Texas has become one of the world's leading regions for AI data center construction. However, this trend has put its power grid under dangerous pressure, exceeding what realistic power supply conditions can support. Texas is only one example; several other states are facing similar problems of aging and fragmented power grids, lacking a cross-regional, large-scale power dispatch system

Murata Manufacturing plans to start mass production of AI server power modules in 2026 and is coordinating with major cloud service providers. The company expects the business to generate about JPY50 billion (US$332 million) in revenue over fiscal 2026 to fiscal 2027, covering April 2026 to March 2028

Rapidus, Japan's state-backed chipmaker, has developed a prototype glass interposer for artificial intelligence chips. The company says the technology could lower production costs and strengthen its challenge to industry leader TSMC as Japan pushes to rebuild its advanced semiconductor base

South Korean IC design house Sapien Semiconductor is emerging as a disruptor in the global smart glasses supply chain, after reports that it will supply display backplanes for Meta's next-generation augmented reality (AR) glasses, a development that could loosen China's long-standing grip on key micro-display components

MetaX, a Chinese graphics processor startup founded by former Advanced Micro Devices engineers, soared in its trading debut on Shanghai's STAR Market on December 17, 2025. The rally highlights the premium investors are placing on Beijing's semiconductor self-sufficiency drive even as the company grapples with widening losses and intense geopolitical headwinds

Samsung Electronics' foundry division is reported to have secured an 8nm manufacturing order from Intel, adding another blue-chip customer to its mature advanced-node portfolio after Nvidia. Analysts say the win strengthens Samsung Foundry's order momentum at nodes where yields and cost structures have largely stabilized

Samsung Electronics' newly launched tri-fold smartphone, the Galaxy Z Tri Fold, has generated robust initial demand despite concerns over its steep repair fees. The device sold out within five minutes of going on sale on Samsung's official website and is currently available only through restock notifications

Semiconductor test equipment supplier Advantest and Tokyo Seimitsu have announced a joint plan to co-develop a next-generation die-level prober for high-performance computing components

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES), once the world's premier launchpad for next-generation technologies, is facing mounting questions over its relevance. Ahead of CES 2026, scheduled for 6-9 January in Las Vegas, participation by South Korean companies is expected to fall sharply, with multiple conglomerates scaling back or skipping the show altogether. The pullback highlights a broader reassessment by large corporations of the cost, impact, and strategic value of global tech exhibitions

China-based battery equipment maker CHR Hangko is actively expanding its production base in South Korea, aiming to deepen its presence in the local rechargeable battery supply chain amid growing advances of Chinese firms into battery equipment sectors

Wah Hong Industrial, a leading Taiwanese optical film and advanced materials maker, remains focused on product upgrades and structural adjustments to enhance overall competitiveness, despite tariff-related uncertainties and conservative demand in 2025, according to the company's president, Chih-Ming Lin

Facing intensifying competition in the traditional LED lighting market, Incheon-based Korea Lighting is repositioning itself as a supplier of bio-optical semiconductor solutions, targeting high-value applications across healthcare, hygiene, beauty, and agriculture

SK Hynix has secured approval for an additional KRW500 billion (US$340 million) in low-interest financing from the state-run Korea Development Bank. The funds will be used to increase investments in semiconductor equipment, highlighting the growing competition to expand high bandwidth memory capacity for artificial intelligence chips

China's AI computing sector is facing acute short-term planning turmoil, spurred by the potential re-entry of Nvidia's H200 GPU. This market volatility directly impacts numerous state-owned AI computing centers