Nicky Lu, chairman of Etron Technology, stated that the global semiconductor industry is expected to grow from US$300 billion in 2010 to US$2 trillion by 2040. Meanwhile, system applications generate revenue approximately four times that of the semiconductor industry. Correspondingly, financial technology (fintech) is projected to expand with a 40-fold multiplier effect, potentially reaching a scale of US$80 trillion by 2040.

Apple is experiencing a continued departure of key artificial intelligence researchers, with some joining major competitors including Meta Platforms Inc., OpenAI, and Anthropic. The recent wave of resignations raises concerns about Apple’s AI division’s stability and future direction.

Physical AI has become a key focus in the manufacturing and IT industries, as AI applications extend from online environments into the physical world, leading companies to begin deploying robots in real-world settings through significant improvements in training efficiency. However, considerable challenges remain in achieving high precision in applications such as autonomous driving.

MicroLED is regarded as the next-generation display technology, with Taiwan leading global development due to strong semiconductor and display integration, plus government support. Despite high costs slowing mass adoption, microLED’s role in advanced chip packaging co-packaged optics (CPO) creates fresh applications beyond displays.