Singapore's sovereign wealth fund, the Government Investment Corporation (GIC), has made significant investments in artificial intelligence startups Anthropic and MiniMax amidst rising concerns about an AI investment bubble. Anthropic recently closed a funding round valuing it at US$35 billion, with GIC as a key backer. At the same time, Chinese AI startup MiniMax saw a strong stock debut on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, also reportedly supported by GIC.
The US White House has formally announced a 25% import tariff on semiconductors under Section 232, while outlining multiple exemption mechanisms that could mitigate the impact on key suppliers. Against this backdrop, a high-level Taiwanese delegation is in Washington for a new round of trade negotiations aimed at safeguarding Taiwan's semiconductor sector and its role in the global, AI-driven supply chain.
Demand for high-performance compute and storage for AI training and inference continues to climb. Phison has partnered with AI infrastructure management software provider Infinitix to integrate its aiDAPTIV+ intelligent storage technology with Infinitix's AI-Stack platform, delivering an enterprise-grade AI training and inference solution that unifies hardware and software.
Honlynn, a subsidiary of Abico Group, will be listed on the Taipei Exchange's Emerging Stock Board on January 16, 2026, marking a strategic inflection point as the company pivots from a traditional office equipment distributor toward an integrated provider of cloud, cybersecurity, and AI-driven solutions, with international expansion firmly in sight.
Unlike previous CES editions that focused on full humanoid robot systems, CES 2026 highlighted the standalone importance of dexterous hands. As the core interface for human–machine interaction, dexterous hands set the ceiling for robotic performance and represent the "last mile" in humanoid robot capability.
The long-discussed Taiwan-US tariff negotiations have finally concluded, agreeing on US$500 billion investment and reciprocal tariffs aligned with those of the EU, Japan, and South Korea without stacking. These terms match disclosures from US sources.
Quanta Computer Executive Vice President and Quanta Cloud Technology President Mike Yang said on January 15 that the company's AI business is expected to deliver at least triple-digit percentage growth in 2026. He added that capital spending is likely to be revised higher, with most of the additional investment planned for the US and a portion allocated to Thailand.
Following the US announcement of reciprocal tariffs in 2025, Taiwanese electronic manufacturing services (EMS) companies operating server assembly plants in Mexico are adjusting their supply chains. They are increasingly sourcing components from ASEAN countries. This shift comes amid growing interest in assembling ASIC servers for AI applications in the region.
The rapid expansion of data centers in the US is placing significant strain on the electric grid, prompting grid operators in multiple states to propose temporary power outages for data centers during peak demand. The move, aimed at managing limited capacity, has met strong opposition from the technology sector and industry groups.
While CES 2025 focused on robots' mobility, humanoid robots at the 2026 event displayed impressive improvements. They showed off folding paper pinwheels, folding clothes, playing ping-pong, and performing four-hand piano duets. This innovation depends on dexterous hand technology, the determining factor for whether robots can be commercialized. The number of exhibitors specializing in dexterous hands has noticeably increased this year, revealing three clear trends.
According to Business Insider, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and founder of xAI, recently highlighted China's dominant position in AI computing power during a podcast, warning that the country will far surpass others globally in supporting AI operations.
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