DIGITIMES archived news

Asia

Mar

7

2026

Qwen shake-up sparks AI talent war with Z.ai and DeepMind

The long game of Rick Tsai: from TSMC’s darkest hour to the AI era

GCS eyes 200G optical component ramp in 2026 as AI demand grows

SmartGreen's energy tech wins CA$860M Grid Vici deal in Canada

Foxconn and TSMC advanced packaging spur V5 to consider France, US sites

Largan avoids low-margin orders as optical industry enters slow season

TienPin eyes stable growth in 2026 as AI server liquid-cooling cleaning demand heats up

Mar

6

2026

AW 2026: how AX is advancing traditional automation

Apple's US$599 MacBook Neo uses A18 Pro, partly due to supply constraints

February EV registrations reveal new market dynamics in Taiwan

Humanoid robots hit new limits as touch sensing, safety standards slow deployment

Nvidia's LPU push could reshape inference economics as OpenAI signals major buy

AP Memory expands S-SiCap capacity as chipmakers shift toward custom memory

Foxconn eyes double-digit revenue growth in 2026, driven by AI servers and smartphones

Toyota Group's Denso bids up to US$8 billion to acquire Rohm

Samsung reports faster-than-expected 2nm yield gains, aims to triple HBM revenue

MacBook Neo lowers Apple’s entry barrier, challenging budget laptops

Amkor eyes triple revenue growth in 2.5D and HDFO packaging for 2026

Explainer: Why the Pentagon’s move on Anthropic matters for the AI supply chain

Europe's automakers brace for energy and logistics shocks from Middle East tensions

Tata cements EV lead in India as 2026 roadmap targets scale, premium push and charging dominance

Alibaba faces questions over Qwen continuity after sudden departures and structural shift

SuperAlloy targets 2026 growth with semiconductor components and recycled aluminum

Edge AI developer Microip brings AIVO platform to drone systems

Rising silver prices shift solar technology race toward low-silver cells

Samsung bets on higher-priced Galaxy S26 to lift Taiwan revenue

Chicony Power sees strong 1Q26 amid customer inventory replenishment

South Korean Academia: NAND scaling nears ceiling; China seen closing gap

Intel’s EMIB gains traction as CoWoS alternative, reviving IC substrate investment

Column: AI reasoning era reshapes compute demand and signals structural growth for semiconductor supply chains

SK Group chairman reportedly to meet Nvidia CEO at GTC

Samsung Display's 4Q25 profit soars on BOE's KRW500 billion patent payment

Taiwan and US to jointly boost investments in five trusted industries

AW 2026: Wonik Robotics redefines precision dexterity in humanoids

AW 2026: Asus expands B2B with NUC 16 Pro mini PC ahead of IPO

UK space industry warns supply chain strains threaten growth, urges shift from grants to contracts

Commentary: Memory price surge and the Middle East conflict bring severe challenges to Transsion

Hormuz tensions test Taiwan's energy security as government scrambles to shield chip industry

Memory boom lifts Adata to record 4Q profit as inventory hits NT$30B early

Advantech targets 30% global edge AI platform share in new 5-year vision

Unitree, Leju, and AgiBot showcase humanoid robots at AW 2026

Supply-chain firms become front-line partners as tech outpaces testing and standards

Cheng Mei Materials launches semiconductor films with 1Q26 shipments

South Korea launches first physical AI data factory to catch up with China's robot data edge

Amtran hits 9-year revenue high in 2025 with product mix optimization

China chip leaders call for national effort to build 'Chinese ASML'

Notebook shipments buoyed by early-2026 orders amid memory shortages and Apple's MacBook Neo reveal

London stakes its claim as the financial Launchpad of the space age

Alibaba’s Qwen loses its architect, stirring questions about China’s AI drive

Tesla to reportedly double AI6 chip orders, boosting Samsung Texas plant utilization

Foxconn February revenue rises 8% on continued AI server demand

Taiwan refocuses nearly US$9.5bn chip program on drone, robotics and LEO satellite chips

Exclusive Interview: How Space West is engineering the UK's defense identity

US considers global licensing regime for AI chips, tying exports to investment pledges

