3M: 3M ahead in Dow Jones after an AI partnership with Microsoft

The stock closed up 2.5%, while the Dow Jones ended up about 0.3% at the same time. The Minnesota-based group said in the morning that it has signed an agreement with the technology giant to incorporate its Expanded Beam Optical (EBO) connector into Microsoft's cloud and AI infrastructure, making Microsoft the first hyperscaler to integrate this fiber-optic cabling solution. By relying on an expanded-beam interface rather than the direct physical contact required by traditional connectors, the technology is designed to make fiber connections faster to install, less sensitive to dust and easier to maintain. Data centers built for the AI era This aims to enable Microsoft to reduce its cleaning and inspection needs, while ensuring reliable optical performance in dense, high-volume deployment environments. At the same time, 3M will roll out Microsoft's artificial intelligence technologies and digital tools as part of its internal transformation. The project, which notably covers customer service, finance, sales and marketing, is intended to simplify processes, improve decision-making and boost employee productivity. In its statement, 3M said it plans with Microsoft to deepen their partnership through closer technical collaboration and synergies between their engineering and commercial teams, with both groups already considering joint innovation projects in the data center and device ecosystem, drawing on 3M's expertise in materials science, optical connectivity and manufacturing processes.