GITEX Asia 2026 wrapped up in Singapore with a clear shift in industry priorities, as artificial intelligence (AI) spending moves from infrastructure buildout toward monetization, with inference and edge deployment emerging as the next battleground.

South Korean IC design firm AD Technology transitioned from the TSMC Value Chain Alliance (VCA) to become one of Samsung’s Design Solution Partners (DSPs) in 2019. After overcoming initial challenges, the company has returned to profitability and now aims to surpass KRW1 trillion (US$673.2 million) in revenue by 2029 or 2030 through its self-developed 2nm server platform, ADP620.

High-end ABF substrate wet process equipment maker Eclat Forever Machinery (EF) announced that, driven by clear expansion momentum from domestic IC substrate customers, capital expenditures will significantly increase starting in 2026. The company expects related production capacity to remain fully utilized through the end of the year, targeting double-digit revenue growth for the full year.

Shenzhen China Micro Semicon (Cmsemicon) chairman and general manager Yang Yong announced that the microcontroller unit (MCU) market is gradually recovering and that prices are gradually rebounding. However, the main problem at present remains tight supply, he said during the company’s 2025 annual results and dividends briefing held on April 9.

Taiwan’s minister of digital affairs, Yi-Jing Lin, recently pointed out that the Ministry of Finance (MOF) has announced a major incentive encouraging the private sector’s investments in AI computing equipment. Under the Act for Promotion of Private Participation in Infrastructure Projects, eligible investors who sign contracts with the Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) can enjoy significant tax benefits from their investments in AI computing equipment.

As AI agents grow capable of independently operating computers, drafting documents, and managing schedules, the relationship between humans and machines is undergoing a fundamental shift. A recent viral phenomenon involving so-called “lobster” agents (OpenClaw) has underscored a new question in the market: traditional PCs and smartphones may no longer be the ideal platforms for AI.