Quanta says AI industry faced three major waves in 2025, sees strong growth over next 2-3 years

Quanta Computer held its year-end banquet on the evening of January 15, 2026, during which company chairman Barry Lam highlighted three major waves that hit 2025. He named the tariff war, the all-out battle over artificial intelligence (AI) applications, and sweeping changes in AI server design as key challenges. Despite this, Quanta was still able to meet all customer requirements, with both revenue and profits reaching record highs. He added that the AI boom will not be limited to 2026, but is expected to continue surging over the next two to three years.

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US AI data centers face grid connection delays, drive new power supply models

As demand for artificial intelligence computing surges globally, US AI data centers (AIDCs) are increasingly hindered by prolonged delays in securing power grid connections. The average wait has extended to approximately five years, significantly outpacing the typical 18 to 24 months required for data center construction, creating “completed but idle” facilities and prompting urgent calls for regulatory overhaul.

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Formosa Chemicals plans to exit petrochemical red ocean and enter high-end electronics

The petrochemical industry has been stuck in an intensely competitive red ocean market. The Chinese government has begun promoting measures to curb excessive internal competition, and the cycle of low-price competition is expected to ease in 2026. Formosa Chemicals & Fibre Corporation (FCFC) launched a streamlining plan in the second half of 2025 and is actively shifting toward the compound plastics market. To enter higher-end markets, FCFC plans to complete 5N hydrogen purification equipment by 2027 to secure a foothold in the electronics industry supply chain, while continuing research and development in silicon carbide to align with advanced chip thermal management technologies.

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US imposes 25% chip tariff under Section 232, but Taiwan secures strategic carve-outs in high-stakes talks

The US White House has formally announced a 25% import tariff on semiconductors under Section 232, while outlining multiple exemption mechanisms that could mitigate the impact on key suppliers. Against this backdrop, a high-level Taiwanese delegation is in Washington for a new round of trade negotiations aimed at safeguarding Taiwan’s semiconductor sector and its role in the global, AI-driven supply chain.

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Analysis: Why Singapore sovereign fund doubles down on AI despite bubble fears

Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, the Government Investment Corporation (GIC), has made significant investments in artificial intelligence startups Anthropic and MiniMax amidst rising concerns about an AI investment bubble. Anthropic recently closed a funding round valuing it at US$35 billion, with GIC as a key backer. At the same time, Chinese AI startup MiniMax saw a strong stock debut on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, also reportedly supported by GIC.

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Taiwan opens international tender for quantum computer purchase; US export ban remains key

Following the National Science and Technology Council’s (NSTC) announcement of the quantum computing mainframe construction project, attention has focused on whether Taiwan will use a quantum computer developed by Academia Sinica or procure one from abroad. Sources reveal that the National Center for High-Performance Computing (NCHC) under the National Applied Research Laboratories (NIAR) has launched an international tender. If IBM Quantum bids and wins, the deal hinges on whether the US government permits export, as commercial quantum computers are currently banned from overseas sales.

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