Technology

Data Center Investments Soar: 200% Rise Since 2016 and Projected 89% Increase by 2028

Published

2 years ago

May 28, 2024

USA News Group Commentary
Issued on behalf of Avant Technologies Inc.

VANCOUVER, BC, May 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Since 2016, investment in data centre infrastructure has risen 200%, with a further 89% increase expected by 2028 as more opportunities emerge with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). According to Jones Lang LaSalle Inc.’s CEO Christian Ulbrich, data centers are “the hottest asset class at the moment.” Analysts at Technavio are projecting the global data center market to record an additional US$329.82 billion in growth at a CAGR of 12.73% through 2027. Capitalizing on the opportunity are several players recently announcing developments regarding their involvement in the data centers sector, including

Avant Technologies Inc. (OTCQB: AVAI), Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), Applied Digital Corporation (NASDAQ: APLD), Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: DLR), and Equinix, Inc. (NASDAQ: EQIX).

As an early pioneer in generative AI, Avant Technologies Inc. (OTCQB: AVAI) continues to enhance its flagship asset, Avant AITM, a sophisticated machine and deep learning AI system designed for versatility and customization across various industries and applications. Recently, Avant announced plans to equip its AI-managed data center, currently in development, with High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems. According to IBM, HPC technology utilizes clusters of powerful processors working in parallel to process massive multi-dimensional data sets and solve complex problems at exceptionally high speeds.

“The rise of AI is revolutionizing industries, and Avant Technologies is committed to being at the forefront of this transformation,” said William Hisey, CEO of Avant. “By building an AI-managed data center with HPC systems, we will gain the computational power and infrastructure required to train and deploy sophisticated AI models, which will ultimately provide even greater value to our customers.”

The new data center will leverage AI-driven management technology to optimize resource allocation and enhance efficiency in all aspects of data center operations. Avant will meticulously design its HPC infrastructure to meet the demands of AI workloads, selecting high-performance CPUs and GPUs (or TPUs) specifically suited for deep learning tasks. This cutting-edge facility will enable Avant to accelerate AI advancements, delivering innovative solutions to clients by improving data center efficiency and empowering them with exceptional AI capabilities.

Additionally, Avant will implement a high-speed network to ensure efficient data transfer and select a scalable storage solution to manage the large datasets necessary for training and utilizing AI models. The HPC systems will prioritize security, incorporating robust measures to protect sensitive data and create a secure environment for AI deployment. Furthermore, the data center will integrate energy-efficient technologies and sustainable design practices, reflecting Avant’s commitment to environmental responsibility.

Avant Technologies also recently announced plans to implement AI-empowered Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) across its data center operations. Additionally, the company has expanded its AvantAI™ platform to include intelligent, proactive monitoring and management for data centers.

Over the past few weeks Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) has collectively committed to investing $20 billion into new data centers for its subsidiary Amazon Web Services (AWS). The first to be announced was an $11-billion data center to be built in Indiana, with another $9 billion set to accelerate cloud-infrastructure in Singapore. The moves fall in line with Amazon CEO Andy Jassy’s projection that 85% of IT spending will remain on premises, in the race for Gen AI supremacy.

Amazon also recently announced an extension on its partnership between AWS and CrowdStrike to unify cybersecurity protection on its CrowdStrike Falcon platform. As per the agreement, Amazon is replacing a variety of cloud point products with Falcon Cloud Security, is using Falcon Next-Gen SIEM to secure big data logging and is deploying Identity Threat Detection and Response to prevent identity-based attacks.

“CrowdStrike and AWS have a deep history of working together to secure the most innovative companies in the world,” said CJ Moses, Chief Information Security Officer and Vice President of Security Engineering at Amazon. “Amazon uses CrowdStrike to provide visibility, detection, and response across our businesses in order to protect the cloud, infrastructure, and services for our customers. This is part of our shared mission to help all organizations build, operate, and secure their business.”

In a move to shore-up its market position as a designer, builder, and operator of next-generation digital infrastructure designed for High-Performance Computing (“HPC”) applications, Applied Digital Corporation (NASDAQ: APLD) recently announced the appointment of industry veteran Todd Gale as its new Chief Development Officer. The announcement came just one month after the company announced it had issued a $50 million unsecured convertible debenture to advance its HPC Data Center Project in Ellendale, North Dakota.

