Nvidia commits $6.5B across five photonics companies to lock up laser supply for AI data centers through 2027

Nvidia has deployed $6.5 billion across Coherent, Lumentum, Marvell, Corning, and Ayar Labs since March 2026 to convert AI data center interconnects from copper to optical, with purchase commitments to Coherent and Lumentum large enough to crowd rivals to the back of the global supply queue through 2027. The move signals that controlling the photonics supply chain — not just chip design — is now the chokepoint for AI infrastructure buildout, with AMD and MediaTek's co-investment in Ayar Labs the only comparable counter-move at a fraction of the scale.

Source: thenextweb.com ↗