28 Jan
Latest News and Trends

SoftBank in talks to invest additional US$30 billion in OpenAI

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing informed sources, reported that SoftBank Group is negotiating a new investment with OpenAI, potentially reaching up to US$30 billion, though final deal terms have not yet been confirmed. Since late December 2025, rumors have circulated that OpenAI is preparing a new funding round, targeting up to US$100 billion, with a valuation potentially reaching US$830 billion, aimed at supporting the company’s massive AI research, computing, and talent needs.

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28 Jan
Latest News and Trends

‘Taiwan Dome’ drives shift toward networked defense warfare

“Taiwan Dome” has emerged as a key concept in Taiwan’s defense strategy, drawing increased attention across the defense and technology sectors. The approach centers on system integration to build a networked combat architecture, placing greater emphasis on command platforms capable of coordinating operations across multiple domains. Alongside close cooperation between Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense and the US to introduce advanced technologies, Taiwanese companies are also expanding their investments in related areas.

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28 Jan
Latest News and Trends

Musk plans to cut AI chip design cycle to 9 months

Tesla CEO Elon Musk posted on X that the AI5 chip design is “almost done and AI6 is in early stages,” with AI7, AI8, and AI9 “aiming for a 9-month design cycle.” Musk stated that the AI5 chip achieves performance comparable to Nvidia’s Hopper with a single SoC configuration, and with a dual-SoC configuration, it rivals Nvidia’s Blackwell, while maintaining lower cost and pricing. He said that the AI5’s development faced challenges, with Musk himself working consecutive weekends for months with minimal days off.

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28 Jan
Latest News and Trends

AOC AGON AG275UXM2 debuts with a dual-mode 4K QD-MiniLED display and 1600 nits brightness

AOC has introduced the AOC AGON AG275UXM2 in China as the next‑generation successor to the AOC AGON AG275UXM, and it’s positioned as a showcase for some of the brand’s most advanced display technologies. This new model pairs a 27‑inch Fast IPS panel with 4K resolution and a QD‑MiniLED backlight system, combining Quantum Dot color with a dramatically expanded 2304‑zone local dimming array and 9216…

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28 Jan
Latest News and Trends

Asus ROG Strix OLED XG32UQDMS debuts with a 240Hz 4K QD-OLED display

Asus has quietly introduced the Asus ROG Strix OLED XG32UQDMS, a 31.5‑inch 4K QD‑OLED gaming monitor capable of hitting a 240Hz refresh rate. It offers 250 nits of typical SDR brightness and peaks at 1000 nits, backed by VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400. The 10‑bit panel covers 99% of DCI‑P3 and is rated for a 0.03 ms GTG response time. It supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, NVIDIA G‑Sync Compatible…

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28 Jan
Latest News and Trends

Taiwan-US tariff resolution to boost machine tool industry, signaling structural recovery and growth

Following the resolution of tariffs between Taiwan and the US, market concerns are expected to ease, leading to clearer procurement signals from end users and fostering optimism that the machine tool industry will recover from recent downturns. Industry experts indicate that this development is likely to result in a structurally driven rebound rather than a short-term uptick.

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28 Jan
Latest News and Trends

Efun Technology’s shift toward niche optical films signals broader industry disruption amid supply chain challenges

The optical film industry is undergoing significant upheaval as disruptions in the red supply chain force manufacturers to rethink their business models. Taiwan-based Efun Technology has adopted a “low volume, high quality” strategy, focusing on specialized products such as water-blocking films and satellite space-environment protective films. Water-blocking films are projected to become a major revenue contributor by 2026, while protective films for satellites have already secured manufacturing contracts with a US low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite customer.

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28 Jan
Latest News and Trends

Samsung phases out MLC NAND as 3D NAND shift cuts supply in 2026

NAND flash prices are soaring, with industry insiders expecting upstream contract prices to surge over 100% in the first quarter of 2026. As NAND manufacturers aggressively upgrade their processes, Samsung Electronics will cease shipments of MLC NAND by the end of the second quarter of 2025, repurposing cleanroom space for DRAM production. Meanwhile, 3D NAND capacity is shifting toward V8 and V9 stacking technologies, leading to a substantial reduction in overall NAND output in 2026.

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28 Jan
Latest News and Trends

Ta-i Technology raises chip resistor prices from February as a cost squeeze mounts

The chip resistor supply chain is seeing another round of price hikes as major passive component manufacturers Yageo and Walsin Technology initiated the first wave. Taiwanese firm Ta-i Technology has officially notified customers of a price adjustment effective February 1, 2026, citing volatile upstream metal raw material costs that have pushed thick film resistor production expenses beyond manageable levels.

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