WSJ Tech News Briefing

Episode Summary: Nvidia to Invest Up to $100 Billion in OpenAI

Date: September 22, 2025
Host: Julie Chang, The Wall Street Journal

Episode Overview

This episode's Tech Minute highlights some of the biggest stories in tech, focusing on Nvidia's landmark investment—up to $100 billion—in OpenAI to fuel next-generation AI. Additional segments cover Citigroup’s experiment with agentic AI and the impact of new US visa fees on India’s IT sector.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Nvidia's $100 Billion Investment in OpenAI

[00:15]

• Announcement: Nvidia, the global leader in AI chips, has struck a deal to invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI.
• Purpose: Funding will support a massive data center buildout, enabling OpenAI to "build and deploy at least 10 gigawatts of Nvidia systems for its artificial intelligence data centers to train and run its next generation of models."
• Timeline: The first phase of these state-of-the-art data centers is planned to come online in the second half of the decade.
• Status: Companies are finalizing partnership details in the coming weeks.

Quote:
"Nvidia has struck a deal with OpenAI. The chipmaker will invest up to $100 billion into OpenAI for a massive data center buildout. It'll allow OpenAI to build and deploy at least 10 gigawatts of Nvidia systems for its artificial intelligence data centers to train and run its next generation of models."
— Julie Chang [00:15]

2. Citigroup Pilots Agentic AI Capabilities

[00:54]

• What’s new: Citigroup will pilot new agentic features on its proprietary AI platform.
• Technology Mix: Citi's CTO reveals that their platform uses a range of AI models, including Google’s Gemini and Anthropic’s Claude.
• Capabilities: The updated platform will allow users to direct AI tools to perform multiple tasks with a single prompt—for example, "researching clients and building profiles by accessing various company systems with a single prompt."
• Pilot Scope: Will roll out to 5,000 users over 4-6 weeks.

Quote:
"With the new update, users will be able to direct an AI tool to complete multiple tasks, like researching clients and building profiles by accessing various company systems with a single prompt."
— Julie Chang [01:15]

3. New US Visa Rules Impact Indian IT Stocks

[01:28]

• Market Reaction: Indian tech and IT stocks fell after President Trump imposed a hefty $100,000 fee on new H1B visas.
• Index Movement: The Nifty IT index, which serves as a tech sector benchmark, dropped 2.9%.
• Company Performances:
  • Emphasis: Down 4.6%
  • LTI Mindtree: Down 4.5%
  • Infosys & TCS: Down 2–3% (fared slightly better than their smaller peers)
• Broader Concern: The new visa policy is expected to make hiring foreign technical talent much more expensive, adding to operational costs for Indian IT firms.
• Upcoming Coverage: A more detailed analysis will be available in the next day’s episode.

Quote:
"Indian tech and IT stocks closed lower today as new US visa rules stoked concerns about rising costs."
— Julie Chang [01:28]
"The Nifty IT index, a benchmark for India's tech sector, fell 2.9% after President Trump imposed a $100,000 fee on new H1B visas. That'll make hiring foreign talent more [expensive]."
— Julie Chang [01:33]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "The first phase is targeted to come online in 2H20. The companies say they'll finalize the details of their new partnership in the coming weeks." — Julie Chang [00:27]
• "The initial Pilot will span 5,000 users over four to six weeks." — Julie Chang [01:22]
• "We'll have more on the impact of changes to H1B visas on the tech sector in Tuesday's Tech News Briefing podcast." — Julie Chang [01:46]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:15 – 00:40: Nvidia announces $100B investment and partnership with OpenAI
• 00:54 – 01:26: Citigroup launches AI pilot and technology details
• 01:28 – 01:46: Indian IT sector’s reaction to US visa fee changes

Summary

This episode delivers three pivotal updates:

• Nvidia’s unprecedented $100B investment aims to cement OpenAI’s edge in next-gen AI by underpinning massive new data center infrastructure.
• Citi continues its foray into advanced AI, giving employees tools to automate complex internal tasks across platforms.
• Indian tech stocks were shaken by a major US visa fee hike, raising the stakes for global tech hiring and cost structures.

For deeper analysis, especially on the visa issue, listeners are encouraged to tune in to future episodes.