Big Tech Pledges Energy Funding for AI Data Centers; Merck Reports Positive Phase 3 HIV Data

By / / Breaking News

Key Takeaways

  • Amazon (AMZN), Alphabet (GOOGL), and Oracle (ORCL) have entered a voluntary White House agreement to fund 100% of the energy infrastructure required for new AI data centers.
  • Merck (MRK) announced successful Phase 3 results for its HIV treatment, Doravirine/Islatravir, demonstrating non-inferiority to Gilead’s Biktarvy.
  • A federal judge blocked the Trump administration's rapid deportation policy, ruling that expanding "expedited removal" violates the due process rights of migrants.
  • The technology sector's energy pledge aims to mitigate rising electricity costs for residential consumers while supporting a projected $500 billion infrastructure build-out.

Big Tech Agrees to Fund AI Energy Infrastructure

Amazon (AMZN), Alphabet (GOOGL), and Oracle (ORCL) are set to sign a landmark agreement with the White House to self-fund the massive energy requirements of the artificial intelligence boom. According to reports citing White House officials, these companies—along with Meta (META) and Microsoft (MSFT)—will pledge to cover 100% of the costs for new power generation and grid upgrades.

This voluntary commitment is designed to ensure that the financial burden of scaling AI infrastructure does not fall on American households through increased utility rates. The initiative comes as the administration seeks to facilitate a "golden age" of technological dominance while managing the environmental and economic impact of data centers that require massive amounts of electricity and water.

Merck Announces Positive Phase 3 HIV Trial Results

Merck (MRK) released pivotal Phase 3 data for its investigational once-daily HIV-1 treatment, a combination of Doravirine and Islatravir (DOR/ISL). The results, presented at the CROI 2026 conference, confirmed that the two-drug regimen is non-inferior to Gilead Sciences (GILD)' blockbuster three-drug therapy, Biktarvy.

The study met its primary efficacy endpoint at 48 weeks, with 95.6% of participants on the Merck regimen maintaining viral suppression. Market analysts suggest these results strengthen Merck's position in the competitive HIV market, especially as the company nears its April 28, 2026, FDA PDUFA action date.

Federal Judge Blocks Trump Deportation Policy

U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb issued a ruling blocking a key pillar of the Trump administration's immigration agenda: the rapid deportation of migrants to third countries. The judge barred the use of "expedited removal" for migrants who entered the country legally under parole or those who have established residency, citing Fifth Amendment due process protections.

The ruling represents a significant legal hurdle for the administration’s goal of executing 1 million deportations per year. Legal experts anticipate the Department of Justice will appeal the decision, as the administration argues that the executive branch has broad authority to secure the border and remove non-citizens without lengthy court hearings.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. We are not financial professionals. The authors and/or site operators may hold positions in the companies or assets mentioned. Always do your own research before making financial decisions.
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