MALTA, N.Y. (WCAX) – GlobalFoundries is taking a big step to boost the technology behind artificial intelligence (AI). The chipmaker based in the region signed a new agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce to speed up research on silicon photonics. Silicon photonics is the light-based technology that moves data more efficiently inside AI systems and high-performance data centers. The Commerce Department is expected to award GlobalFoundries $300 million to advance manufacturing aimed at making AI infrastructure faster and more energy-efficient. In a separate deal, the federal government will also receive an equity stake in GlobalFoundries, about 1% of the company, so the public can share in the company’s future growth.