Corning and NVIDIA partner to create 3,000 new US manufacturing jobs
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Before Henry Ford introduced the Model T, before the Wright brothers took to the skies, and before the Statue of Liberty welcomed millions to America’s shores, Corning was already charting a course of innovation that continues today.
Corning, known to many Americans for its glassware that has been a fixture in kitchens for generations, has also spent decades developing technologies that have quietly transformed the modern world. From the glass used in Thomas Edison’s light bulbs to the durable screens that protect billions of smartphones.
Nearly 175 years after its founding, Corning is once again helping shape the technological revolution. As demand for AI infrastructure grows, the New York-based manufacturer is ramping up production of optical fiber, the backbone of high-speed networks that power AI.
The company is also partnering with NVIDIA, the chipmaker at the center of the AI boom, to create 3,000 jobs in two states.
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For decades, Corning has been at the forefront of fiber optic innovation, developing technologies that enable faster, more reliable communications. (Courtesy of Corning)
At a time when many Americans are worried that artificial intelligence will replace human workers, Corning Chairman, CEO and President Wendell Weeks says the opposite is happening at one of the nation’s oldest manufacturers.
“AI is a huge job creator, and it’s a huge manufacturing job creator,” Weeks told Fox News Digital.
He said the AI boom has increased demand for Corning’s optical fiber, fueling the company’s fastest period of growth in nearly two centuries.
“As a 175-year-old company, we are experiencing our fastest growth period,” Weeks said. “We will likely double our size in the coming years, and almost all of our new hires will be from the advanced manufacturing sector, a significant portion of whom will be here in America.”
This growth is already taking shape in Corning’s factories.
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A Corning employee handles optical fiber as part of the manufacturing process that supports broadband and telecommunications infrastructure. (Courtesy of Corning)
“We’re on the front lines as the world evolves and tells us what it needs,” Emily Capek, chief planning officer for Corning’s Wilmington, North Carolina facility, told Fox News Digital.
He said employees have seen firsthand how demand for AI platforms is driving the need for Corning products.
“Right now the world needs our glass optical fiber to support the AI demand we are seeing,” Capek said. “It’s a great feeling on the factory floor.”
His comments reflect a much broader trend. While much of the attention on AI has focused on chipmakers and software developers, companies like Corning are providing the glass technology that connects AI systems and supports the industry’s rapid growth. This investment is already translating into opening new US factories and creating jobs for Americans.
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A Corning technician examines the optical fiber before moving on to the next stage of production. (Courtesy of Corning)
Earlier this year, NVIDIA partnered with Corning to build three advanced optical manufacturing facilities in North Carolina and Texas. Corning is expected to create more than 3,000 jobs in both states while increasing its U.S. optical manufacturing capacity tenfold.
Weeks, who has worked with innovators such as Apple co-founder Steve Jobs throughout his career, said he is proud to now partner with NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang as he helps build the infrastructure that powers Corning’s AI revolution.
While companies like NVIDIA have become synonymous with AI, Weeks said many people overlook the role optical fiber plays in connecting AI systems.
“The common story is that AI is powered by chips, but actually those chips are connected by glass,” Weeks said.
The boom in artificial intelligence production isn’t just fueling the growth of established American companies like Corning. It also attracts foreign investment into U.S. manufacturing. Wistron, a Taiwan-based electronics manufacturer, is establishing AI supercomputer manufacturing operations in Texas for NVIDIA and bringing advanced manufacturing jobs to the state.
“Building in America is essential for speed, durability and strategic advantage,” Wistron Chairman Simon Lin told Fox News Digital.
“Texas offers the talent, industrial strength and strategic position to help power next-generation AI infrastructure while creating resilient, high-value jobs at scale for the local workforce,” he added.
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As America celebrates 250 years of independence, Weeks said the country’s next chapter of innovation will depend not only on groundbreaking ideas but also on making them at home.
“The tools are changing, but the approach is not,” Weeks said.
