AI Giants Unite in $40 Billion Power Move
A powerful coalition of technology and investment firms — including Nvidia, Microsoft, Elon Musk’s xAI, BlackRock, and MGX of Abu Dhabi — has agreed to acquire Aligned Data Centers for $40 billion, in what will become the largest data center transaction ever recorded.
Aligned, which currently operates 50 campuses and over 5 gigawatts of operational and planned capacity, plays a central role in supporting AI workloads across North and South America. The company’s data centers provide the backbone for training large-scale models and running compute-intensive AI applications — a sector now experiencing unprecedented global demand.
The deal transfers full ownership from Macquarie Asset Management to the new consortium, positioning Aligned as a key pillar in the next phase of global AI infrastructure expansion.
AIP’s First Major Investment
This acquisition represents the first major project from the Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership (AIP) — a collaboration formed in 2024 by BlackRock, MGX, Microsoft, and Nvidia to accelerate development of next-generation AI infrastructure.
Since its creation, AIP has expanded to include the Kuwait Investment Authority, xAI, and Temasek, signaling a broader international commitment to funding AI-related physical assets.
The consortium’s strategy centers on deploying over $30 billion in equity capital into hyperscale data centers, renewable energy systems, and advanced compute networks. The goal is to build the physical foundation required for the global AI economy — from chip production and power distribution to cloud-scale infrastructure.
Fueling the Global AI Infrastructure Boom
The Aligned acquisition highlights a broader industry transformation as capital floods into AI-driven infrastructure.
- OpenAI, CoreWeave, Oracle, and Nvidia are all scaling data centers to meet surging compute demand.
- Governments and corporations are racing to secure energy capacity and fast-track construction of hyperscale facilities.
- Investors view AI infrastructure as a long-term asset class, similar to renewable energy or logistics hubs.
The transaction is expected to close by late 2026, pending regulatory approvals and standard conditions. Once completed, the partnership will control one of the most extensive AI-ready data center networks in the Western Hemisphere.
WSA Take
This deal solidifies the AI infrastructure boom as one of the decade’s defining investment narratives. Nvidia and Microsoft aren’t just powering the AI revolution through software — they’re building the digital foundation beneath it.
With global demand for computing power skyrocketing, hyperscale data centers are quickly becoming the new energy infrastructure of the digital age.
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