Nvidia commits $40B to AI equity investments in 2026

In early 2026, Nvidia has poured more than $40 billion into equity transactions involving AI firms, as reported by CNBC. A significant portion of this investment is attributed to a $30 billion stake in OpenAI. Additionally, the chip manufacturer revealed seven multi-billion dollar commitments to publicly listed companies, including up to $3.2 billion in Corning, a glass manufacturer, and as much as $2.1 billion in IREN, a data center operator. In 2025, Nvidia engaged in 67 venture investments in AI startups, and in 2026, it has already taken part in around two dozen funding rounds for private startups, according to FactSet. Critics contend that these investments are self-referential, as Nvidia funds its own clients. Analyst Matthew Bryson from Wedbush Securities remarked that while these deals reflect a "circular investment theme," they could potentially help Nvidia establish a "competitive moat" if they succeed.