Toto reportedly bets bigger on semiconductor materials as AI pushes industry toward 1nm era

Japanese bathroom fixture maker Toto is deepening its commitment to the semiconductor industry, unveiling plans to invest JPY80 billion (approx. US$495.3 million) over the next five years to expand production of advanced ceramic materials used in chip manufacturing. According to a Nikkei Asia report, the company aims to support future-generation semiconductor processes in the 1nm range, extending a business that has become a major profit driver amid the AI boom.

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MSScorps expands Taiwan investment again for silicon photonics

Taiwan’s investment office, InvesTaiwan, under the Ministry of Economic Affairs, has approved expanded Taiwan investment plans from four companies, led by MSScorps, which will invest NT$1.5 billion (US$47.4 million) and is filing for the third time. The company plans to add production lines and adopt AI technology at its Hsinchu, Tai Yuen Hi-Tech Industrial Park, and Southern Taiwan Science Park (STSP) facilities.

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Google co-founder says AGI’s missing piece is the physical world, not language

Two years after returning to Google, co-founder Sergey Brin recently made his first public appearance and participated in an open Q&A session at the AGI House event in Silicon Valley. During the discussion, Brin addressed Google’s current development status, explained the company’s technological direction, and revealed that a debate over the definition of artificial general intelligence (AGI) is beginning to emerge. The outcome of this debate could directly influence the future development path of AGI.

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FineMat pivots beyond metal masks with AI cooling, semiconductor, and drone push

Amid growing localization efforts across China’s supply chain, FineMat Applied Materials has seen its metal mask business continue to shrink and is accelerating its transition into AI cooling, semiconductors, and drones. The company’s liquid-cooling cold plates for AI applications have already been sampled by end customers and are expected to begin shipping in the second half of 2026. Once volume production ramps in 2027, cooling products could account for more than 50% of total revenue, becoming a key growth driver.

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