DigiTimes Nachrichten

 

TSMC is now worth US$1.7 trillion. The chip giant has surpassed Broadcom and Meta to become the world's sixth-largest company. But the milestone has triggered fresh concerns in Taiwan....

Lightmatter has announced parallel collaborations with Global Unichip Corp. (GUC) and Cadence to accelerate the deployment of Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) in data centers. By integrating Lightmatter's photonic technology with GUC's ASIC capabilities and Cadence's design IP, the trio aims to eliminate the connectivity bottlenecks that are restricting hyperscale AI workloads....

Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) has launched autonomous safety inspections for the planned restart of its second and third nuclear power plants, targeting submission of formal reactivation plans by March 2026, as Taiwan grapples with rising electricity demand from AI data centers and mounting net-zero carbon commitments....

Nvidia, on January 26, unveiled a new family of open-source AI models aimed at making weather forecasting faster and less expensive as part of the company's broader push to provide open-source software....

Samsung Electro-Mechanics (Semco) achieved a record annual revenue of approximately KRW11.31 trillion (approx. US$7.79 billion) in 2025, marking a 10% increase from the previous year, propelled by strong demand for AI and server multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs), according to reports from Money Today and ZDNet Korea. Operating profit climbed 24% to KRW913.3 billion, while quarterly results also showed significant growth....

Taiwanese semiconductor companies specializing in visual AI technologies are pivoting away from the Chinese market, increasingly focusing on Europe and the US amid growing challenges in China. These firms are advancing comprehensive solutions encompassing SoCs, ISPs, sensors, and algorithms to maintain competitiveness....

With strong demand for AI servers, TSMC—holding the vast majority of AI chip orders—is executing major expansions in advanced process technology and packaging capacity. As TSMC and Nvidia light the way for AI development, related semiconductor and electronics suppliers across Taiwan are investing heavily to boost production capabilities in response to surging orders....

Honda announced on January 26, 2026, that its previously halted Chinese auto factories had gradually resumed production since January 19. The shutdowns were primarily caused by a temporary suspension of shipments from automotive chip supplier Nexperia, which led to critical component shortages, forcing multiple Honda plants to halt operations....

Taiwan's finance minister and central bank governor have welcomed the US promise to extend most-favored-nation treatment under Section 232 tariffs, calling it a strong endorsement of Taiwan's industries in the trade negotiations between the two countries....

The removal of US tariffs on Taiwan's machine tools has leveled the playing field with major competitors Japan and South Korea, offering some relief to the industry. However, while this short-term resolution eases concerns, long-term challenges such as exchange rate fluctuations remain unresolved. Even as market doubts fade and demand shows signs of recovery, Taiwanese manufacturers cannot afford complacency....

Chinese GPU startup Iluvatar CoreX has unveiled a multi-generation product roadmap that it says could see its fourth-generation architecture surpass Nvidia's upcoming Rubin platform by 2027, marking one of the latest efforts by domestic Chinese chipmakers to advance their AI computing capabilities....

Taiwan's information and communications technology (ICT) sector—dominated by the semiconductor industry and Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS)—accounted for 65.2% of Taiwan's exports in 2024. This share is projected to rise to roughly 74% in 2025, reflecting the island's unique position in global industrial competition and underscoring profound implications for the country's future industrial trajectory....

Ennostar Group has rapidly advanced its optical communication technologies since 2021, targeting next-generation AI data transmission markets. In an interview with DIGITIMES, Chang-Da Tsai, deputy director of the Advanced Research Center at Ennostar, said the company has achieved significant milestones in short-, medium-, and long-distance solutions, positioning itself to surpass established industry standards and capture emerging opportunities driven by AI server demand....

Samsung Electronics' television and home appliance divisions are struggling to secure memory supplies as rising prices prompt the company's semiconductor arm to prioritize higher-margin customers and products, according to South Korean industry outlet Dealsite....

China is moving into the semiconductor glass substrate market, with both chip-related suppliers and display makers entering the field, according to Korean industry reports....

The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) computing is fueling a new wave of structural growth in the global printed circuit board (PCB) industry....

Samsung Electronics said on January 26, 2025, that it will launch its new Galaxy A07 5G smartphone in Taiwan, aiming to lift shipment momentum in the mass-market segment....

Following GlobalFoundries' acquisition of Synopsys' ARC Processor IP business, MIPS CEO Sameer Wasson is not just integrating a portfolio; he is orchestrating a pivot....

IonQ and SkyWater Technology, the largest exclusively US-based pure-play semiconductor foundry, announced a definitive agreement for IonQ to acquire SkyWater in a cash-and-stock deal valued at approximately US$1.8 billion. Under the terms, SkyWater shareholders will receive US$15 per share in cash and US$20 per share in IonQ stock, subject to a collar, representing a 38% premium to SkyWater's recent trading price....

OpenAI began testing ads within ChatGPT in the US shortly after Google reaffirmed no ad plans for its Gemini AI, highlighting differing strategies amid generative AI competition. OpenAI aims to offset high infrastructure costs, whereas Google focuses on balancing user experience and commercial interests....