China’s Cambricon Technologies, a leading domestic AI chip startup, has endured a turbulent rise marked by the brilliance of its founding brothers and the pressure of shifting geopolitics. Formally known as Beijing Zhongke Cambricon Science and Technology Co., the firm was founded in 2016 by brothers Chen Yunji, 42, and Chen Tianshi, 40. Both were child prodigies at the University of Science and Technology of China and later earned doctorates at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, laying the groundwork for their entry into AI chip design.

Since April 2025, tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump have cast a long shadow over Taiwan’s car market, dragging down sales for most brands. Premium electric vehicles bore the brunt of the slump, with demand collapsing for models from Volkswagen, Luxgen Motor, and Toyota. In response, these automakers rushed to roll out time-limited discounts in a bid to salvage sales.

The US’s 50% tariff on India took effect on August 27, dealing a blow to Indian exporters. India’s semiconductor push is gaining traction.