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Apr 17, 15:04
Google reportedly in talks with Pentagon over classified use of Gemini AI models
Google is in talks with the US Department of Defense that would allow the Pentagon to use the company's Gemini AI models for classified purposes, according to The Information. If the deal comes to fruition, it could represent a deepening of ties between Google and the Pentagon, which is seeking AI partners after its falling out with Anthropic in recent months.

Amazon said on April 14 it would acquire Globalstar for US$90 a share, in a deal valued at about US$11.57 billion, accelerating its push into space-based communications and sharpening its competition with SpaceX in the race to deliver internet and mobile connectivity from orbit.

To strengthen communications resilience, Taiwan's Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) is promoting a high-altitude platform station (HAPS) project. The initiative uses domestically produced drones as carriers integrated with communication systems to create an aerial communications platform featuring long endurance and high payload capacity. The program aims to begin testing with telecommunications operators in the third quarter of 2026, with plans to publicly showcase its achievements in October.
CyberTAN, a networking hardware maker, reported strong revenue growth in March 2026, supported by a stronger product mix and solid shipment contributions. Consolidated revenue reached NT$374 million, up 30.9% year-over-year, while first-quarter 2026 revenue totaled NT$1.112 billion, a 27.85% increase from the same period a year earlier.
Japan dominates the global market for semiconductor equipment and materials — a strategic chokepoint that its neighbors and partners have long sought to learn from, not just rely on. Taiwan, home to the world's most advanced chip fabrication ecosystem, has spent years building closer ties with Tokyo in materials science. Now, that partnership is entering a more ambitious phase.
Morrison expects AI smartphone penetration to exceed 60% within five years, driving continuous upgrades in optical sensor specifications. Despite short-term headwinds from memory supply-demand imbalances impacting the global consumer electronics market, the company expects sustained benefits from product upgrades through 2026.
Ghost Robotics, a US supplier of quadruped robots to the Department of Defense, is partnering with Taiwanese manufacturers to localize production. The collaboration aims to reduce reliance on Chinese supply chains and has completed an initial review of Taiwan's manufacturing base, according to industry sources. The partnership is expected to enter a joint development phase later this year.
As SpaceX weighs a potential initial public offering at a targeted valuation of up to US$2 trillion, new financial data suggest that investor appetite will likely hinge on whether its Starlink satellite internet business can sustain its rapid growth while offsetting losses elsewhere in the company.
As global companies unveil plans for space AI data centers, South Korean firms are prioritizing space-related technology as a new growth driver. Samsung Electronics' foundry division is reportedly actively developing space semiconductors and related foundry technologies.

Rapidtek Technologies said it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indian satellite firm HEX20 during Paris Space Week, marking the start of a new phase of Taiwan-India collaboration in satellite development.

As demand for AI computing continues to surge, terrestrial data centers are facing mounting constraints in power supply, thermal management, and land availability. As a result, the feasibility of space-based computing infrastructure is drawing increasing attention across the industry.
AI and quantum computing are converging — and the geopolitical consequences are profound. At the GITEX AI Asia forum, industry experts argued that this integration goes beyond a technological breakthrough. It is reshaping national competitiveness and strategic deterrence.