AI Business & Industry

Today's Stories

1. 1

   Applied Materials to invest US$5b in India over next decade

   Applied Materials plans to invest US$5b in India over the next decade, building a 140 acre semiconductor research park and doubling its R&D workforce beyond the current 7,000 employees. This deepens materials engineering and customer collaboration, supporting Applied Materials' bet on AI-driven chip spending and long-term capacity, though it is not a key near-term share price driver.

   The biggest risk is that capex digestion, export restrictions or rising competition hit order visibility just as Applied Materials ramps R&D and India build-out spending. Its US$0.53 quarterly dividend for December 2026 signals management sees enough cash flow for both returns and investment.

2. 2

   Microsoft unveils Copilot super app with Autopilot agents

   Microsoft launched a redesigned Copilot super app combining chat, coding tools, and a new Autopilot agentic feature. Most new features roll out through an early test program, with no general availability date set. The app aims to turn a set of overlapping products into a single paid productivity suite, and both enterprise customers and individuals pay extra based on use of its most autonomous capabilities.

   Broad rollout of Autopilot hinges on how testers rate the new tools. The coding tool reaches Microsoft 365 Premium and Pro subscribers through the test program later this year.

3. 3

   GE Vernova vs Bloom Energy: the AI power trade-off

   In a Sept. 27, 2026 Motley Fool video, Rick Orford compared GE Vernova and Bloom Energy as two routes to the AI data center power shortage, citing market prices from Sept. 11, 2026. The two companies are framed as different bets — GE Vernova on generation and grid scale, Bloom Energy on fast onsite deployment — so the choice may come down to which approach a buyer values.

   Orford says one trade-off could decide which stock has the stronger long-term setup, though the video does not name it here. Watch for the full breakdown of growth, valuation and risks.

4. 4

   ASML beats Qualcomm on $37.5 billion, EUV monopoly

   The Motley Fool's comparison concluded ASML is the better buy over Qualcomm, citing its EUV machine monopoly and fiscal 2025 revenue of nearly $37.5 billion, with a 2026 sales outlook implying growth of more than 30%. ASML's unique EUV position and higher profit conversion justify a premium valuation, while Qualcomm's cheaper multiples reflect its dependence on a few phone makers.

   The call hinges on whether chipmakers pull back on AI spending, which would hit ASML's order book hard. Watch Qualcomm's automotive, IoT and AI chip segments to show they can reduce its phone dependence.

5. 5

   Greg Abel: Data Centers a "Significant Opportunity" for Berkshire Energy

   In a CNBC interview, Berkshire CEO Greg Abel said energy scarcity is holding back AI, and data centers are a "significant opportunity for Berkshire and Berkshire Hathaway Energy" — while saying BHE wouldn't sell to superscalers if it would raise rates for its other customers. Abel's energy background — he joined through the MidAmerican Energy acquisition and ran the energy business — makes data center power a natural fit for the holding company, and it adds another route to AI exposure beyond its large stake in Alphabet.

   Whether BHE actually signs data center deals without raising other customers' rates is the test Abel set himself. BHE reported $891 million in operating income in the second quarter of 2026, the lowest among Berkshire's reported segments, so any boost there could move the total.

6. 6

   Micron, Sandisk Among Best Stocks To Watch

   Investor's Business Daily says AI memory chip stocks Micron Technology (MU), Sandisk (SNDK), SK Hynix (SKHY), Everpure (P), and NetApp (NTAP) are among the best stocks to watch in the ongoing rally. These stocks are being highlighted as AI memory plays, and some are attempting to clear buy points, suggesting potential momentum for investors watching the sector.

   Whether Micron, Sandisk, and NetApp can clear their buy points and Everpure can sustain its new highs, as the rally continues.