As quantum technology, one of South Korea's national strategic technologies, gradually shifts from government-led R&D to the private sector, growing AI computing workloads have brought quantum processing units (QPUs) into the spotlight. Quantum equipment maker SDT stated that the proportion of government funding in its R&D budget has significantly declined, with demand steadily shifting toward private-sector customers.

Taiwan's National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) has raised concerns that prolonged delays in budget approvals could cause Taiwan to miss the critical 2026 global takeoff for silicon photonics (SiPh) and co-packaged optics (CPO), two cornerstone technologies underpinning next-generation AI servers.

Foxtron, backed by Foxconn, held an investor briefing on December 31, 2025, to review recent performance and forecast its strategy amid a cautious market outlook for 2026. Despite acknowledging revenue difficulties, the company positioned 2026 as a year of recovery and growth.

As artificial intelligence (AI) moves beyond its infrastructure build-out phase, the industrial PC (IPC) sector anticipates 2026 as a key year for scaling AI from centralized cloud setups to diverse edge computing environments. This transition marks a turning point in which AI-powered edge devices become integral to real-world operations across the manufacturing, medical, transportation, defense, and public safety sectors.

The upcoming CES 2026 is set to elevate artificial intelligence (AI) from a prominent topic to the exclusive central theme, reflecting the technology's maturation toward everyday application. The Consumer Technology Association (CTA), organizer of the event, announced that all showcased products and innovations will focus on AI, indicating a shift in focus from prior years, when AI was one of several highlights.

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) has announced that artificial intelligence (AI) will be the central theme of CES 2026, under the banner "AI Forward." The event will emphasize AI's impact on product launches and technological advancements, with keynote addresses and major announcements from leading technology companies.

As 2026 begins, DIGITIMES has conducted in-depth analyses of sectors within the electronics industry. The current landscape theme can be described as "one core, two keys, three drivers." The core, semiconductors, has two keys —the satellite industry and memory— and will be driven by three factors: AI servers, defense, and green energy. These areas will be critical to watch in 2026.

South Korea's four major conglomerates, Samsung Group, LG Group, SK Group, and Hyundai Motor Group have unanimously identified artificial intelligence transformation (AX) as a core focus in their New Year organizational restructuring and personnel deployments. South Korean conglomerates have no longer viewed AI merely as a new business but have instead embedded AI across end-to-end processes including R&D, manufacturing, finance, and operations. Representative groups such as Samsung, LG, SK, and Hyundai Motor have all carried out 2026 organizational restructuring and personnel adjustments toward the end of 2025, simultaneously deploying AX-related organizations and technical talent to accelerate their AX initiatives in the New Year.

ByteDance is reportedly preparing to invest about CNY100 billion (US$14.3 billion) in AI chips in 2026, primarily purchasing AI processors from Nvidia. This planned spending exceeds the estimated CNY85 billion for 2025 but remains contingent on whether Nvidia receives approval to sell its H200 chips in the China market, with budget adjustments possible.

Facing stiff competition in the domestic market, Chinese technology companies are accelerating their push into international markets, with artificial intelligence (AI) firms spearheading efforts in Singapore. According to The Straits Times, these companies plan to introduce a wide range of AI products, including robots, large language models (LLMs), and cloud solutions by 2026 to tap into Singapore's growing technology sector.

Europe's defense technology sector is experiencing rapid growth as the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and rising geopolitical tensions drive increased investment in AI-driven defense solutions. The UK and Germany have emerged as the primary hubs for startups focused on advanced military technologies, signaling a shift in defense priorities across the continent.