In a dramatic shift from recent investor anxiety, global stocks have started rebounding strongly after enduring a wave of volatility driven by tariff hikes and geopolitical uncertainty. Much of the renewed optimism in the market is now being fueled by a potential thaw in global trade tensions and a resurgent interest in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure investment.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite, which had fallen as much as 24% from recent highs due to market-wide corrections, is now showing signs of recovery. Technology companies—particularly those with exposure to AI development—are emerging as key players in this rebound.
Among the standout beneficiaries are Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), Dell Technologies (NYSE: DELL), and a lesser-known but intriguing AI-linked company, CuriosityStream (NASDAQ: CURI). Each is positioned to gain significantly as investment in AI infrastructure ramps up.
A Shift in U.S. Tariff Policy Sparks Optimism
One of the driving forces behind this rebound is a softening stance from U.S. policymakers. Former President Donald Trump recently announced a significant rollback of several trade tariffs that had earlier raised concerns among investors.
Most notably, tariffs on Chinese goods have been reduced from a staggering 145% to 30%. This reduction will be in effect for a 90-day period while the U.S. and China engage in new trade negotiations. The decision was widely interpreted as a conciliatory gesture intended to restore investor confidence and encourage economic cooperation between the world’s two largest economies.
For businesses with major global supply chains and those investing heavily in AI development, this easing of trade restrictions could result in more stable market conditions and a greater willingness to commit capital toward long-term projects.
Big Tech Reaffirms Commitment to AI Spending
Amid the changing geopolitical landscape, several leading technology firms have reiterated their intention to increase AI-related spending in 2025. Among the most notable voices is Jonathan Gray, president and COO of private equity powerhouse Blackstone.
In a recent interview with CNBC, Gray expressed a bullish outlook on data center expansion, saying, “I think this trend is powerful. I think it will continue.” He emphasized that Blackstone, with investments across a range of tech companies, sees “a ton of demand” for AI infrastructure and data centers.
This sentiment echoes growing confidence across the tech industry that AI is not just a passing trend but a long-term shift that will transform virtually every sector.
Nvidia’s Massive Order from Saudi Arabia Underscores Long-Term Potential
Leading the pack in AI hardware is Nvidia, a company whose graphics processing units (GPUs) and AI software stacks have become foundational to AI data center development globally.
In a major development, Nvidia announced that it has secured a groundbreaking deal with Humain, a newly launched AI firm based in Saudi Arabia. Owned by the Kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund, Humain has committed to purchasing 18,000 units of Nvidia’s latest Blackwell chips, along with supporting networking systems and Nvidia’s Omniverse cloud platform.
This massive order is part of Phase 1 in the development of a 500-megawatt AI data center in Saudi Arabia. Over the next five years, the project is expected to deploy hundreds of thousands of Nvidia GPUs, representing one of the most ambitious AI infrastructure projects outside the U.S.
This partnership not only strengthens Nvidia’s revenue visibility but also highlights its role as a strategic enabler in the global race for AI dominance.
Dell Technologies Rides AI Server Boom
Another major winner in the AI spending surge is Dell Technologies. While best known for its traditional hardware and PC business, Dell has quietly emerged as a top-tier provider of AI-optimized servers.
In its latest earnings report, Dell revealed that AI server shipments reached $2.1 billion in the most recent quarter—up from $800 million during the same period last year. That’s a 162.5% year-over-year growth rate, driven by soaring demand from companies building or expanding AI capabilities.
Moreover, Dell’s AI-related order backlog stood at an impressive $4.1 billion as of the end of its fiscal Q4 2025, which concluded on January 31. This backlog is a clear indicator of sustained client interest and future revenue potential.
Beyond AI, Dell continues to reward shareholders. After increasing its annual dividend by 20% in fiscal 2024, the company boosted it again by 18% in fiscal 2025. Even with the stock price rising by over 50% since April, the forward dividend yield remains close to 2%, offering both growth and income appeal.
Investors will be paying close attention to Dell’s upcoming earnings release on May 29, with expectations that management may raise guidance for the second half of 2025 based on continued AI momentum.
CuriosityStream: An AI Dark Horse with a Media Twist
While Nvidia and Dell are recognized tech giants, CuriosityStream is emerging as an unexpected beneficiary of the AI boom. Founded by John Hendricks, the visionary behind The Discovery Channel, CuriosityStream initially focused on delivering high-quality factual streaming content on science, nature, and history.
Now, its massive library of documentary-style content is proving invaluable—not just for educational and entertainment purposes, but for AI training as well.
As developers race to train large language models (LLMs) and other generative AI systems, there’s increasing demand for high-quality, factual, and ethically sourced training data. CuriosityStream’s video, audio, and metadata-rich library has become a sought-after asset in this regard.
Strong Financials Back the Story
CuriosityStream reported its first-ever net profit in the first quarter of 2025, a milestone that marks a turning point for the small-cap company. It ended the quarter with $39 million in cash and equivalents, zero debt, and growing free cash flow.
On the strength of its results, CuriosityStream recently announced another increase in its regular dividend and a special one-time dividend scheduled for June. At a recent share price of $5.62, the company’s forward dividend yield stood at 5.7%, excluding the special payout. Notably, shares have already doubled in the past month as investors catch wind of its evolving AI story.
Management projects 33% year-over-year revenue growth for the upcoming quarter, with adjusted free cash flow expected to grow in tandem—supporting further shareholder returns without compromising reinvestment in the business.
A Second Chance for AI-Driven Gains?
The broader market’s recovery—particularly in technology stocks—is being fueled by the promise of AI. Nvidia, Dell Technologies, and CuriosityStream each represent a different angle of that opportunity:
-
Nvidia provides the backbone: high-performance chips and software platforms that power everything from data centers to simulation environments.
-
Dell acts as the infrastructure conduit, delivering AI-optimized servers and computing environments that enable scalable deployment.
-
CuriosityStream offers something rare—content that is not only valuable to viewers but essential for training the next wave of intelligent systems.
For investors who feel like they’ve missed out on past tech booms, these stocks could represent a second chance—particularly if AI adoption continues to accelerate in the second half of 2025.
