The AI race is expanding from computing power to data transmission, making optical interconnects a critical battleground for next-generation AI infrastructure.

Reports that Meta is considering leasing out idle AI computing capacity have rattled investors. But treating Meta's predicament as a warning sign for the entire AI industry is a classic case of overgeneralization.

China has nine years left to meet its goal of becoming a global science and technology powerhouse by 2035.

As the world enters an AI-centric era, the global race for technological leadership is no longer defined only by who can build the most advanced models. It is increasingly shaped by who can secure compute, deploy infrastructure at scale, reduce energy constraints, and turn research into commercial capability.

As generative AI fuels rapid growth in demand for high-performance computing (HPC), the semiconductor industry is shifting from a process race to a materials race. Geckos chairman Shen Tsung-huan says that as chip manufacturing moves to 2nm and even more advanced nodes, gains in AI computing power are no longer just a chip design issue, but are increasingly constrained by the thermal conductivity and high-frequency signal transmission capabilities of materials.

As generative AI drives rapid growth in high-performance computing (HPC) demand, the semiconductor industry is shifting from process-node competition to materials competition. Geckos chairman Raymond Shen said that once chip manufacturing advances to 2nm and beyond, improvements in AI computing power are no longer just a chip-design issue, but are increasingly constrained by materials' heat dissipation and high-frequency signal transmission capabilities.

Corning has unveiled an early-stage fiber-to-chip connector concept that could reshape optical packaging if it matures, though the company says the technology is still far from commercial use. GlassBridge is aimed at passive alignment in advanced systems, underscoring the convergence of AI infrastructure, photonics, and packaging.

As Moore's Law approaches its physical limits, simply shrinking semiconductor process nodes is no longer the sole path to improving chip performance.

Dutch semiconductor equipment startup Nearfield Instruments has completed a US$380 million Series D funding round, the largest-ever fundraising for a Dutch deep-tech company. The company is now targeting an initial public offering (IPO) in 2028.

The global semiconductor market is entering a historically significant growth phase. According to WSTS's latest June forecast, global semiconductor revenue is projected to grow by nearly 90% in 2026, reaching approximately US$1.5 trillion. Growth is expected to remain exceptionally strong in 2027, with year-on-year expansion of around 27%, pushing total market revenue close to US$1.9 trillion.

Taiwan's chipmakers walked into the 2026 helium supply shock more exposed to Qatar than any other major buyer, sourcing nearly 88% of their rare-gas imports from the Gulf state in 2025, up from 46% four years earlier. With war disrupting the Strait of Hormuz, that concentration leaves fabs vulnerable and the outlook uncertain.

Manhattan is where financial giants gather. By the weekend, the crowds become so dense that near Times Square, even moving through the streets can be difficult. At moments like this, a walk through Central Park becomes the best choice. With its forests, streams, and seemingly natural ecology, and with plane trees, pines, and olive trees arranged in irregular patterns, Central Park truly is the best place for New Yorkers to rest in the heart of the city.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, Samsung Electronics, and SK Hynix have announced the country's largest-ever semiconductor expansion plan, while soaring memory prices have opened a separate fight between Micron and Apple.

China's state media is increasingly framing large-capacity electric vehicle (EV) batteries as a policy issue, not just a market trend. The messaging points to two priorities: reducing fiscal strain from EV incentives and strengthening state control over strategic materials and pricing across the new-energy sector.

A rare gallium nitride (GaN) patent clash dominated the opening day of electronica Shanghai 2026, after China's Innoscience accused Infineon of displaying GaN power products covered by a Chinese court injunction.