NVIDIA has significantly ramped up its investment in artificial intelligence, committing over $40 billion to AI-related equity transactions in the first few months of 2026. This includes a notable $3 billion investment in OpenAI, $3.2 billion in glass substrate manufacturer Corning, and approximately $2.1 billion in data center operator IREN. These investments highlight NVIDIA's strategy to expand beyond computing chips into foundational materials and infrastructure development. The company has announced seven billion-dollar investments in public companies this year and participated in about 24 private funding rounds. This aggressive investment approach aims to transform partners into stakeholders, positioning NVIDIA as a dominant force in the AI industry chain. However, this strategy has sparked controversy, with some analysts warning of potential "circular trading" risks due to investments in companies that are also NVIDIA's customers.