Tech Industry Sees Boom in AI Infrastructure, Nuclear Power, and Skills Certification
The tech industry is experiencing a surge in several key areas, including AI infrastructure, nuclear power, and AI skills certification, according to recent reports. TechCrunch highlighted these trends, noting increased investment in nuclear fuel, the ongoing demand for AI hardware, and new ways for professionals to showcase their AI skills.
The demand for AI infrastructure continues to drive growth in the semiconductor industry. Nvidia, a major player in AI hardware, has seen its value increase as companies build data centers and purchase GPUs, according to TechCrunch. ASML, a Dutch photolithography company and the sole supplier of EUV equipment needed to make cutting-edge chips, is also benefiting from this boom. "When ASML does well, its because companies are expecting to sell a lot of semiconductors," TechCrunch reported.
The increasing demand for electricity from AI companies is also fueling a "nuclear power gold rush." Standard Nuclear, a company that makes nuclear fuel for small modular reactors, recently raised $140 million in a Series A round led by Decisive Point, with participation from Andreessen Horowitz, Chevron Technology Ventures, and others, according to TechCrunch. The round was completed in two tranches of $70 million each after Standard Nuclear met specific milestones. By the end of 2025, nuclear startups had raised $1.1 billion, all for small modular reactors.
LinkedIn announced a new partnership that will allow users to obtain official certifications in AI skills. According to TechCrunch, the certifications will draw on usage data from AI apps such as Descript, Lovable, Replit, and Relay.app. These platforms will use AI to assess users' skills and generate certificates based on usage patterns, product outcomes, and proficiency within the tools. The certifications will then appear on users' LinkedIn profiles.
TechCrunch also announced its upcoming events, including the TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 in Boston on June 23. The summit will bring together 1,100 founders and investors for a day focused on growth, execution, and scaling. Tickets are now available at the lowest price of the year. Additionally, TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 will take place from October 13-15 at Moscone West in San Francisco. Limited plus-one passes are available at a discounted rate until January 30.
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