Tech Pulse Daily - December 22, 2025
Dillip Chowdary
Tech Entrepreneur & Innovator
December 22, 2025 | 4 min read
Today's Top Highlights
- AI's shift to an infrastructure phase is increasing energy and data center demands.
- Alphabet acquires Intersect for $4.75 billion to bolster U.S. energy and data center capabilities.
- Apple faces a $115 million fine in Italy over App Store privacy concerns.
- SoftBank is reportedly finalizing a major funding commitment for OpenAI.
- New research shows promise in detecting deepfakes using environmental "fingerprints."
The AI Boom's Growing Pains: Energy and Data Center Demands
The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence is pushing the industry into a new "infrastructure phase," characterized by immense energy and capital requirements. This transition is creating significant challenges for power generation, grid capacity, and data center expansion. In a move to address these challenges, Alphabet has announced its acquisition of Intersect, a data center and energy infrastructure solutions provider, for $4.75 billion. The acquisition is aimed at boosting U.S. energy innovation and expanding data center capacity to support the growing AI workloads.
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Regulatory Pressure Mounts on Apple and Google
Major tech companies are facing increased scrutiny from regulators, particularly in Europe. Apple has been hit with a $115 million fine by an Italian regulator over alleged privacy violations in its App Store. This is the latest in a series of regulatory actions against Big Tech, signaling a growing determination by governments to rein in the power of these platforms.
Advancements in Deepfake Detection
As AI-generated content becomes more sophisticated, so too does the technology to detect it. Researchers are making progress in developing methods to identify deepfakes by analyzing environmental "fingerprints" within media. A researcher at Binghamton University recently secured a grant to further this work, which could provide crucial tools in the fight against misinformation.