South Korea's artificial intelligence industry is bracing for tighter regulation following the implementation of the AI Basic Act, particularly provisions aimed at protecting personal rights. The manufacturing AI segment, however, is widely viewed as gaining a foothold for growth, as its data characteristics, lighter regulatory exposure, and clearer legal grounds for government support are expected to work in its favor.
Rising memory prices and persistent supply tightness are prompting PC brands to pull forward notebook orders, disrupting traditional seasonal patterns and keeping shipments elevated through the first quarter of 2026, supply-chain executives said.
India and the EU have finalized negotiations on a landmark free trade agreement (FTA), a move hailed as historic by both sides as they navigate strained relations with the US and global trade volatility, Reuters reported on January 26, 2026. The pact, expected to be announced on January 27, 2026, at the India-EU Summit in New Delhi, opens the door for free trade of goods between India and the 27-nation EU bloc, which together represent roughly a quarter of the world's GDP and a market of 2 billion consumers.
Microsoft introduced Maia 200 on January 27, 2026, its latest in-house AI accelerator, as part of a broader effort to optimize cloud infrastructure for inference-heavy workloads. Analysts see the move as aimed at lowering costs, reducing reliance on external chip suppliers, and strengthening control over Azure's AI hardware stack.
After navigating pandemic tailwinds, US-China conflicts, and tariffs under US President Donald Trump, the global semiconductor and electronics industries are emerging from inventory adjustments and price bottoms starting in 2025. While China's electronics sector has yet to fully recover, AI infrastructure, high-performance computing (HPC), automotive, and industrial control applications are driving a new AI-led pricing cycle across components and semiconductor supply chains.
Nvidia and cloud computing firm CoreWeave have announced an expanded partnership to build more than 5 gigawatts of AI "factories" by 2030, aiming to support the rapid growth of artificial intelligence workloads worldwide. As part of the deal, Nvidia invested US$2 billion in CoreWeave Class A common stock at US$87.20 per share, reflecting confidence in CoreWeave's team, strategy, and cloud platform built on Nvidia technology.
Sanmina announced a robust start to fiscal year 2026, reporting a 59% year-over-year increase in revenue for its first quarter ended December 27, 2025. The company's performance was significantly bolstered by the integration of ZT Systems and a surge in demand across the communications networks, cloud, and AI infrastructure end markets. Management expressed high confidence in the company's trajectory, aiming to double total revenue over the next two years primarily through massive opportunities in the artificial intelligence sector.
Amazon has published its "2026 Global Consumer Trends Report," revealing significant shifts in consumer demand across the US, Europe, and Japan. The report identifies artificial intelligence (AI) as a pivotal driver of growth and innovation across consumer electronics, household goods, consumer products, and fashion sectors.
Microsoft officially introduced its second-generation AI accelerator, Maia 200, on January 27, marking its continued efforts in chip development since 2019. The new chip emphasizes improved inference performance and is produced with TSMC's advanced 3nm process technology.
Taiwan's electricity demand is entering a new phase of sustained growth, driven by AI, semiconductors, and high-tech manufacturing. While the government accelerates grid resilience efforts, global shortages of critical power equipment—especially gas turbines and transformers—are inflating costs, delaying projects, and reshaping how the island plans its power future.
Artificial intelligence applications have entered the era of Physical AI. While the robotics industry has evolved over many years, humanoid robots remain at an early stage, largely because supply chain structures and technical standards have yet to be fully established. Against this backdrop, Pan-International's recent acquisition of Belgium-based Magnax represents more than a simple capacity expansion or near-term revenue boost.
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