AI Chips Today - Race For AI Dominance Intensifies With Manhattan II Initiative

In a recent disclosure, former CIA officer Buck Sexton unveiled a strategic initiative termed "Manhattan II," highlighting the U.S. government's efforts to secure a leading position in Artificial Superintelligence (ASI) amidst growing competition with China. This initiative, described as the most significant national project since the original Manhattan Project, aims to counter China's rapid advancements in AI technology. The undertaking involves dismantling previous restrictions on AI research and is set to expand the U.S. semiconductor capacity, develop AI-driven defense systems, and enhance national-scale AI infrastructure. Sexton underscores the urgency of this race, emphasizing the importance of maintaining technological and military superiority.

Elsewhere in the market, First Solar (NasdaqGS:FSLR) was a standout up 14.3% and ending trading at $266.94, not far from its 52-week high. Meanwhile, Monolithic Power Systems (NasdaqGS:MPWR) lagged, down 7.6% to close at $1,005.00.

First Solar is uniquely poised for growth with policy-driven U.S. demand and $18.5 billion in backlogged contracts. Discover the full narrative on how First Solar's strategic positioning could impact your investment decisions.

As a follow-up, have a look at our Market Insights article on AI Chips, where we explored the transformative impact and investment opportunities of AI advancements, highlighting the urgent need to stay informed on the evolving landscape.

Best AI Chip Stocks

• Advanced Micro Devices (NasdaqGS:AMD) settled at $256.12 up 0.5%, hovering around its 52-week high.
• NVIDIA (NasdaqGS:NVDA) ended the day at $202.49 down 0.2%, close to the 52-week high. On Friday, NVIDIA announced strategic collaborations with Hyundai, Samsung, and SK Group to establish AI factories using NVIDIA GPUs, advancing semiconductor and AI technology development.
• Intel (NasdaqGS:INTC) closed at $39.99 down 0.4%. This past week, Intel was in preliminary talks to acquire AI chip startup SambaNova Systems.

Taking Advantage

• Unlock more gems! Our AI Chip Stocks screener has unearthed 74 more companies like TongweiLtd, Lasertec and Lattice Semiconductor for you to explore.
• Want Some Alternatives? Trump's oil boom is here — pipelines are primed to profit. Discover the 22 US stocks riding the wave.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Sources:

• Simply Wall St
• "Former CIA Officer Buck Sexton Pulls Back the Curtain on “Manhattan II”" from Former CIA Officer Buck Sexton on GlobeNewswire (published 01 November 2025)

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