Nvidia Pours $40B Into AI Deals in 2026

Nvidia has committed over $40 billion to equity investments in AI companies in early 2026, with a $30 billion bet on OpenAI making up the bulk of that figure. The chipmaker has also announced seven multi-billion dollar deals in publicly traded companies, including up to $3.2 billion in Corning and $2.1 billion in data center operator IREN. Critics have flagged the investments as circular deals cycling money between the same companies. Wedbush analyst Matthew Bryson acknowledged the concern but noted the strategy could help Nvidia build a competitive moat if successful.