Google ramps up AI code assistant rivalry with Gemini, challenging Microsoft’s GitHub Copilot

Google has launched a free version of Gemini Code Assist, providing developers with access to AI-powered code completion. The offering includes 180,000 code completions per month, a significant increase compared to the 2,000 completions offered by Google’s previous free tools. This introduction positions Google to compete with existing AI coding platforms, notably Microsoft’s GitHub Copilot.

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Taiwan’s maritime defense: Huilong & Kuachi underwater drones under spotlight

As global interest in unmanned vehicles expands beyond aerial drones, the development of surface vessels and underwater unmanned vehicles (UUVs) is gaining increased attention. In the past several years, countries like the US and China have invested substantial resources in enhancing fully autonomous and semi-autonomous platforms for both surface and underwater operations. Given Taiwan’s geographic position surrounded by water, industry experts emphasize that developing UUVs is essential, despite development hurdles being significantly greater than those faced in aerial drone systems.

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Taiwan risks missing 2025 green energy target as wind projects stall

Taiwan’s renewable energy ambitions are facing mounting hurdles, as regulatory and logistical challenges slow the rollout of solar photovoltaic (PV) and offshore wind projects. The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) has lowered its renewable energy generation target from 20% to 15% by the end of 2025. However, even this reduced goal appears increasingly unattainable, with renewables accounting for just 12% of Taiwan’s total electricity generation as of 2024.

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Chinese smartphone brands enjoyed growth in 4Q24 before a close to 10% decline in 1Q25, says DIGITIMES

With non-Chinese markets entering their traditional off-season and the Chinese market lacking a nationwide shopping promotion event, overall smartphone shipments by Chinese brands are expected to decrease by 9.7% on quarter in the first quarter of 2025 after enjoying good sequential growth in the fourth quarter of 2024, according to DIGITIMES’ latest report covering China’s smartphone industry.

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Panjit anticipates growth in AI PCs and servers

Although AI PCs underperformed market expectations in 2024, many industry players, from power semiconductor manufacturers to system providers, believe that significant growth will occur in the second half of 2025 as technology advances. Taiwanese power component manufacturer Panjit aims to capitalize on opportunities in the AI PC market through a diversified product line while also introducing its low-dropout regulator (LDO) products into the server sector, hoping to drive operational growth with AI servers.

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