“We intend to use the net proceeds from the private financing, supplemented by the proceeds from our announced sale of the Garden City facility, to finance substantial advancements in our construction phase of the HPC data center in Ellendale, North Dakota,” said David Rench, CFO of Applied Digital. “Concurrently, we continue negotiating our project-level financing to ensure timely project completion and fulfillment of our contractual obligations.”

Applied Digital intends to utilize chipmaking giant NVIDIA’s new Blackwell platform into its cloud offerings. The company’s next-generation data center campuses are specifically designed to host HPC/AI applications, offering more cost-effective and efficient alternatives to traditional data centers.

In Japan, Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: DLR) recently announced the expansion of its NRT Campus, by commencing construction of its third data center to support AI. Upon completion of the site in late 2025, the campus’s capacity will rise to 104MW, with the intention of meeting rising demand for next-generation infrastructure, and seamless access to Japan’s connected data communities.

“Japan’s rapidly increasing demand for AI deployments creates the need for scalable, flexible, and highly connected AI-ready data centers in the Tokyo metropolitan area,” said Serene Nah, Managing Director and Head of Asia Pacific, Digital Realty. “We believe NRT14’s next-generation data center infrastructure and Digital Realty’s connected global open data center platform provide the foundational pillars our customers need to drive innovation in the coming years.”

Equinix, Inc. (NASDAQ: EQIX), another digital infrastructure company, has recently launched a $600 million joint venture with PGIM Real Estate to develop and operate the first xScale data center in the US, situated in California’s Silicon Valley. This follows their successful collaboration on the first xScale data center in Australia in 2022, which was part of a similar $575 million joint venture announced in 2021.

Under the terms of the new agreement, PGIM Real Estate will hold an 80% equity interest in the joint venture, while Equinix will retain a 20% equity stake. xScale data centers by Equinix enable hyperscale companies to expand their core deployments within Equinix’s IBX data centers, facilitating growth in over 70 global metros through a platform that supports direct interconnections with more than 10,000 customers.

This joint venture complements Equinix’s existing hyperscale collaborations in Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Americas, significantly enhancing the global xScale data center portfolio. Once completed, this global expansion is set to exceed $8 billion, encompassing more than 35 facilities and providing over 725 megawatts of power capacity.

Source: https://usanewsgroup.com/2023/10/26/unlocking-the-trillion-dollar-ai-market-what-investors-need-to-know/

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DISCLAIMER: Nothing in this publication should be considered as personalized financial advice. We are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular financial situation. No communication by our employees to you should be deemed as personalized financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decision. This is a paid advertisement and is neither an offer nor recommendation to buy or sell any security. We hold no investment licenses and are thus neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice. The content in this report or email is not provided to any individual with a view toward their individual circumstances. USA News Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Market IQ Media Group, Inc. (“MIQ”). MIQ has been paid a fee for Avant Technologies Inc. advertising and digital media from the company directly. There may be 3rd parties who may have shares Avant Technologies Inc., and may liquidate their shares which could have a negative effect on the price of the stock. This compensation constitutes a conflict of interest as to our ability to remain objective in our communication regarding the profiled company. Because of this conflict, individuals are strongly encouraged to not use this publication as the basis for any investment decision. The owner/operator of MIQ own shares of Avant Technologies Inc. which were purchased as a part of a private placement. MIQ reserves the right to buy and sell, and will buy and sell shares of Avant Technologies Inc. at any time thereafter without any further notice. We also expect further compensation as an ongoing digital media effort to increase visibility for the company, no further notice will be given, but let this disclaimer serve as notice that all material disseminated by MIQ has been approved by the above mentioned company; this is a paid advertisement, and we own shares of the mentioned company that we will sell, and we also reserve the right to buy shares of the company in the open market, or through further private placements and/or investment vehicles. While all information is believed to be reliable, it is not guaranteed by us to be accurate. Individuals should assume that all information contained in our newsletter is not trustworthy unless verified by their own independent research. Also, because events and circumstances frequently do not occur as expected, there will likely be differences between any predictions and actual results. Always consult a licensed investment professional before making any investment decision. Be extremely careful, investing in securities carries a high degree of risk; you may likely lose some or all of the investment.

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Technology

Sixty-One Percent of CEOs Say Their Boards Are Rushing AI Transformation

Published

1 hour ago

May 4, 2026

New Research from Boston Consulting Group Reveals Disconnect at the Top on AI Strategy and ExecutionThree-Quarters of Board Members Believe They Understand AI, but 35% of CEOs Say Boards Overestimate the Human Capabilities AI Can ReplaceMore Than Half of CEOs Say AI Hype Is Distorting Boardroom Judgment

BOSTON, May 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Sixty-one percent of CEOs say their boards are rushing AI transformation, exposing a divide at the top just as companies enter a critical phase of scaling AI. While both groups agree on AI’s importance, they differ on how quickly it should be implemented and how ready organizations are to deliver results.

