Apple Inc. will open its first retail location in Malaysia next month as it expands its presence in Southeast Asia to augment both sales and operations outside of China.

Nvidia is reportedly planning to adopt Fan-Out Panel Level Packaging (FOPLP) technology for its GB200 AI server chips ahead of schedule, aimed at addressing the tight production capacity of Chip on Wafer on Substrate (CoWoS) packaging at TSMC.

To establish its foothold amidst the AI wave, Samsung Electronics has been aggressively enhancing the competitiveness of its AI business through semiconductors, Generative AI, and home appliances. To do so, Samsung is adjusting its investments, recruiting talent, and restructuring its organization.

The semiconductor industry is the lifeblood of South Korea, a country that heavily depends on its exports. In 2023, South Korea exported US$131 billion of semiconductors and imported US$106 billion, raking in US$25 billion in trade surplus. For Taiwan, when there is a trade deficit, it only amounts to a fraction of its foreign reserve, but that would be a heavy burden to South Korea, which is already shouldering US$663.6 billion in foreign debt.