CONNECT WITH US
Oct 23
FCC grants Intel a waiver to foreign robot ban to prevent chip disruptions
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted Intel a waiver to its ban on foreign-made mobile robots, which will allow it to update its fleet of autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs). Intel had earlier petitioned the agency for an exemption, saying that not doing so would threaten chip production in the country.
Japanese robot maker FANUC raised its fiscal year 2026 revenue forecast on October 23 as demand for AI and automation strengthened, putting sales on track to surpass JPY1 trillion for the first time. The company also expects operating profit and net profit to reach record highs.
After the GTC Berlin conference, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Silicon Valley technology investor Gavin Baker spoke with Yahoo Finance for about half an hour. Huang confirmed Nvidia GPUs can remain in service for up to eight years and said their high residual value could help unlock financing for AI infrastructure.
Meta Platforms has launched approximately US$35 billion of concurrent underwritten public offerings and plans an approximately US$60 billion at-the-market (ATM) program, as it funds capex it expects to reach US$135 billion to US$145 billion in 2026. The company said the equity raises complement operating cash flow, investment-grade debt, and strategic partnerships, and will further diversify its funding sources.
Nvidia opened GTC 2026 in Berlin on October 21 with a keynote highlighting AI infrastructure, security architecture, and Physical AI, while a Greenpeace protest briefly interrupted proceedings. A robot demonstration also exposed limits in motion control, instruction comprehension, and execution stability as Europe weighs innovation, energy demand, regulation, and competitiveness.
AWS has launched the open-source TorchNeuron tool, allowing developers to port PyTorch artificial intelligence (AI) applications to its custom Trainium chips without rewriting code. Google has followed with TorchTPU, while AMD and Intel are integrating AI software optimizations as chipmakers challenge Nvidia's market advantage built on the CUDA ecosystem.
DRAM price growth has slowed sharply in the fourth quarter of 2026, but severe supply shortages are intensifying as manufacturers continue to restrict shipments. Industry sources expect DRAM supply from leading manufacturers to shrink by 30% to 50% for the next two to three quarters, widening the supply gap in 2027.
This week's coverage highlights shifting technology supply chains and rising demand across foldable smartphones, memory, energy storage, robotics, and AI infrastructure. Apple lifted its iPhone Duo shipment target after strong preorders, while memory makers faced conflicting forecasts over Chinese capacity and sustained AI demand. Taiwan advanced industrial microgrids and saw its first semiconductor strike, as Texas Instruments reported tightening analog supply. Chinese energy storage suppliers reportedly retreated from the US amid reciprocal technology and ownership restrictions.
India's smartphone shipments fell 20% year over year in the third quarter of 2026, reaching a decade low as higher memory costs pushed device prices up. The downturn highlights affordability pressures for consumers and could prompt manufacturers to raise prices, reshape portfolios, and rely on premium segments globally.
Intel has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Classiq, a quantum computing software company, in a move aimed at combining Classiq's quantum algorithm synthesis platform with Intel's silicon-based quantum hardware and semiconductor manufacturing capabilities.
Tata Communications announced on October 26 that it plans to invest US$400-450 million in approximately 10,000 kilometers of long-haul fiber across India, linking data centers and AI hubs as it expands its connectivity business. The network will connect domestic corridors with its global backbone.
The claim that more than half of China's artificial intelligence (AI) computing power is being used to produce micro-dramas has reignited debate in China's technology sector over whether the country is directing too much of its AI computing resources to entertainment content while neglecting productivity applications.