Three days at Plug and Play's Silicon Valley May summit left me with a clear takeaway: the technology industry is undergoing a structural shift, not just another hype cycle. Here are the five trends that stood out from the conversations, keynotes, and startup pitches I observed on the ground.

Generative AI, HPC, and large data centers are raising demand for chips with higher power efficiency, stronger thermal control, and denser packaging, making advanced packaging a more strategic part of the semiconductor supply chain. In China, panel-level packaging (PLP) is gaining traction for its larger format, higher output, and lower-cost potential.

Compal Electronics said it was scaling up its server business and expects server revenue to reach 8-10% of total sales in 2026 as AI server rack-scale systems ramp and a new Texas plant begins operations in the second half. The company reported that server sales rose to 5% of revenue in the first quarter of 2026 from less than 1% previously, driven by a shift from printed circuit board (PCB) assembly to rack-level and full-system solutions that increase revenue per project.

Quanta said demand for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure would be very strong in 2026 as the company pushed deeper into servers and wearable devices, and that it was expanding production in the US, Mexico, and Thailand. The remarks were made at the company's shareholders' meeting on May 29, where leadership framed AI as a major growth opportunity while reiterating a cautious approach that prioritizes profitable execution.

Foxconn has said its quantum computing work is drawing international attention, but the main challenge remains turning research into a commercial business. The company's quantum efforts could take about three years to reach an inflection point, with broader business potential expected around 2030, which may matter for industries and researchers worldwide.

Foxconn said its latest results highlight how technology manufacturing groups are reshaping supply chains for global customers. The company reported record earnings in 2025, raised dividends to a new high, and set a more ambitious profit target, signaling stronger returns for shareholders and continued investment in artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, and semiconductors worldwide.

Xiaomi unveiled new smartphones and wearables in Taiwan on May 29, while its new Taiwan general manager, Chih-sheng Liu, made his first public appearance. He outlined four priorities for the company's next stage in Taiwan, signaling how it plans to compete in a market that also reflects wider global consumer trends.

IBM and Red Hat are committing US$5 billion to Project Lightwell, a new enterprise security initiative designed to protect open source software supply chains as AI accelerates both software development and vulnerability discovery.

As AI moves from cloud environments into factories and physical systems, semiconductor design is being reshaped by new demands in speed, energy efficiency, and on-site learning. At a recent system-semiconductor seminar in South Korea, Seong-jun Jang, a research center director at the Korea Electronics Technology Institute (KETI), outlined four key architectural directions for future AI chips aimed at supporting industrial "physical AI."

Delta Electronics is leaning on artificial intelligence demand to sustain growth while preparing for longer-term opportunities in micro grids and higher-end automotive systems, even as its electric-vehicle business remains under pressure.

Wiwynn Technology, a major server manufacturer for AI infrastructure, warned that shortages are emerging across a range of data-center components beyond memory, a shift that could slow global AI buildouts or push up costs over the coming years. Executives said demand for data-center hardware would remain strong for the next three to five years as large cloud and hyperscale customers continued to raise capital spending, and the company signaled the US would be a focal market for expansion.