rights violation.
In the United States, pressure is mounting on app store gatekeepers. Senators Ron Wyden, Ben Ray Luján, and Ed Markey have formally requested that Apple and Google remove X from their respective app stores. They argue that the prevalence of deepfakes violates existing store policies.
"The senators say keeping the app goes against both companies' arguments for tight store control, noting prior removals of apps like iSblock and Red Dot after government pressure."
In response, X has partially restricted Grok’s image generation functions for some paying subscribers. However, reports indicate that image creation tools remain accessible through the standalone Grok website and other in-app entry points.
Consumer Technology and Media Standards
Bose has capitulated to customer demands regarding its 10-year-old SoundTouch Wi-Fi speakers. While cloud services will still sunset, the deadline has been extended to May 6. More significantly, Bose will release an app update to maintain local features—such as AirPlay and Spotify Connect—and will open-source the software, allowing third-party developers to extend the hardware's lifespan.
In media news, Universal Music Group (UMG) partnered with Nvidia to protect intellectual property in the age of AI. The collaboration focuses on Nvidia's "Music Flamingo" model to identify copyrighted works and ensure rights holder compensation. Meanwhile, Dolby unveiled "Dolby Vision 2" at CES. The new engine, which improves brightness and adapts to ambient light, will launch on TVs from Hisense, TCL, and Philips later this year. Peacock has signed on as the first streaming partner to utilize the format for live sports.
Additionally, OpenAI and Common Sense Media have reached a draft agreement to regulate children's use of AI chatbots in California. The proposal, intended to avoid a ballot fight, includes age verification requirements, limits on data sales, and a ban on targeted advertising to minors.