These findings are from the first edition of Split Decisions: The BCG CEOs and Boards Survey. The research is based on a global survey of 625 leaders, including 351 CEOs and 274 board members, from companies with at least $100 million in annual revenue, spanning both private and public sectors.

Boards tend to favor faster AI implementation, according to the survey, while CEOs take a more measured approach. Gaps in AI understanding and FOMO (fear of missing out) may be contributing to this dynamic. Board members with lower confidence in their AI knowledge are more likely to believe their organizations are moving too slowly, suggesting that uncertainty is translating into increased urgency.

Boards’ AI Confidence Faces CEO Skepticism

While 75% of board members believe their AI knowledge is on par with or ahead of that of their peers, CEOs are less convinced. Nearly 40% say boards lack an informed view of how AI is reshaping growth strategy, and one-third say boards overestimate the human capabilities that AI can replace. (See the exhibit.)

“I feel this tension so acutely between CEOs and boards,” said Julie Bedard, a BCG managing director and partner. “A powerful way for CEOs to bridge the gap between their AI knowledge and their boards’—especially if they feel there is a deficit there—is for the CEO to personally lead an AI upskilling session for their board to show them the latest AI tools and what they can do. CEOs can also bridge the gap by talking about AI in a much more differentiated way to clearly illustrate where AI can be a substitute for humans and where it can complement human work.”

AI Hype and Misaligned Expectations Shape Boardroom Dynamics

More than half of CEOs say boards need to better understand the gap between AI hype and reality, while boards want CEOs to do a better job of selling them on their AI strategy.

CEOs report feeling greater pressure to deliver AI results than boards may fully recognize. Chief executives estimate that 35% of their performance evaluation depends on achieving AI ROI, compared with boards’ estimate of 27%, suggesting a mismatch between perceived expectations and formal accountability.

AI Literacy Emerges as a Shared Priority

Despite some misalignment, CEOs and boards broadly agree on the need to raise AI fluency at the highest levels of leadership. Approximately 80% of both groups say that prospective board members should be required to demonstrate a measurable understanding of how AI can reshape their industry.

“CEOs need to be very intentional about supporting their boards on the same learning journey they’ve taken,” said Judith Wallenstein, a BCG managing director and senior partner and the global head of the firm’s CEO Advisory. “But at a much faster pace, with more focus, and in a way that builds real understanding rather than just surface-level awareness of how AI can create true competitive advantage for the company.”

Download the publication here:
https://www.bcg.com/publications/2026/ai-governance-gaps-where-ceos-and-boards-disagree

Media Contact:
Eric Gregoire
+1 617 850 3783
gregoire.eric@bcg.com

About Boston Consulting Group
Boston Consulting Group partners with leaders in business and society to tackle their most important challenges and capture their greatest opportunities. BCG was the pioneer in business strategy when it was founded in 1963. Today, we work closely with clients to embrace a transformational approach aimed at benefiting all stakeholders—empowering organizations to grow, build sustainable competitive advantage, and drive positive societal impact.

Our diverse, global teams bring deep industry and functional expertise and a range of perspectives that question the status quo and spark change. BCG delivers solutions through leading-edge management consulting, technology and design, and corporate and digital ventures. We work in a uniquely collaborative model across the firm and throughout all levels of the client organization, fueled by the goal of helping our clients thrive and enabling them to make the world a better place.

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SOURCE Boston Consulting Group (BCG)

Technology

IBM Study: CEOs are Reshaping C-suite Roles for the AI Era

Published

1 hour ago

May 4, 2026

76% of surveyed organizations now have a Chief AI Officer, up from 26% a year ago59% of CEO respondents say the CHRO’s influence will increase over the next few yearsNearly two-thirds of surveyed CEOs are comfortable using AI to help inform major strategic decisions

ARMONK, N.Y., May 4, 2026 /CNW/ — A new global study from the IBM (NYSE: IBM) Institute for Business Value finds that the accelerating pace of AI is pushing CEOs to redesign how C-suite roles are structured to drive greater business impact across the enterprise.

