TSMC chairman C.C. Wei revealed that the "richest guy in the world"—widely believed to be Tesla CEO Elon Musk—shared his focus on developing multifunctional robots over automobiles. Musk raised concerns about chip shortages, but Wei assured him that with sufficient funding, chips would be readily available.
Wei highlighted Taiwan's strengths in IC design, manufacturing, packaging, and data centers, positioning the island as a key player in AI and robotics. Wei stated that over recent discussions with clients, AI applications have become a consistent focus.
Wei emphasized Taiwan's capability to produce multifunctional robots, citing advancements in precision machinery and software design applicable to robots and drones. At TSMC, AI adoption has already optimized water and energy efficiency, boosting annual profits significantly.
Musk reportedly believes multifunctional robots represent the next big technological leap. Meanwhile, Tesla and Nvidia remain central players in the humanoid robotics landscape.
President Ching-te Lai underscored Taiwan's commitment to technology leadership, noting the central government's technology budget will reach NT$196.5 billion (approx. US$6.05 billion) in 2025, up NT$7.7 billion from 2024. Lai said the budget growth reflects Taiwan's ambition to become a global tech powerhouse.
Goldman Sachs forecasts shipments of humanoid robots will surpass 250,000 units by 2030, as industry speculation swirls around Nvidia's potential plans to establish a humanoid robot supply chain in Taiwan.
