International Business Machines Corp. is shutting a key research division in China in a move affecting more than 1,000 employees, local media including Yicai reported, in the latest pullback by a US name from the world’s No. 2 economy.

Earlier this month, executives from Alphabet Inc.’s Google DeepMind, Microsoft Corp. and Meta Platforms Inc. joined tech founders in Bangalore to watch one of India’s top AI startups unveil a new product that might change how the world’s most populous country uses the technology.

In early 2023, Samsung Electronics welcomed former TSMC deputy director Jing-cheng “Vic” Lin to lead an advanced packaging task force to compete against TSMC. However, industry insiders indicate that this task force has recently been disbanded. There are rumors that Chinese wafer fabs are attempting to recruit Lin, making his next move highly anticipated.

Smart manufacturing is reducing the industry’s reliance on human labor and opening the door to green manufacturing amid the global push for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards. Particularly with the aid of artificial intelligence (AI), manufacturers can accelerate their transition from traditional smart manufacturing practices to more environmentally sustainable operations.