South Korean OLED materials firm Lordin plans India expansion amid Chinese competition

Former TSMC SVP leads V5 Technologies' AI inspection push in semiconductor packaging

South Korea's approval for Google to export high-precision maps raises competition and security questions

Qisda sees February 2026 revenue decline, expands AI investment across three sectors

Commentary: US-Israel conflict spotlights Grok's prediction vs. Claude's deployment

China's mature process chip investments alarm Taiwan; government urged to audit local firms' China production

Hangzhou signs US$3.7b AI GPU deal: China's multi-vendor chip strategy

Mar

5

2026

State 'Big Fund' backs humanoid robotics with US$362M Galbot investment

How Apple's 'triple $599' strategy could change everything for 2026

Coex welcomes AW 2026, accelerating AI-driven industrial transformation

Memory spot prices surge, straining procurement capital and risking industry cycle instability

Google and Taiwan partner to build world's first nationwide AI health network, shifting AI from audit tool to everyday care

Persistent DRAM shortage to push prices and capacity investments higher, Nanya says

AWS Middle East data centers hit by drones; Nvidia, Google adjust operations

Advantech optimistic about 1Q26 outlook with strong edge AI orders and B/B ratios

Anthropic reportedly reopens Pentagon AI talks after blacklist threat

Huawei reveals 896-channel automotive LiDAR with dual-optical architecture

Elan eyes growth from AI drone modules despite PC market decline

OpenAI is reportedly developing a GitHub alternative, raising questions for the AI industry

Micron unveils 256GB SOCAMM2, scaling AI server memory to 2TB per CPU

Keysight sees rising AI infrastructure test demand, order-to-ship ratio above 1

Excellence Opto's Mexico expansion and AI orders set stage for margin improvement and supply-chain resilience

Memory price surge drives Transcend's profits higher, signaling tighter DDR4 market and potential industry margin gains

Pichai congratulates Google Taiwan's 20th anniversary, eyes AI era milestones

TSMC's 20-year advanced packaging strategy secures Apple and Nvidia ties

UMC honorary vice chairman warns US-Iran war unlikely to end quickly, urges tech sector to build Taiwan value

Jack Ma: AI tech evolves weekly, outpacing society's readiness

AW 2026: Asus outlines edge AI strategy for smart city deployments

Suzuki to acquire Kanadevia's solid-state battery business to strengthen EV technology

Taiwan weighs power controls for AI data centers as compute push tests grid capacity

Sony reportedly retreats to console exclusivity in strategic reset for PlayStation 5

Nvidia's OpenAI bets likely capped, Huang says, with implications for other AI investors

Commentary: HBM hybrid bonding race heats up, but memory makers slow to adopt

PC chip orders pull forward, blurring the 2026 seasonal cycle

China sets 2026 growth target at 4.5–5% as supply chain risks mount

Analysis: AI PCB rivalry across four economies puts Taiwan under pressure

AI's power problem: US tech giants seek grid solutions while China builds energy edge

Apple builds US chip supply chain with TSMC and Foxconn

Singapore's small-state strategy offers new insights for Taiwan's tech industry

Intel reportedly reconsidering 18A strategy as CEO signals openness to external foundry customers

Broadcom says move into rack shipments won't dent margins, signals deeper customer deals, and supply confidence

Broadcom-TSMC 3.5D AI chips give ASIC leader an early edge over Nvidia

Samsung DRAM prices reportedly double in 1Q26, jumping from 70% to 100% increase in a month

Broadcom says Tomahawk switches are driving market share as AI networking demand accelerates

Broadcom targets $100bn AI chip revenue by 2027 as hyperscaler demand scales

UK reshapes space policy with £500m push to build a competitive orbital industry

Broadcom says five AI chip partners are ramping, OpenAI slated for 2027

Broadcom posts $19.3B quarter as AI surge drives $22B revenue outlook

Apple’s $599 MacBook Neo tests a new low-cost play in the PC wars

Japanese-led price surge in inductors could reshape mid-to-high-end passive components market and shift share to Taiwanese suppliers

