To help the automotive industry navigate emerging trends, DIGITIMES hosted the "AI x EV: Dual-Track Innovation in Mobility" forum on December 12, bringing together representatives from government, academia, research institutions, and industry to analyze the current state and future outlook of the smart vehicle and electric-vehicle sectors. Hung-Ching Yang, executive vice president of China Motor Corporation under the Yulon Group, spoke on behalf of the industry, sharing both opportunities and challenges for Taiwan's automotive ecosystem.
Driven by the rise of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), competition across computing power, data, and applications is intensifying, prompting countries to adjust their technology strategies in a bid to secure a leading position in industrial competition over the next decade.
Meta is reportedly developing a new AI model, code-named "Avocado," slated for release in the spring of 2026.
Qualcomm's acquisition of Ventana Micro Systems signals a clear push to deepen its commitment to RISC-V and accelerate the maturation of the surrounding ecosystem.
Demand for heavy electrical equipment has surged following the launch of the US Stargate Project. Fortune Electric has secured first-phase transformer orders, and together with demand from other customers, its AI data center-related orders have now exceeded NT$120 billion (US$3.8 billion). As the global transformer market remains undersupplied, Fortune Electric said current lead times are controlled at around 2.5 to 3 years, though some customers are still seeking delivery within two years. Tight delivery schedules have yet to ease in the near term.
The rapid surge in single-rack power for AI servers is putting immense pressure on data center electricity demands, making high-voltage direct current (HVDC) a key technology focus. STMicroelectronics (ST) has proposed a three-stage voltage conversion solution for servers and announced a collaboration with Nvidia to develop a 12kW DC-DC converter stepping down from 800V to 50V.
Longwell Technology has successfully penetrated the AI data center supply chain, with related revenues now accounting for over 36% of overall sales, driven by cloud service providers' (CSPs) surging capital expenditures to upgrade high-power servers and rack power distribution systems amid explosive AI demand growth.
STMicroelectronics (STMicro) held its annual Techday event in Taipei on December 12, showcasing solutions across a wide range of applications. The event focused on four main themes: smart mobility, power and energy, edge AI, and robotics. Over 30 application solutions were displayed, covering AI server power and cooling, EV technologies, MEMS and imaging, edge AI platforms, smart building and industrial control systems, secure connectivity, and high-speed wireless communication. Humanoid robots are currently a key focus area for STMicro, and the company is aiming to establish early positioning to capture future opportunities.
As global artificial intelligence (AI) computing demand surges from the megawatt (MW) to gigawatt (GW) scale, traditional data centers are facing cooling and energy challenges. This shift is driving the industry from air cooling technology to high-efficiency liquid cooling, with "waste heat" increasingly seen as a key asset for the next wave of the energy revolution.
Bloomberg, citing unnamed sources, reported that Intel Corp. is in advanced discussions to acquire artificial intelligence chip startup SambaNova Systems Inc. for about US$1.6 billion including debt, a move that could significantly bolster Intel's AI product portfolio while reigniting scrutiny over governance and potential conflicts of interest linked to its chief executive.
Phihong Technology is accelerating its Transformation 2.0 strategy by concentrating on high-power, high-margin niche products such as AI server power supplies and low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite power units. The power supply maker is currently reducing reliance on large-volume, low-margin orders like those for mobile phones to improve profitability, President Vincent Lin stated during the company's December 10, 2025 earnings call.
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