Google and Microsoft are stepping up efforts to secure high-bandwidth memory. Production capacity at South Korean chipmakers is approaching its limits. The supply crunch has coincided with executive dismissals and stalled negotiations. According to industry sources cited by the Seoul Economic Daily and G-enews, major cloud and artificial intelligence companies are intensifying procurement efforts. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are nearing full utilization of their advanced memory lines.

Intel’s 18A process node has reportedly drawn interest from Nvidia, though the chipmaker has yet to commit to using the technology, according to Reuters, citing sources familiar with the matter. The potential collaboration has not progressed, leaving the future of Intel’s 18A node in question.

As AI workloads intensify and data centre architectures evolve, optical communications vendors are positioning co-packaged optics (CPO) and silicon photonics (SiPh) as core mid- to long-term growth markets. LuxNet expects 800G products to surpass 400G as the market mainstream in 2026, with 1.6T products entering initial shipments and supporting growth over the next two to three years. TrueLight is moving into the AI high-performance computing (HPC) supply chain via continuous-wave (CW) laser foundry services and expects the foundry revenue share in 2026 to exceed 2025 levels.

YF Capital, the private equity firm founded by Jack Ma, has taken a stake in China’s memory chip sector, renewing market focus on semiconductor investment trends. As the US tightens technology restrictions, domestically developed Chinese chips are increasingly seen as strategically critical, driving a rise in related investment activity.