Summary3 min read

WSJ Tech News Briefing – TNB Tech Minute: Microsoft Nears Completion of Its ‘Most Advanced AI Data Center in the World’

Date: September 18, 2025
Host: Julie Chang, The Wall Street Journal
Length: ~2 minutes (content segment)

Episode Overview

This Tech Minute episode provides a succinct roundup of major tech industry moves, focusing on Microsoft’s near-completion of a groundbreaking AI data center in Wisconsin, Meta’s new round of licensing talks with media giants for AI content, and Huawei’s forthcoming AI chip ambitions targeting Nvidia’s lead in China. The episode is brisk, informative, and zeroes in on decisive developments shaping the future of AI infrastructure and content strategy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Microsoft’s “Most Advanced AI Data Center in the World” ([00:31 – 01:12])

Project: Microsoft is finalizing a $3.3 billion AI data center in Wisconsin.
Launch: Expected operational early 2026.
Initial Use: “The data center will initially be used to train OpenAI models.” (Julie Chang, 00:41)
Leadership: Announcement comes from Brad Smith, Microsoft Vice Chair and President.
Expansion: Microsoft commits an extra $4 billion for a second facility in the region—doubling down on their AI infrastructure investment.

2. Meta’s Licensing Negotiations for AI Content ([01:12 – 01:38])

Talks: Meta is in “discussions in recent months with a number of media companies, including Axel Springer, Fox Corp. and News Corp., about licensing their articles for use in its artificial intelligence tools.” (Julie Chang, 01:15)
Shift in Strategy: This signals “a shift for Meta, which had recently lessened its focus on paying for and surfacing news content.” (01:25)
Outlook: Conversations are still “early and might not lead to any new deals.” (01:30)
Note: Fox and News Corp. (WSJ’s parent company) share common ownership.

3. Huawei Takes on Nvidia in China ([01:39 – 02:11])

Roadmap Announcement: “Huawei plans to release new AI chips over the next three years. The first will be a new generation of its Ascend chips,” flagged as “a potential challenger to Nvidia’s offerings in the country.” (Julie Chang, 01:40)
Context: Move follows “Nvidia faces more difficulty in doing business [in] China.”
Timeline: “Huawei plans to release the first of the new chips in the first few months of 2026.” (01:55)
Nvidia Response: “Nvidia didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.” (02:08)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“Microsoft said it’s nearing completion on a $3.3 billion project in Wisconsin that it’s calling the most advanced AI data center in the world.”
— Julie Chang, [00:35]
“Smith also unveiled an additional $4 billion commitment from Microsoft for a second data center in the area of similar size and scope.”
— Julie Chang, [00:49]
“The move marks a shift for Meta, which had recently lessened its focus on paying for and surfacing news content.”
— Julie Chang, [01:25]
“Huawei plans to release new AI chips over the next three years… seen as a potential challenger to Nvidia’s offerings in the country.”
— Julie Chang, [01:40]

Timeline of Important Segments

[00:31] — Microsoft’s announcement: new Wisconsin AI data center, OpenAI collaborations.
[00:49] — Second data center commitment revealed.
[01:15] — Meta’s early talks with Axel Springer, Fox Corp., News Corp. for AI content licensing.
[01:40] — Huawei’s chip road map and competitive ambitions against Nvidia.
[01:55] — Projected rollout for Huawei’s first new chips (early 2026).

Summary Tone & Final Notes

The episode delivers fast-paced, news-driven updates with a technology business focus, reflecting The Wall Street Journal’s crisp, factual style. The reporting highlights the massive scale and strategic pivots underway in AI infrastructure, content partnerships, and global chip supply—setting the stage for intensified tech competition as 2026 nears.

This Tech Minute gives listeners a punchy, informed sense of where the most influential tech giants are heading next.

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Transcript3 lines

[00:00]
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In 2023, IBM set a goal to become the most productive company in the world. It started by asking questions, lots of questions, says Joanne Wright, SVP of Transformation and Operations at IBM. How can we radically simplify end to end workflow and processes? What can we eliminate? How do we automate everything that we can? And then how do we embed AI into everything we do? So far, over a two year period, we've delivered over $3.5 billion of productivity savings for the company.
[00:32]
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Here's your afternoon TNB Tech minute for Thursday, September 18th. I'm Julie Chang for the Wall Street Journal. Microsoft said it's nearing completion on a $3.3 billion project in Wisconsin that it's calling the most advanced AI data center in the world. The data center is slated to be operational early next year. That's according to Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith. He said the data center will initially be used to train OpenAI models. Smith also unveiled an additional $4 billion commitment from Microsoft for a second data center in the area of similar size and scope. Plus, we exclusively report that Meta has held discussions in recent months with a number of media companies, including Axel Springer, Fox Corp. And News Corp. About licensing their articles for use in its artificial intelligence tools. That's according to people familiar with the matter. The move marks a shift for Mett, which had recently lessened its focus on paying for and surfacing news content. Sources say some of the conversations are early and might not lead to any new deals. Fox and News Corp. The Wall Street Journal's parent company, share common ownership. Finally, Huawei plans to release new AI chips over the next three years. The first will be a new generation of its Ascend chips, seen as a potential challenger to Nvidia's offerings in the country. It comes as Nvidia faces more difficulty in doing business. China Huawei plans to release the first of the new chips in the first few months of 2026. Nvidia didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. For a deeper dive into what's happening in tech, check out Friday's Tech News Briefing podcast.
[02:18]
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