OpenAI and Tata Group Partner for India's First AI Data Center

[00:00] Thatcher Collins: From Neural Newscast, I'm Thatcher Collins. [00:03] Thomas Keane: And I'm Thomas Keene. [00:04] Thatcher Collins: OpenAI and Tata Group have launched a major data center partnership in India. [00:12] Thatcher Collins: Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve is signaling a cautious approach to future interest rate [00:20] Thomas Keane: cuts. [00:21] Thomas Keane: We also examine the latest diplomatic hurdles in the Russia-Ukraine peace talks. [00:26] Thomas Keane: Plus we look at the legislative standoff over the Save America Act in the Senate. [00:32] Thatcher Collins: Tata Group and OpenAI announced a partnership today to build India's first large-scale AI-optimized data center. [00:40] Thatcher Collins: This project marks a significant step in the nation's infrastructure. [00:44] Thatcher Collins: It aims to position India as a global hub for sophisticated data processing. [00:48] Thomas Keane: During the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, [00:53] Thomas Keane: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman described the progress of Chinese tech companies as remarkable. [01:00] Thomas Keane: He noted that their advancement across the entire tech stack is incredibly fast. [01:06] Thomas Keane: He placed them near the global frontier. [01:10] Thatcher Collins: This new data center represents a key moment for technology cooperation between the U.S. and India. [01:15] Thatcher Collins: It comes during a time of intensifying global competition. [01:19] Thatcher Collins: Both companies are looking to accelerate the development of artificial general intelligence [01:23] Thatcher Collins: while expanding regional capabilities. [01:26] Thomas Keane: Turning now to the economy, Federal Reserve officials indicated in their January meeting [01:33] Thomas Keane: minutes that they want more proof of falling inflation. [01:36] Thomas Keane: Policymakers have decided to keep the key interest rate steady at about 3.6% for the time being. [01:45] Thatcher Collins: Several officials expressed support for a two-sided statement. [01:49] Thatcher Collins: This would acknowledge the potential for rate hikes if inflation remains above the 2% target. [01:54] Thatcher Collins: While most remain cautious, Chicago Fed President Austin Gouldsby dissented. [01:59] Thatcher Collins: He called for clearer guidance toward rate cuts. [02:03] Thomas Keane: This cautious approach comes as General Mills shares tumbled more than 8%. [02:09] Thomas Keane: The company lowered its annual sales and profit forecasts. [02:13] Thomas Keane: CEO Jeff Harmoning said lower-income consumers are increasingly focused on value. [02:20] Thomas Keane: This highlights a growing strain on household budgets. [02:25] Thatcher Collins: In other news, U.S. mediated peace talks between Russia and Ukraine concluded in Geneva on Wednesday. [02:31] Thatcher Collins: No major breakthrough was reported. [02:34] Thatcher Collins: As the war enters its fifth year next week, the status of occupied territories in eastern Ukraine remains a primary sticking point. [02:42] Thomas Keane: President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of trying to drag out the negotiations. [02:49] Thomas Keane: This occurred despite what U.S. envoys called meaningful progress. [02:54] Thomas Keane: Issues surrounding the control of the Saporizhia nuclear power plant [02:59] Thomas Keane: and the need for firm security guarantees remain completely unresolved. [03:04] Thatcher Collins: A delegation of U.S. senators led by Richard Blumenthal and Lindsey Graham [03:09] Thatcher Collins: returned from Ukraine on Wednesday. [03:11] Thatcher Collins: They are pushing for new sanctions. [03:14] Thatcher Collins: They are co-sponsoring a bill that would apply a tough sledgehammer of tariffs and sanctions [03:20] Thatcher Collins: to pressure President Putin. [03:22] Thomas Keane: Next, the Save America Act has reached more than 50 votes in the Senate. [03:27] Thomas Keane: However, it currently faces a potential democratic blockade. [03:31] Thomas Keane: This legislation pairs new voter ID requirements with tariff provisions [03:37] Thomas Keane: that have drawn sharp opposition from across the aisle. [03:40] Thatcher Collins: The debate is unfolding while the Department of Homeland Security [03:44] Thatcher Collins: remains in a partial shutdown due to funding disputes. [03:48] Thatcher Collins: President Trump has called this a Democrat shutdown. [03:51] Thatcher Collins: He claims they fear the momentum behind the push for more secure elections. [03:56] Thomas Keane: Senate Majority Leader John Thune has promised that the voter ID legislation will receive a formal vote. [04:04] Thomas Keane: This is expected despite the ongoing shutdown. [04:07] Thomas Keane: Senator Mike Lee continues to rally support for the bill. [04:11] Thomas Keane: It still needs 60 votes to overcome a filibuster. [04:15] Thomas Keane: I'm Thatcher Collins. [04:16] Thomas Keane: And I'm Thomas Keene. [04:18] Thomas Keane: Thank you for joining us. [04:19] Thomas Keane: Neural Newscast is AI-assisted, human-reviewed. [04:22] Thomas Keane: View our AI transparency policy at neuralnewscast.com.