Hanmi Semiconductor strengthens ties with India amid Micron facility launch

GIS eyes mass production of microLED AR glasses in 2H26 amid optical push

Syncmold braces for satellite boom, plans Thailand plant and product launches in 2026–2027

Column: US drone policy reshapes supply chain opportunities for Taiwan

Beyond EMS: Lens Technology ships PCIe 5.0 enterprise SSDs, moves into AI data center storage

Glass fiber shortage hits IC substrates, MGC follows Resonac with 30% CCL price hike

WT Microelectronics sees 2026 growth despite memory price hikes

Egis showcases satellite and drone integration at MWC 2026

Tesla's Grunheide overhaul signals shift to multi-product 'superfactory' with implications for European automakers

Mar

4

2026

Chunghwa Precision Test Tech posts record February revenue despite seasonal dip

AGI and Snapdragon showcase private, app-agnostic AI for devices at MWC 2026

Taipower forecasts over 5GW new power demand by 2030 amid semiconductor and AI data center expansion

Despite memory shortage and price surge extending through 2026, three industries hold strong purchasing power

BMW's Aeon signals shift toward technology-led governance as new CEO takes helm

Rising memory prices push Nanya and Winbond into expansion and record revenues

Chinese fabless AI chipmakers report sharp revenue growth with divergent profitability in 2025

Mitac expands US server capacity, eyes growth in 2026

Primax's shift to automotive, AIoT and robotics could reshape revenues within two years

Catcher to start mass production for new customers in 2Q26, full-year revenue contribution expected to reach double digits

BYD sales surpass Tesla in 20 countries with vertical integration and local production

Acter Group posts 37% revenue growth in 2025 on Taiwan project surge

MediaTek and Starlink showcase satellite emergency alerts at MWC 2026

AMD targets AI infrastructure boom with MI450 ramp and hyperscaler deals

Samsung expands AI chip push with Pyeongtaek P5 and Texas foundry ramp

Human touch beats AI: 99% of top game IP studios reject AI-generated art despite industry boom

Gogoro gains market share in Taiwan with entry-level scooters amid Lunar New Year slump

FitTech seeks enforcement to recover over US$43 million and CNY30 million from Sanan subsidiaries

IPC vendors converge at Embedded World 2026 as edge AI drives high-performance computing demand

TSMC leads foundry price hikes as second-tier firms see profit rebound

Anthropic's federal ban signals a new era of ideological friction between Silicon Valley and Washington

Apacer eyes 2-2.5x memory ASP rise to boost 2026 revenue and profit

Chunghwa Telecom and Nokia deepen strategic partnership at MWC 2026

Space-Comm Expo 2026: In the race for resilient communications, BAE and Babcock move upward

TSMC dominates global foundry rankings while four Chinese players enter top 10

US reverse-engineers Iran's Shahed drone to reshape asymmetric warfare with AI-powered LUCAS swarms

ASML seeks new growth in AI packaging beyond EUV monopoly

Delta Electronics chairman says AI humanoid robots remain immature

Nvidia's multi-year deals with Lumentum and Coherent could accelerate silicon photonics commercialization

AblePrint Technology offsets forex losses with strong equipment shipments, maintains 2025 profit

Taiwan eyes advanced packaging as panel makers' transformation edge

Taiwan fortifies emergency energy defenses as Middle East tensions disrupt LNG supply

Sinbon sees modest February revenue decline, cites Lunar New Year working days as a drag on monthly sales

Taiwan rebuts Trump's 'chip theft' claims as semiconductor tensions rise

Samsung launches 'Doubao phone' rival as Apple embraces Gemini AI agents

TSMC Alumni Network reportedly expands with million-dollar salary entry threshold

Taiwan lacks autonomous command system for drone swarm tactics

Meta reportedly forms applied AI engineering unit to accelerate superintelligence push

Commentary: Nvidia, MediaTek bankroll optics shift that's reshaping AI data centers

Apple introduces Studio Display refresh and new Studio Display XDR for pro workflows

Intel names Craig Barratt as chair in shift from financial oversight to engineering-led turnaround

