What’s Next Wednesday: Rethinking Business Strategy Through AI

• BlackRock and Nvidia Lead $40B AI Data Center Deal

A consortium including Microsoft, xAI, and others is acquiring Aligned Data Centers from Macquarie in a $40 billion deal to build out AI infrastructure across the U.S. and Latin America. 

• WPP Signs $400M Deal with Google to Embed AI in Marketing

  WPP is partnering with Google to integrate tools like Gemini and video generation into its services, aiming for highly personalized campaigns at scale. 

• Goldman Sachs Unveils “OneGS 3.0” for AI-Driven Operational Efficiency

  The bank plans to use AI extensively in client onboarding, reporting, and internal processes, even as it tightens hiring to control costs. 

Strategy Insight: AI Needs to Be Strategic, Not Just Tactical

This week’s developments showcase an important evolution. AI isn’t just about flashy feature, it’s becoming operational backbone. Infrastructure deals like BlackRock/Nvidia’s signal that compute is now strategic. At the same time, WPP’s move illustrates how value comes from embedding AI into client workflows. And Goldman’s “OneGS 3.0” shows that when AI touches operations, the stakes, and potential gains, are real.

If you want to lead, don’t treat AI as a side project. Start with core systems, tie metrics directly to operations, and build toward agents that actually do work, not just inform it.