Trump Wants Big Tech to Pay for Power - bloomberg-technology Recap

Podcast: bloomberg-technology

Published: 2026-01-16

Duration: 47 minutes

Guests: Mike Shepherd, Natasha Mascaraine, Zanita Tudor Rover, Andrew Ferguson

Summary

The Trump administration is pushing for tech companies to bear the cost of rising energy prices linked to AI data centers. Meanwhile, AI startup Replit is nearing a major funding round, and the FTC is gearing up for stricter AI regulations and consumer protection measures.

What Happened

President Trump is advocating for a policy that would require tech companies to pay for the increased energy costs driven by AI data centers. The administration plans to have PJAM Interconnection hold an emergency power auction, allowing tech companies to bid on 15-year contracts for new electricity generation, potentially supporting $15 billion in new power plants.

In a significant tech collaboration, the US and Taiwan have agreed to lower tariffs on certain goods and co-invest in expanding semiconductor capacity. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) plans to build four additional plants in Arizona, with a potential investment of $100 billion, emphasizing the growing importance of semiconductor manufacturing in the US.

Replit, an AI coding startup, is close to securing a new funding round that could triple its valuation to $9 billion. The funding, expected to raise $400 million from existing investor Georgian, highlights the increasing value and interest in AI-driven technologies.

The humanoid robot market is projected to reach $200 billion by 2035, according to Barclays. The cost of humanoid robots has significantly decreased from $3 million to $100,000 per unit over the past five years, facilitating their deployment in manufacturing.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), led by Chairman Andrew Ferguson, is scrutinizing 'acquihires' to ensure they comply with pre-merger review laws. The agency is also preparing to enforce the Take Down Act, aimed at protecting individuals from non-consensual intimate images generated by AI.

Additionally, the FTC has been active in returning billions to consumers and enforcing merger laws in industries like healthcare. The commission has also sued Ticketmaster for price inflation, aiming to make event tickets more affordable.

TSMC's CFO asserted that leading-edge technologies will remain in Taiwan, citing practical reasons. Meanwhile, President Trump's proposal to cap credit card interest rates at 10% has generated concern among financial firms, as 80% of the US population accesses credit through credit cards, with $1.2 trillion in debt.

Key Insights

• The Trump administration is pushing for tech companies to pay for increased energy costs from AI data centers by participating in an emergency power auction, potentially supporting $15 billion in new power plants through 15-year electricity generation contracts.
• The US and Taiwan have agreed to lower tariffs and co-invest in semiconductor capacity, with TSMC planning to build four additional plants in Arizona, potentially investing $100 billion to boost US semiconductor manufacturing.
• Replit, an AI coding startup, is nearing a funding round that could triple its valuation to $9 billion, with $400 million expected from investor Georgian, reflecting the growing interest in AI-driven technologies.
• Humanoid robot prices have dropped from $3 million to $100,000 per unit over five years, contributing to a projected market value of $200 billion by 2035, as per Barclays.