175-Year-Old Corning to Double in Size Thanks to AI Boom

While headlines warn about AI replacing workers, one of America's oldest companies is hiring thousands of people because of artificial intelligence.

Corning, the 175-year-old New York manufacturer best known for kitchen glass and smartphone screens, is experiencing its fastest growth period ever. The company supplies the optical fiber that moves data between servers inside AI data centers, and demand is exploding.

CEO Wendell Weeks says the company will likely double in size over the coming years. Nearly all new hires will work in advanced manufacturing, with many jobs staying in America.

The company is partnering with NVIDIA to build three new optical manufacturing facilities in North Carolina and Texas. The project will create more than 3,000 jobs and expand Corning's U.S. optical manufacturing capacity tenfold.

"AI is a huge job creator, and it's a huge manufacturing job creator," Weeks told reporters. His message directly challenges the common narrative that artificial intelligence threatens American workers.

Inside Corning's Wilmington, North Carolina factory, employees are already seeing the impact. Planning supervisor Emily Capek says workers feel energized knowing their products power the technology shaping the future.

"Right now, the world needs our glass optical fiber to support the AI demand we're seeing," Capek said. "It's a great feeling on the factory floor."

The Ripple Effect

Corning's expansion shows how the AI boom reaches far beyond Silicon Valley tech companies. While chipmakers and software developers grab headlines, manufacturers supplying critical infrastructure are experiencing a renaissance.

The optical fiber Corning produces acts as the nervous system of AI data centers. Servers and chips get attention, but glass connections make the whole system work.

This manufacturing revival comes at a crucial time for American workers. At a moment when many fear technology will eliminate middle-class jobs, companies like Corning prove innovation can create opportunity instead.

The data center buildout is creating demand across multiple industries. From construction workers building facilities to factory employees making components, the AI infrastructure boom is putting Americans to work in skilled, well-paying positions.

For a company approaching its 175th birthday, doubling in size represents an extraordinary second act. Corning survived the industrial revolution, two world wars, and countless economic shifts by adapting its glass expertise to meet changing needs.

Now that expertise is powering the next technological revolution, with American workers leading the way.