Corning signs multibillion-dollar deal with Amazon to expand U.S. fiber-optic production for AI data centers, signaling major tech companies' rising spending on infrastructure.

What happened: Corning signed a multibillion-dollar, multidecade agreement with Amazon to expand domestic production of fiber-optic products used in data centers. The project is expected to create about 1,000 new jobs in North Carolina, plus construction-related employment and workforce training.

Why it matters: AI workloads require faster data transmission and higher network capacity inside large-scale data centers. Fiber-optic technology connects servers and moves large volumes of data within modern data centers, making it essential infrastructure as cloud and AI customers drive rising demand. The deal reflects major technology companies increasing spending on the networking and optical infrastructure needed to support next-generation AI systems.

What to watch: The expansion will strengthen Corning's domestic supply chain while helping meet rising demand from cloud and AI customers. The agreement signals that infrastructure investments tied to AI workloads are becoming a priority for hyperscalers (large cloud providers).