On October 2, Meta announced the acquisition of US-based IC design company Rivos, which develops high-performance computing chips and solutions based on the RISC-V architecture. Interestingly, at the beginning of 2025, Meta also set its sights on South Korean chip startup FuriosaAI, a company gaining attention for its unique Tensor Contraction Processor (TCP) chip architecture and dedicated to enhancing AI performance through the efficiency of TCP design.
Recent market developments—such as Nvidia's capital infusion into Intel and AMD's approach to Intel for packaging deals—have yet to rock the current PC processor market. But they're already expanding the contours of what's possible.
Since early 2025, rising costs of precious metals such as gold and silver have triggered price increase signals in the supply chain for key materials like substrates and leadframes used in the IC packaging industry. Market watchers expect these cost pressures to shift downstream to packaging companies, potentially impacting customer pricing.
As Nvidia dominates headlines in the generative AI era, CEO Jensen Huang has continued to draw attention with each and every move. During the All-In Summit 2025 in September, Arm Holdings CEO Rene Haas reflected on his seven years working on computing products at Nvidia and highlighted Huang's decisive leadership that reshaped the company's trajectory.
A US proposal to evenly split advanced semiconductor production between Taiwan and the United States has sparked deep concern in the industry and triggered a political debate in Taipei, as questions arise over cost, national security, and the future of global supply chains.
Indian fabless semiconductor startup Silizium Circuits has completed the end-to-end design of a GaAs-based 5G low-noise amplifier (LNA), or front-end module (FEM), marking a step forward in the country's push for self-reliance in analog and RF chip design.
AMD has entered into a multi-year, multi-generation AI chip supply agreement with OpenAI that could generate the chipmaker hundreds of billions of dollars in revenue. The deal also grants OpenAI the right to acquire about a 10% equity stake in AMD through stock warrants tied to AI GPU deployment milestones and AMD's stock performance.
Meta is reportedly preparing to acquire Rivos, a US-based IC design firm specializing in high-performance computing solutions built on the RISC-V architecture. The move underscores the social media giant's intent to expand its in-house chip design team, a strategy that rivals Google and Amazon Web Services (AWS) have already embraced.
Acer chairman and CEO Jason Chen stated that if people focus on how Nvidia's investment in Intel impacts TSMC, they are missing the point. For PC brands, the more pressing concern is the new variables this move introduces. With potentially more than two x86 CPU suppliers and multiple generations of processors in play, future procurement and inventory management for PC brands will become significantly more complex.
South Korean AI semiconductor startup Mobilint is aggressively expanding its presence in the global edge AI computing market. The company recently signed a strategic cooperation memorandum of understanding with Taiwan's Aetina Corporation, a subsidiary of Innodisk specializing in edge AI solutions, while simultaneously advancing supply negotiations with Amazon Web Services and other international partners to develop sales channels in the US.
Qualcomm announced a legal victory this week in its patent dispute with Arm. The US District Court for Delaware dismissed Arm's claims against Qualcomm and Nuvia regarding licensing agreements and barred Arm from appealing.
United Microelectronics Corp. (UMC) recently issued a notice to its suppliers demanding a 15% price reduction, signaling heightened cost pressures within the semiconductor supply chain. While some analysts interpret this as a strategic negotiation move rather than a firm mandate, the demand underscores UMC's urgent efforts to lower production costs amid challenging market conditions.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, once praised by President Trump as a patriot, is facing fierce backlash from MAGA hardliners after openly criticizing America's China hawks in a candid podcast interview. Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon labeled Huang a "CCP agent" and called for his arrest.
Taiwan is set to surpass South Korea in per capita GDP a year ahead of schedule, reaching the US$40,000 target by 2026. This is fueled by record-breaking exports, robust semiconductor and AI industries, and proactive energy and infrastructure initiatives. Despite global uncertainties, the island's economy demonstrates remarkable resilience and strategic foresight.
Hyundai Mobis has announced plans to begin mass production of automotive semiconductors developed in collaboration with over 20 domestic companies and research institutes starting in 2026, aiming to launch more than 10 products within two to three years. The move marks the first time the South Korean auto parts giant has publicly shared concrete development milestones and timelines for such a wide-ranging joint effort.
Qualcomm's adoption of Arm's v9 architecture represents a strategic shift that balances AI capabilities, legal considerations, and competitive pressures while diversifying its technological foundation.
Cyient Semiconductors, spun off from the Cyient group earlier in 2025, has unveiled a three- to five-year roadmap emphasizing custom ASICs and intelligent power solutions for data centers and industrial applications. The company also signaled deeper engagement with Taiwan's semiconductor ecosystem and plans to expand its local team once revenue milestones are achieved.
Meng Wanzhou, Huawei's vice chairperson and CFO, will assume the role of rotating chairperson from October 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, according to Huawei's official website. She will oversee the company's board of directors and executive committee during this period, continuing the practice of six-month leadership rotations.
Arm announced on October 1 that Michael H. Wong has been appointed as the new president of Arm Taiwan, effective immediately. Wong will lead the Taiwan sales team to deepen collaboration with the local tech industry and support AI innovation in Taiwan's semiconductor sector.
Egis Technology Group's silicon intellectual property (IP) vendor InPsytech announced on October 1 that it has appointed industry veteran David Hsu—Arm's former FAE director—as its new chief operating officer. The company also named former Openedges Technology vice president Kyle Weng as its deputy general manager.
Intel is reportedly in early talks to manufacture chips for rival AMD, Semafor revealed, a move that could boost confidence in Intel's struggling foundry business. While AMD remains reliant on TSMC for advanced products, any deal, even a limited one, would signal a notable shift in industry dynamics and Washington's semiconductor strategy.
MediaTek is encountering significant hurdles in its ASIC business, as uncertainty surrounds Meta's upcoming orders and a major Google contract faces repeated postponements. Industry sources indicate intensifying rivalry and deferred agreements that could undermine MediaTek's revenue projections for 2026 and 2027, despite previous optimism for strong growth beyond 2026.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman arrived in South Korea on October 1 to advance cooperation agreements with leading conglomerates SK Group and Samsung. His visit included meetings with SK chairman Chey Tae-won and Samsung chairman Lee Jae-yong, underscoring the country's growing role in artificial intelligence development.
US AI chip startup Cerebras Systems has completed a US$1.1 billion Series G funding round, elevating its valuation to US$8.1 billion. The funding round saw participation from the venture capital fund 1789 Capital, co-founded by Donald Trump Jr., son of former US President Donald Trump.
