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Trump Announces $500 Billion Private-Sector Investment In AI Infrastructure

U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled a landmark private-sector investment plan on Tuesday, promising up to $500 billion in funding to support artificial intelligence infrastructure. This ambitious initiative aims to position the United States ahead of its global competitors in this vital technological sector.

Trump revealed that a joint venture called Stargate, involving OpenAI (creator of ChatGPT), SoftBank, and Oracle, will spearhead the effort. The project will build cutting-edge data centers and generate over 100,000 jobs in the U.S. The companies involved, along with other equity partners, have already committed $100 billion for immediate deployment, with the remaining funds to be invested over the next four years.

Key Highlights:

  • Joint Venture: OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle are collaborating on Stargate, aiming to revolutionize AI infrastructure.
  • Immediate Investment: $100 billion has been allocated for the first phase, with the full $500 billion to be invested over the next four years.
  • Job Creation: The project is expected to generate more than 100,000 jobs in the U.S.
  • Construction Begins: The first data centers are already being built in Texas, with plans for 20 centers, each spanning half a million square feet.

Executives Backing The Plan

The announcement was made at the White House, with key industry leaders such as SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison joining Trump. Ellison emphasized that the data centers will be pivotal in powering AI applications, including those for analyzing electronic health records to aid healthcare professionals.

Ellison also credited Trump for making the project a reality, stating, “We wouldn’t have decided to do this unless you won.” Altman echoed this sentiment, noting that the development of artificial general intelligence (AGI) would not have been possible without Trump’s leadership.

While it was unclear if this announcement was an update to a previously reported initiative, the scale and impact of the project make it a significant milestone in the U.S.’s AI development strategy. The venture is set to play a crucial role in advancing the country’s leadership in AI technologies.

Forbes Middle East Unveils 100 Most Powerful Businesswomen Of 2025

Forbes Middle East has unveiled its much-anticipated 2025 ranking of the region’s top businesswomen, spotlighting influential leaders reshaping industries and driving meaningful transformation. The list was based on business size, individual accomplishments, leadership impact, and corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Top Spot For Hana Al Rostamani

For the third consecutive year, Hana Al Rostamani, Group CEO of First Abu Dhabi Bank (UAE’s largest bank by assets), claims the top position. In addition to retaining her position in the Forbes Middle East ranking, she was also featured on Forbes’ 2024 list of the World’s Most Powerful Women, securing the 60th position globally. Under her leadership, the bank achieved an impressive $3.5 billion in net profits and $334.8 billion in assets in the first nine months of 2024.

Rising Stars In The Top 10

Shaikha Khaled Al Bahar of NBK Group and Shaista Asif, cofounder and Group CEO of PureHealth Holding, take the second and third spots respectively, completing the top three.

The top 10 remains largely unchanged from last year, with Tayba Al Hashemi of ADNOC Offshore, Alisha Moopen of Aster DM Healthcare GCC, and Suzanne Al Anani of Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP) making their debut in the top 10. In total, 27 new leaders have joined the list this year.

A Diverse And Powerful Group Of Women

This year’s list features 100 women from 32 sectors and 29 nationalities, underlining the diversity of talent driving the region’s progress. The banking and financial services sector leads with 25 entries, followed by healthcare and technology with nine each, and venture capital with five. Remarkably, 40% of the top 10 women are from the banking and financial services sector. Notably, Shaista Asif (PureHealth Holding) and Alisha Moopen (Aster DM Healthcare GCC) are the only non-Arab women in the top 10.

UAE Leads With 46 Leaders

The UAE continues to dominate, with 46 of the women on the list hailing from the country, solidifying its status as a global business hub. Egypt follows with 18 influential women, and Saudi Arabia claims nine entries. Egyptians lead in representation, followed by Emiratis and Lebanese women.

Empowering Women Through Initiatives

Several of the leaders have focused on upskilling and creating opportunities for women. Susana Rodriguez Puerta launched the ‘sAIdaty’ initiative in collaboration with the Dubai Business Women Council, aimed at providing 500 female council members in the UAE with AI skills. Similarly, Lamia Tazi of SOTHEMA collaborated with the Foundation for Research, Development, and Innovation in Science and Engineering to provide scholarships to PhD students from low-income backgrounds.

Click here for the full list.

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