Apple unveils M5 Pro and M5 Max with new Fusion Architecture and AI focus

Apple unveils M5-powered MacBook Pro and MacBook Air with higher storage and AI focus

Hisense leads 100-inch TV shipments as Chinese brands surge in 2025

Strait of Hormuz closure threatens China auto exports, triggers 15-25% cost surge

SmartSens raises CIS prices 10-20% for Samsung, Nexchip output on memory cost pressure

uPI Semi warns of tight PMIC supply amid wafer price hikes and AI server demand

Hormuz threat lifts oil risk, adding pressure to memory and consumer electronics

South Korean startups propose charging hubs as AI computing resources, battery-free smart cities

Mar

3

2026

Qualcomm's 6G push signals broader shifts in AI and wireless priorities for devices and industry

Memory pricing shifts to 'hourly' as giants dominate, SMEs fight for survival

Samsung reportedly moves up foundry break-even target to 2026

AI RAN prototypes promise uplink gains as vendors prepare MWC 2026

Middle East conflict unlikely to disrupt Taiwan's short-term oil and gas supply; gas price volatility key to power costs

US Congress and industry clash over new semiconductor security mandates

Rohm outsources back-end processes to India's Suchi Semicon

Compal expects sharper PC slowdown in 1Q26, speeds up shift to non‑PC revenue

Escalation in the Middle East spotlights communication resilience ahead of 2026 UK Space‑Comm Expo

Corning unveils Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3, promising longer device life as Motorola Razr Fold adopts it

Former TSMC executive under investigation for leaking core chip technology

Yageo subsidiary Kemet hikes tantalum capacitor prices for third time as strong AI server demand continues

MediaTek highlights 6G, Wi-Fi 8, and AI chip UCIe tech at MWC 2026

Nasdaq-listed AI chipmaker Blaize bets on India for sovereign edge inference growth

US moves to bar federal purchases of China-linked chips

Perplexity's new agent, 'Computer', bundles 19 models and aims at enterprise decision-making

Taiwan Mobile-AST SpaceMobile tie-up aims to bolster always-on connectivity and disaster resilience

Rapidus to partner with Canon on 2nm image-processing chips, raising supply and investment implications

Samsung, SK Hynix expand hiring as HBM, DRAM demand enters supercycle

Getac eyes defense digitalization amid Middle East conflict escalation

AI data centers redraw the power map: Driving 800V DC and solid-state transformers into the next battleground

Apple reportedly explores Google Cloud to power next-generation Siri

From smartphone plateau to AI expansion: MWC 2026 signals the next connectivity paradigm

Strait of Hormuz threat tests South Korea's memory recovery

Commentary: Merz at Unitree as China's humanoid robotics push unsettles Europe

TSMC to lead SiPh equipment and materials localization in Taiwan

Taiwan ranks second in Global Entrepreneurship Monitor index, driven by government support and risk sharing

MediaTek invests US$90M in SiPh startup Ayar Labs

DRAM prices to surge up to 70% in 2Q26; Nvidia GTC 2026 ignites AI memory rally

Tesla's Optimus push deepens rivalry as Nvidia's ecosystem strategy reshapes global robotics competition

Google leaders say AI race shifts from models to real-world deployment, with implications for jobs and robotics

Samsung expands Galaxy S26 AI features to reshape user experience

Apple’s spring refresh bets on loyalty, not lift

Apple plays defense: can the iPhone 17e and M4 iPad Air unlock reluctant buyers?

Nvidia invests in Lumentum to advance AI optics technology

AI server boom strains tantalum capacitors; MLCC substitution falls short

China hits 140 humanoid robot OEMs, 330 models; supply chain ramps

FIT unveils 102.4T CPO external laser solution for AI data centers at OFC 2026

Holtek and Generalplus expand edge AI to smart appliances and glasses

South Korea, Singapore launch FTA upgrade focused on AI, SMR nuclear, space, and quantum

UK space leaders join global industry figures at Space-Comm Expo

Ablecom ABLERACK targets high-density AI deployments with seismic-tested L11 cabinet

Fulltech plans THB3.1 billion Thailand plant to support CCL southward shift

Audi's rebranding experiment backfires as Germany's big-three automakers plunge into China's price wars

