NEWS YOU CAN’T MISS

Can Malaysia Become the Global AI Data Hub?

In southern Malaysia, the state of Johor is quietly becoming one of the fastest-growing hubs for AI infrastructure in the world. Clay Chandler, Fortune’s Executive Editor for Asia, has a knack for spotting trends before they go mainstream—this one’s no exception.

Here’s what he writes:

Once known for palm oil plantations, the state is now home to a booming data center industry—those massive facilities that power everything from AI to cloud storage.

• Malaysia’s pitch is clear: cheap land, abundant electricity, and full government support. Officials have rolled out tax breaks, streamlined permits, and launched the Green Lane Pathway to fast-track power grid connections for new facilities.

• After ChatGPT’s release, global demand for computing power has exploded.

In 2024 alone, Malaysia attracted over $30 billion in data center investments. 😲

Johor now has over 40 massive data centers up and running or in development. The total power demand from Johor’s data centers is 1,500 megawatts, which is sufficient to supply electricity to more than a million homes.

Chinese companies are reportedly the main customers of data centers in Malaysia and tech giants like Microsoft, Nvidia, and Oracle are moving in too.

Will it all stick—or prove too much, too fast, if AI shifts toward leaner, more efficient systems?

Either way, Malaysia isn’t just catching up—it’s making a serious play to lead.

Announcing My AI Education Webinars 🥳

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Register your interest here and I'll send details for East Coast, West Coast and Asia Pacific times.

See ya! 😎

Live Super-Frugal, Invest, Retire Early? The Trend Taking Over Gen Z

The FIRE movement—Financially Independent, Retire Early—has been picking up steam, especially among young professionals looking to ditch the traditional 9-to-5 and build life on their own terms.

The formula’s simple: live way below your means, invest early, and stack enough savings to retire decades ahead of schedule.

Sounds freeing, right? But it comes with trade-offs—cutting back hard, skipping luxuries, and staying focused on the long game.

Lucy Guo did it. Before co-founding Scale AI, she was deep in FIRE forums, soaking up strategies for building wealth through frugal living. Even as her startup took off, she chose equity over a big salary—betting on future upside.

That bet? Massive win. Her stake is now worth over $1.2 billion. At 30, she’s the youngest self-made woman billionaire—yep, even ahead of Taylor Swift. 🤯

Still, FIRE’s not for everyone. Some prefer a middle path: earn, spend, and save with intention, without sacrificing today for tomorrow. Plus, with the way prices are rising (looking at you, eggs), is it even possible?

And if you think you’re late to the game? Longevity experts say you might live to 130. So yup, there’s still time to explore this ultra-frugal lifestyle.

So—would you go all in on FIRE?