China's Cambricon Technologies, a leading domestic AI chip startup, has endured a turbulent rise marked by the brilliance of its founding brothers and the pressure of shifting geopolitics. Formally known as Beijing Zhongke Cambricon Science and Technology Co., the firm was founded in 2016 by brothers Chen Yunji, 42, and Chen Tianshi, 40. Both were child prodigies at the University of Science and Technology of China and later earned doctorates at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, laying the groundwork for their entry into AI chip design

As artificial intelligence and high-performance computing continue to advance rapidly, high-bandwidth memory (HBM) paired with GPUs has become a critical battleground in the semiconductor industry. Joungho Kim, a professor of electrical engineering at KAIST and widely recognized as the "father of HBM" in South Korea, emphasized the importance of emerging technologies such as hybrid bonding, high-bandwidth flash (HBF), and compute-in-HBM in shaping the future of memory design

Samsung Electro-Mechanics (Semco) CEO Duckhyun Chang reportedly met Boston Dynamics CEO Robert Playter at the company's Suwon headquarters in late July to discuss potential cooperation on next-generation robotics, including humanoid robots

The drone industry is growing beyond its earlier focus on military applications into other industrial sectors and public safety. As an example, the South Korean government is accelerating the development of next-generation drone technologies as vital tools for addressing public safety and disaster response

Samsung Electronics' smartphone division is reportedly struggling with escalating cost pressures, largely attributed to the rapid rise in prices for mobile application processors (AP). While increasing the use of its own Exynos chips could potentially reduce procurement expenses, Samsung still finds it challenging to fully replace Qualcomm's products due to performance and market competitiveness considerations

On August 27, 2025, the labor unions of six sub-subsidiaries under South Korean internet giant Naver Corporation held a rally at Naver's headquarters, demanding negotiations with management. Following the passage of the "Yellow Envelope" bill, South Korean businesses now expect joint actions among IT company subsidiaries to intensify

Reports of TSMC halting Chinese equipment use and auditing Taiwanese suppliers have raised concern. The company said it does not comment on rumors, stressing its focus on risk management and local partnerships

VeriSilicon Microelectronics (Shanghai), China's top semiconductor IP and custom chip design service provider, said on August 28 that it will acquire Nuclei System Technology, a Shanghai-based RISC-V CPU IP specialist. The acquisition will be carried out through a mix of share issuance and cash, with an additional fundraising round. VeriSilicon's shares will be suspended from August 29 for up to 10 trading days

Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment (AMEC) reported sharp first-half 2025 revenue growth, driven by robust demand for advanced etching systems used in cutting-edge logic and memory manufacturing

China's fast-growing autonomous driving market has cemented Horizon Robotics as the country's leading automotive chip supplier. The company posted first-half 2025 revenue of CNY1.567 billion (approx. US$219 million), a 67.6% increase from a year earlier. Founder and CEO Yu Kai said adoption is shifting from advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) to robotaxi platforms, predicting full-scale autonomous driving within five to ten years. He added that Horizon will begin collaborations with robotaxi operators in the second half of 2025

The US-Korea leaders' summit ended without touching on the issue of so-called "digital barriers," a long-standing grievance for US tech firms. Yet hours later, President Donald Trump reignited the dispute, warning in an interview that Washington would impose tariffs on countries whose regulations "harm US IT companies.

China's new energy vehicle leader BYD Auto has made headlines for aggressively expanding its overseas market. Its earlier plans to export electric vehicles (EVs) to Taiwan via its Thailand factory drew attention and prompted countermeasures from Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA). BYD's Thai subsidiary has recently announced that more than 900 Dolphin EVs have been shipped, primarily destined for the European market, including Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands

Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) reported strong results for the first half of 2025, with revenue rising 23.4% year-on-year to CNY31.99 billion (US$4.47 billion). Foundry revenue reached CNY30.35 billion, up 25.9% from a year earlier, keeping SMIC in the No. 2 spot globally among pure-play foundries

Nvidia projected third-quarter fiscal 2026 revenue of about US$54 billion, beating market consensus but trailing the most optimistic forecasts of US$60 billion. Crucially, the outlook excludes sales of its H20 chips to China, underscoring how US export curbs continue to weigh on one of its biggest potential markets