Nvidia Updates 2026 AI Investment Map: Adds Hugging Face, Thinking Machines Lab

TradingKey - Since 2026, Nvidia (NVDA) has significantly accelerated its investments and strategic layout in the AI sector, covering multiple areas including large AI models, AI cloud, data centers, optical communications, custom chips, and AI software.

Moving into September, Nvidia further expanded its presence. On September 3, Eastern Time, Nvidia announced the acquisition of open-source AI platform Hugging Face for $12.93 billion, marking its largest single acquisition to date. On the same day, according to a report by The Information, Nvidia was in talks to invest approximately $2.5 billion in Thinking Machines Lab, founded by former OpenAI Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati.

The following is a summary of Nvidia's major AI investments and strategic layout in 2026 compiled from public information.

1. AI Large Model Companies

On February 27, 2026, OpenAI announced $110 billion in new investment, with Nvidia and SoftBank contributing $30 billion each, and Amazon (AMZN) contributing $50 billion. The round was subsequently expanded, with the final financing size reaching $122 billion.

In the same month, Anthropic completed a $30 billion Series G funding round, reaching a post-money valuation of $380 billion. Public information confirmed Nvidia's participation in the round, though the exact investment amount was not disclosed.

In January 2026, xAI completed a $20 billion Series E funding round, with Nvidia participating as a strategic investor.

In addition, according to media reports, Nvidia is in talks to invest approximately $2.5 billion in Thinking Machines Lab. The company is seeking to raise around $5 billion to $6 billion, with Nvidia potentially becoming a major investor.

In March 2026, the two sides established a strategic partnership, with Nvidia committing to supply at least 1 gigawatt (GW) of next-generation Vera Rubin computing platform capacity. The investment remains in the negotiation stage and has not been finalized.

2. AI Search Companies

According to a report by The Information in August 2026, Nvidia is in talks to participate in a new funding round for Perplexity, which could value the latter at over $30 billion post-money. The deal is currently still under negotiation.

III. AI Cloud Services and Data Centers

In January 2026, Nvidia purchased CoreWeave (CRWV) Class A shares at $87.20 per share, with a total investment of $2 billion, to support CoreWeave in expanding its AI computing infrastructure.

In March 2026, Nvidia invested $2 billion in AI cloud company Nebius Group (NBIS). Subsequent regulatory filings revealed that Nvidia holds an approximately 9.3% stake in Nebius.

On May 7, 2026, Nvidia reached an agreement with data center operator IREN (IREN) to acquire a five-year warrant to purchase up to 30 million common shares at $70 per share, totaling up to $2.1 billion. IREN will deploy up to 5 gigawatts of Nvidia AI infrastructure.

In August 2026, Nvidia announced a strategic partnership with data center infrastructure developer Cloverleaf Infrastructure and made a minority equity investment, though the specific amount was not disclosed.

IV. Photonic Technology and Optical Communication

In May 2026, Nvidia and Corning (GLW) expanded their partnership, with Nvidia securing investment and partnership arrangements worth a total of approximately $3.2 billion, including $500 million in equity warrants. Corning plans to build new optical fiber and optical product capacity in the U.S.

In March 2026, Nvidia took a $2 billion strategic stake in Marvell Technology (MRVL), with both companies collaborating to develop the NVLink Fusion platform.

In the same month, Nvidia invested $2 billion each in Lumentum (LITE) and Coherent, expanding its partnership in optical communications technology and related production capacity with both companies.

5. Chips and AI Infrastructure Ecosystem

On August 31, 2026, Nvidia announced a $3.5 billion investment to subscribe to convertible bonds issued by MediaTek. Meanwhile, the two companies are deepening their long-term partnership: MediaTek will adopt Nvidia's NVLink Fusion technology to develop custom chips for AI companies and cloud service providers, enabling these chips to work seamlessly with Nvidia's data center infrastructure. The two parties will also continue to collaborate in fields such as AI personal computing and smart vehicles.

VI. Acquisitions and Technology Licensing Cooperation

On September 3, Nvidia announced that it had reached an agreement to acquire Hugging Face for approximately $12.93 billion. The two parties signed the definitive agreement on September 2, and the transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2027, subject to relevant closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

Hugging Face currently has over 18 million developers, with more than 3 million models, 500,000 datasets, and 1 million applications shared on its platform. Nvidia stated that Hugging Face will remain open after the transaction is completed, allowing developers to freely choose models, frameworks, cloud services, and computing platforms.

In August 2026, Nvidia reached a partnership with AI coding startup Poolside, including a $6 billion technology licensing agreement and a $1 billion equity investment.

Summary

Since 2026, Nvidia has significantly accelerated its AI ecosystem layout, expanding further from large model companies into fields such as AI search, AI cloud, data centers, optical communications, custom chips, open-source platforms, and AI software.

Nvidia continues to expand its AI ecosystem influence through capital investments and strategic partnerships, locking in large model developers, cloud service providers, and data center clients on one hand, while driving custom chips into its AI infrastructure ecosystem through technologies such as NVLink Fusion on the other.