SoftBank loses billions after over-ordering AI energy equipment

Japanese investor SoftBank suffered a $3.7 billion loss to its earnings on Tuesday after canceling an excess of orders for gas-producing equipment to fuel the AI hardware buildout that it couldn't utilize. This news heightened concerns that the AI frenzy, which saw tech giants take on substantial debt to develop the necessary infrastructure for data centers, might be losing momentum.

The departure of Nvidia founder Jensen Huang has also made investors uneasy, fearing that the world's largest chipmaker might abandon its plan of funding AI hardware under a new leadership. According to a fund manager, "I think the fear is that the music might stop." Despite these concerns, the AI buildout continues to generate profits.

Siemens Energy anticipates tripling its dividend by 2027 as the US data center boom increases demand for its gas turbines and grid equipment. The company's CEO remarked, "Some of the growth rates for data centers were unrealistic, it’s just that nobody wanted to hear it." Customers of gas turbines are experiencing multiyear delays, with developers increasingly seeking second-hand equipment. Chinese gas-turbine manufacturers are poised to benefit from the increased demand.