In the foreword of the study, IBM Vice Chairman Gary Cohn writes, “The CEO’s role has always been to lead through disruption. What AI changes is the velocity and consequences of leadership. Enterprises that succeed will operate AI-first – not as a layer of technology, but as a new operating model. Decision cycles will compress. Boundaries between functions will dissolve. Advantage will accrue to those who can learn, adapt, and execute faster than their competitors.”

The annual IBM CEO study,* which surveyed 2,000 CEOs globally, shows that as AI becomes more pervasive in the enterprise, CEOs are under growing pressure to rethink how leadership teams operate, how decisions get made and how organizations are structured.

Among the key findings:

76% of surveyed organizations have a Chief AI Officer (CAIO) in 2026, up from just 26% in 2025.Analysis shows that organizations with an AI-first approach to C-suite design have scaled 10% more AI initiatives enterprise-wide than their peers.64% of surveyed CEOs say they are comfortable making major strategic decisions based on AI-generated input. 83% of respondents agree that AI sovereignty is essential to business strategy, underscoring the importance of having the right controls as AI plays a larger enterprise-wide role. Surveyed CEOs say only 25% of the workforce is using AI regularly as part of their job, despite 86% believing their employees have the skills to collaborate with AI.

“AI is changing how work gets done, bringing people and software together in new ways, and it’s changing how people come together in the workplace,” said Mohamad Ali, Senior Vice President, IBM Consulting. “The CEOs delivering real results from AI transformation aren’t just deploying AI faster, they’re redesigning their organizations to bring together the best people with the best technology.”

New challenges demand different kinds of leadership

85% of respondents say all functional leaders must become technology experts in their domain, signaling that AI accountability is expanding beyond specialized roles. Among organizations with a CAIO, all surveyed CEOs expect the influence of the role to increase by 2030, alongside rising influence across every member of the C-suite. 59% of surveyed CEOs say the CHRO’s influence will increase over the next few years.

As CEOs turn to AI-driven decisions, governance and controls become more critical

By 2030, surveyed CEOs expect 48% of operational decisions where consistency and guardrails can be codified will be made by AI without human intervention, compared to 25% today. 79% of executives surveyed confirm they are decentralizing decision-making, distributing accountability as AI plays a more significant role enterprise wide.

Organizations are betting on people to drive AI success

83% of CEOs surveyed say AI success depends more on people’s adoption than technology.Between 2026 and 2028, respondents expect 29% of employees to require reskilling for a different role and 53% to need upskilling to perform their current role more effectively. Surveyed organizations that redesigned five core business areas — technology, finance, HR, operations and cross-functional collaboration — are four times more likely to have delivered on business objectives. 77% of respondents say talent and technology leadership roles are converging, suggesting tighter integration between talent, technology and enterprise strategy.

To view the full study, visit: https://www.ibm.com/thought-leadership/institute-business-value/en-us/c-suite-study/ceo

The study also features industry perspectives from senior executives on how business leaders are responding to AI-driven change. A selection of these firsthand views are available in the addendum below.

*Study Methodology
The IBM Institute for Business Value, in cooperation with Oxford Economics, conducted a survey of 2,000 CEOs and equivalent senior leaders across 33 geographies and 21 industries from February to April 2026. The survey explored how leaders are redesigning business models, operating structures and execution capabilities in an AI-driven economy, with additional analysis examining how organizations translate AI ambition into enterprise-wide execution and business value.

The IBM Institute for Business Value, IBM’s thought leadership think tank, combines
global research and performance data with expertise from industry thinkers and leading academics to deliver insights that make business leaders smarter. For more world-class thought leadership, visit: www.ibm.com/ibv. To receive more insights, subscribe to the IdeaWatch newsletter: https://ibm.co/ibv-ideawatch.

About IBM
IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM’s long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity, and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information.

Media Contact
Marisa Conway
IBM Corporate Communications
conwaym@us.ibm.com

Executive Perspectives:

“It’s not laying AI on top of your existing tools and services. It’s reimagining the entire process.” — Pablo T. Rivero, CEO, Resy and SVP, Global Dining, American Express

“You can’t forecast every disruption, but you can prepare by building organizations that are resilient, adaptable, and ready to operate through change.” — Andrew Anagnost, President and CEO, Autodesk

“AI has moved from the infrastructure layer, largely invisible, to the surface layer of how we work and how we serve customers.” — David Risher, CEO, Lyft

“The introduction of AI is more transformative than the introduction of the internet was at the time – not because of the technology itself, but because of its impact on how people work, decide and collaborate.” — Jan Polkerman, CEO, Dutch Tax and Customs Authority IT

