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Wednesday 6 November 2024
To split or not to split: Intel's dilemma has no clear-cut solution
Intel is grappling with an operational crisis as its IDM 2.0 transformation plan has yet to yield results, casting doubt on when its foundry business might finally become profitable. This raises the question of whether Intel should consider abandoning its IDM model and separating its product design and manufacturing divisions—a move with both potential advantages and drawbacks. Industry leaders, including former board members, are offering advice in hopes of helping Intel find a viable path forward. However, the conflicting nature of their advice highlights the complexity of the company's dilemma
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Wednesday 11 February 2026
Why SMIC’s full fabs don’t guarantee fatter profits
China's largest contract chipmaker Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) reported a resilient fourth quarter and record full-year results for 2025, supported by accelerating domestic chip localization and sustained demand for mature-node capacity
Wednesday 11 February 2026
Analysis: Big tech's AI buildout spending spree set to reshape global supply chains
America's largest technology companies — including Google, Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft — have begun disclosing their capital spending plans for 2026. The numbers reveal an investment surge driven by the rapid expansion of generative artificial intelligence. Combined capital expenditures by the group are now estimated to reach between US$600 billion and US$630 billion. This far exceeds market expectations and rivals the annual gross domestic product of many mid-sized nations
Wednesday 11 February 2026
Commentary: Foreign EDA playbook frays as China's domestic camp mobilizes
Qun Ge, global senior vice president and chairman and president of Synopsys China, is set to depart. The move appears routine. But it points to deeper structural shifts in the global EDA industry's China market
Tuesday 10 February 2026
Analysis: Alphabet's century bond reveals who matters in Asia's AI money trail
Alphabet Inc. has executed a financial maneuver that fundamentally alters the landscape of the AI arms race
Tuesday 10 February 2026
Commentary: From retreat to return, SMIC's long road back to advanced packaging
China-based foundry SMIC will release fourth-quarter 2025 results on February 10 and hold its first 2026 investor briefing on February 11. Market focus is expected to center on its advanced packaging push, which is shifting from a supporting function toward a core manufacturing strategy
Tuesday 10 February 2026
Analysis: How Singapore turns talent, R&D into an optics edge
Despite possessing a land area roughly one-fiftieth the size of Taiwan, Singapore has established itself as one of the most closely watched economies and supply chain hubs in Asia. This ascent is the result of a long-term strategy to internationalize its education system and labor force
Saturday 7 February 2026
Analysis: AI demand spillover lifts 2026 general-purpose server shipments 10%
Rising AI computing demand is lifting shipments of general-purpose servers, positioning them as a key growth driver for the server supply chain in 2026. Supply chain sources said AI servers will continue to grow faster, but expanding AI inference workloads are increasingly translating into stronger demand for conventional server systems
Friday 6 February 2026
Commentary: Why TSMC is upgrading Japan's Kumamoto fab from 6nm to 3nm
TSMC has made a significant change in its process plan for the Kumamoto second fab, confirming an upgrade from the initially planned 6/7nm node to 3nm. This facility will become Japan's first 3nm wafer fab, while Japan-backed Rapidus advances toward 2nm development
Thursday 5 February 2026
Commentary: How TSMC's C.C. Wei solidifies global alliances from Washington to Tokyo
In the high-stakes theater of global chipmaking, TSMC Chairman C.C. Wei has mastered a rare skill: the art of the well-timed strategic masterstroke
Thursday 5 February 2026
Analysis: Tesla Optimus production strategy tied to China's robotics supply chain
Elon Musk plans to localize production of Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot in the US, with final assembly set for California and Texas. However, analysts and industry sources say the project will continue to rely heavily on China's rapidly expanding robotics supply chain in the coming years
Thursday 5 February 2026
Commentary: China's robot spectacles must go beyond the stage
Each year, hundreds of millions tune in to China's Spring Festival Gala, the nation's most-watched television event. In recent editions, the spectacle has become something more than traditional entertainment—it has transformed into a glittering stage for robotics prowess. Dozens of quadruped robots have marched in perfect synchronization, while humanoid machines have executed intricate dance routines that once seemed confined to science fiction. The performances captivate audiences and dominate social media, generating viral moments that showcase China's technological ambitions on a grand scale
Wednesday 4 February 2026
Analysis: AMD prioritizes supply chain for second-half AI ramp
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) signaled a focus on operational execution and supply-chain readiness during its February 3, 2026, earnings call, positioning the first half of 2026 as a foundational period for a broader artificial intelligence (AI) platform rollout. Management framed the current phase as a transition toward a more significant ramp in the second half of the year, emphasizing deployment discipline over immediate revenue acceleration
Wednesday 4 February 2026
Analysis: The Musk consolidation — AI, autos, space under one roof
In recent weeks, rumors of a potential consolidation involving SpaceX, Tesla, and xAI have sharpened attention on what Elon Musk calls "physical AI." What once appeared as separate ventures now looks like a single, coherent system. The goal is to push artificial intelligence out from behind screens and into the physical world
Tuesday 3 February 2026
Commentary: Why lower tariffs on US cars won't necessarily mean lower prices in Taiwan
Lunar New Year 2026 is approaching. So is the outcome of tariff negotiations between Taiwan and the United States. Few issues are being watched more closely than the potential opening of Taiwan's market to American-made cars
Tuesday 3 February 2026
Analysis: China's AI model race tightens into a three-way contest
China's large language model sector is reaching a decisive inflection point. As requirements for computing resources, capital, and specialized talent continue to climb, the industry is moving from dozens of competing models toward consolidation dominated by three major players