Advantech's special dividend plan signals management confidence in long-term outlook

AI agents drive market role reversal, startup accelerator YC says

Mar

2

2026

Taiwan Mobile highlights trends toward 'AI Native' workflows, Open APIs at MWC 2026

Renesas names new India president to accelerate growth amid fierce engineering talent competition

Middle East escalation disrupts AWS data center, Apple retail, and Robotaxi services

AMD deal with Meta puts CPU firm as leading alternative to Nvidia in AI compute

DDI maker FocalTech takes US$41 million impairment hit, doubles down on OLED touch and automotive ICs

Memory price surge spreads to servers; Wiwynn flags sharp post-holiday cost jump

Trade tensions deepen Nvidia and TSMC's strategic grip on AI infrastructure

Airoha eyes strong 2026 growth with optical, Ethernet, and fixed broadband

Military AI ethics conflict persists as Pentagon cuts ties with Anthropic, OpenAI secures classified AI deal

Google signs multibillion-dollar AI chip deal with Meta to escalate Nvidia rivalry

Nvidia confirms liquid cooling as standard, boosting supply chain revenue outlook

Intel Foundry Chief joins Qualcomm; Chandrasekaran takes dual tech and fab role

Indonesia's nickel cut likely to ease Chinese stainless steel price pressure, Walsin says

Analysis: AMD bets on AI surge in 2H26 with OpenAI and Meta ecosystem pact

Huawei takes 8,192-chip Atlas 950 global, escalates AI data center fight with Nvidia

Europe's battery industry faces strategic setback as high costs and technology gaps cede ground to Asian rivals

Hyundai European hubs gain value as EU plans 70% local EV production rule

Hiwin local production positioned as key supplier for South Korea semiconductor and AI-driven equipment upgrades

Rapidus raises US$1.7 billion to support 2nm mass production by 2027

Chinese tech brands push premium devices and ecosystem integration at MWC 2026

Taiwanese electronics firms showcase AI-driven connectivity and 5G infrastructure at MWC 2026

US deploys LUCAS drone in Iran strike, mirroring Iran's Shahed-136 combat entrance

Japan's January PC shipments fall 15.9%, worst in 30 months, snapping 19-month growth streak

Radiant Optoelectronics pursues AR and metalens growth, aims for 2028 breakthrough

Daxin Materials eyes 30% revenue growth in key raw materials by 2026

Softment launches in Taiwan with smart ordering and multilingual payment services for tourist hotspots

Insight: Broadcom delivers 2nm 3.5D AI processor, expanding custom chip push against Nvidia

Commentary: German automotive price war in China threatens used car residual value system

Rare Huawei-ByteDance alliance unveils RRAM AI chip delivering 66x CPU speed at ISSCC 2026

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix reportedly plan large DRAM price increases, deepening supplier advantage for big buyers

Apple Pay eyes India launch, in talks with major local lenders

Rohm integrates TSMC GaN process to scale production and meet AI server demand by 2027

Meta reportedly scraps advanced in-house AI chip, deepens reliance on Nvidia and AMD

Arizona in the black: a milestone for TSMC—and Washington

Commentary: Nvidia sparks silicon photonics race, yet copper still anchors data centers?

iPhone Fold reportedly cuts crease depth to one-quarter of rivals, thanks to Samsung Display OLED breakthrough

Renewed rivalries, accelerated launches of Wi‑Fi 8, 6G visions, and satellite communications solutions will shape MWC outcomes

Weekly news roundup: semiconductor power shifts and AI momentum

Analysis: Europe's stalled gigafactory push threatens battery autonomy

Nvidia and major telecom carriers pledge AI-native, open platforms to guide 6G infrastructure

India roundup: An emerging chip trio in Asia

Insight: Memory shortage tightens grip on smartphone market as prices near tipping point

Google brings Intrinsic in-house to accelerate physical AI development

Nvidia's Vera Rubin platform faces HBM4, cooling, and software hurdles ahead of ramp

TSMC bolsters local equipment supply chain with subsidies and five-year rebate program