“AI needs to be embedded into how we operate. That means integrating it into workflows across design, merchandising, marketing, stores, and operations–not as a separate initiative, but as part of how the business runs.” – Patrice Louvet, President and CEO, Ralph Lauren Corporation

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SOURCE IBM

Technology

Eddid Financial Honored with “Professional Services Award in RWA” by HKCT Highlighting its Leading Edge in Web3 and Digital Assets

Published

2 hours ago

May 4, 2026

HONG KONG, May 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Eddid Financial (the “Group”) has won the “Professional Services Award in RWA” at the HKCT Business Awards, hosted by the Hong Kong Commercial Times. The award recognizes the Group’s exceptional professional service capabilities and innovative achievements in the Real-World Assets Tokenisation (“RWA”) sector. This prestigious honor serves as a strong industry endorsement of the Group’s dedicated efforts in the RWA space, affirming its leadership in bridging traditional and digital finance while injecting significant momentum into Hong Kong’s digital asset market.

The HKCT Business Awards evaluates candidates based on four core criteria: corporate achievements, market competitiveness, brand philosophy, and professional standing. As one of the most credible and influential business awards in Hong Kong, it aims to recognize outstanding enterprises across various sectors for their performance over the past year, encouraging companies to continuously enhance their core competitiveness and pioneer innovative economic directions. During this year’s selection process, the judging panel conducted a comprehensive assessment of Eddid Financial’s compliance infrastructure, innovative services, and industry contributions within the RWA sector, highly commending the Group’s professional strength and forward-looking vision in asset tokenisation.

Compliance-Driven: Building a Full-Chain Service Ecosystem

As a licensed pioneer in Hong Kong’s RWA landscape, Eddid Financial has consistently relied on compliance as its foundation and innovation as its driving force. Having deeply cultivated the digital asset space for years, the Group has established a full-chain professional service ecosystem that encompasses asset screening, product design, compliance auditing, and distribution operations. Eddid Securities and Futures, a subsidiary of the Group, became one of the first brokerages in Hong Kong to upgrade its licenses in September 2023. It subsequently secured further upgrades for its Type 1 and Type 9 regulated activity licenses, making it one of the few institutions authorized to distribute tokenised securities and RWA products. This regulatory milestone has laid a solid, compliant foundation for the Group’s RWA business operations.

Successful Launch of Landmark Precious Metal RWA Projects

In terms of practical application, Eddid Financial has actively spearheaded the launch of several landmark RWA projects, setting a new benchmark for the industry. Notably, the Group partnered with Timeless Resources Holdings Limited (8028.HK) and HashKey Chain to introduce Hong Kong’s first silver RWA project. By leveraging blockchain technology to tokenise physical silver assets, each digital coin is backed 1:1 by one ounce of physical silver, strictly held by an independent trustee. This initiative not only lowers the barrier to entry for precious metal investments but also enhances asset liquidity. The project’s product design and issuance framework received a “no further comment” reply from the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), demonstrating the highest standard of compliance.

Concurrently, the Group has collaborated with CAC Fintech to advance China’s first agricultural RWA project. By converting agricultural products, land management rights, and future agricultural revenue rights into on-chain digital certificates, this project addresses critical pain points such as poor liquidity and low financing efficiency in agricultural assets. Furthermore, it supports the national rural revitalization strategy and explores novel pathways for the innovative integration of agricultural assets with financial markets.

Leading the Upgrade of the Regional RWA Industry

Beyond launching landmark projects, Eddid Financial continues to drive the ecosystem construction and market development of the RWA sector. The Group’s research department published the “Core Guide to RWA: From Basic Theory to Global Practice,” sharing its leading experience in asset tokenisation to help establish industry standards. Simultaneously, the Group has built a tripartite development model encompassing “Technology + Compliance + Ecosystem”. Internally, it has assembled a dedicated fintech team to advance underlying technologies; externally, it connects core stakeholders, including asset holders, investors, and licensed exchanges, to form a comprehensive RWA service ecosystem that provides clients with all-encompassing, one-stop professional services.

Looking ahead, Eddid Financial will continue to leverage its comprehensive licensing advantages, expert service teams, and robust technical support to drive the digital transformation of a diverse range of real-world assets. The Group is committed to delivering highly flexible, efficient, and compliant RWA services to its clients while actively supporting the standardized and international development of Hong Kong’s digital asset market, thereby cementing Hong Kong’s status as a premier global digital finance hub.

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SOURCE Eddid Financial