12 Dec
Latest News and Trends

Japan’s major banks and corporations back Rapidus with massive financing and new investments

Japan is accelerating its national push to rebuild an advanced semiconductor ecosystem as Rapidus, the country’s flagship next-generation chip venture, secures financing from major banks and private equity from more than twenty Japanese companies. According to reports from Nikkei and Asahi Shimbun, Japan’s three megabanks, Mitsubishi UFJ Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking, and Mizuho Bank, will provide Rapidus with up to JPY2 trillion (approx. US$12.8 billion) in financing.

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12 Dec
Latest News and Trends

AI hardware landscape shifts from GPUs to NPUs as edge computing gains ground

As artificial intelligence (AI) transitions from cloud-centric operations to edge devices, the hardware that powers AI is undergoing significant change. While graphics processing units (GPUs) have long dominated both AI training and deployment, neural processing units (NPUs) are now emerging as a viable alternative, particularly for edge applications, according to Jeffrey Chen, vice president of product marketing at Kneron. Chen elaborated on these evolving trends at the recent Human-Machine Co-Creation New Era annual summit.

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12 Dec
Latest News and Trends

King Shing Industrial sets 1H26 start for automated production in Thailand

King Shing Industrial is accelerating its shift into AI-enabled mobility systems while strengthening its core automotive aftermarket business in North America. The Taiwan-based motor and cooling system maker said it is expanding into higher value applications, including unmanned aerial vehicles, autonomous logistics vehicles, and robotics, and plans to begin automated motor production in Thailand in the first half of 2026.

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12 Dec
Latest News and Trends

US advances massive drone purchase as Taiwan firms seize new opportunity

The US and Taiwan plan to accelerate military drone cooperation in 2026 as Washington advances a large procurement program and Congress moves forward with legislation calling for joint development. The efforts are expected to create opportunities for Taiwanese manufacturers in key technologies, supply chains, and overseas markets, according to industry executives.

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12 Dec
Latest News and Trends

Weikeng anticipates AI data center demand to boost computing and power management sales, targeting 50-60% growth by 2026

Taiwanese integrated circuit (IC) distributor Weikeng projects robust revenue growth driven by rising demand for AI data center computing and power management solutions, with AI server-related products expected to increase by 50 to 60% in 2026. The company also identifies emerging sectors such as AI glasses and robotics as key long-term growth areas, despite uncertainties in broader memory market dynamics.

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12 Dec
Latest News and Trends

Taiwan firms tighten hold on AI-server PCB drilling supply chain

Explosive AI infrastructure investment is driving a broad upgrade across the PCB value chain, pulling high-end AI server and materials demand sharply higher. PCB layer counts and CCL specifications are rising in tandem, lifting earnings for downstream suppliers. The same momentum is now pushing upstream drilling consumables and equipment into a tight supply, a sign of how quickly AI hardware cycles are compressing.

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12 Dec
Latest News and Trends

OpenAI secures major Disney investment as monetization pressure rises, launches GPT-5.2 to defend lead in intensifying AI race

OpenAI has received fresh backing from Disney as the AI developer faces pressure to strengthen monetization and expand commercial partnerships. The investment arrives just as OpenAI rolls out GPT-5.2, a next-generation model aimed at reinforcing its competitive edge amid escalating rivalry across the generative AI market.

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12 Dec
Latest News and Trends

Huawei and YMTC expand into South Korea’s consumer SSD market following Micron’s exit

Huawei is moving to capitalize on a tightening consumer solid-state drive (SSD) market in South Korea, introducing new products this month as established suppliers raise prices and Micron prepares to exit the segment. The shift, driven by surging demand for enterprise products supporting artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, is pushing South Korean PC makers to seek alternative suppliers, potentially opening the door for Chinese brands.

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