The AI boom is creating unexpected winners in traditional industries. Corning, a 175-year-old glass manufacturer, saw its shares jump 12% after Nvidia announced a $500 million investment to expand fiber optics production. The deal comes as investors increasingly focus on suppliers critical to AI infrastructure rather than just the tech giants developing the technology. This diversification reflects the deepening supply chain requirements of artificial intelligence systems.

Corning's fiber optic cables have become the preferred connectors for hyperscalers like Meta, which signed a multiyear deal worth up to $6 billion. The turnaround marks a dramatic reversal for a product that once lost money for two decades. This shift highlights how companies with specialized manufacturing capabilities are positioned to profit from the expanding data center ecosystem that powers AI applications.

Similarly, Caterpillar has benefited from increased demand for large power-generation equipment used in data centers, reporting higher profits and sales last quarter.