Below are the top DIGITIMES Asia stories from Aug 4 to Aug 10, 2025. The top three topics include 'China for China' drives Western chipmakers' strategy, Xiaomi releases open-source voice AI for cars and smart homes, and Broadcom exec discusses Nvidia's NVLink and silicon photonics.
'China for China' becomes new rulebook for Western chipmakers
Amid intensifying geopolitical strains and growing trade restrictions, US and European semiconductor companies are accelerating efforts to localize operations in China. By collaborating with domestic foundries, they aim to establish more self-reliant supply chains and ensure continued access to the Chinese market.
Xiaomi open-sources voice AI model to enter automotive and smart home markets
As part of its broader AI strategy, Xiaomi has released a 7-billion-parameter version of its open-source voice model, MiDashengLM, which integrates Alibaba's Qwen 2.5 series. Tailored for in-car systems and smart home devices, the new model expands Xiaomi's capabilities in voice-driven applications and reinforces its position in the AI ecosystem.
Exclusive: Broadcom exec weighs in on Nvidia's NVLink strategy and silicon photonics future
The Open Compute Project APAC Summit (OCP APAC) is to officially open in Taipei in early August 2025, with major industry players in attendance. Among the key exhibitors is US semiconductor leader Broadcom, renowned for its pivotal role in cloud AI ASICs and networking chip solutions.
China ships first NIL lithography tool as 300-plus firms mobilize to rival EUV tech
Amid increasingly strict US export controls on EUV lithography systems and related technologies, China's semiconductor equipment industry has achieved a notable breakthrough. On August 1, Pulin Technology (Hangzhou) delivered its first domestically developed step-and-repeat nanoimprint lithography (NIL) system—the PL-SR series—to a customer specializing in advanced chip production.
Huawei's HiSilicon moves upstream with Zhuque AI display chips, pressuring Novatek and Raydium
As the US-China tech rivalry deepens, China is ramping up efforts to achieve semiconductor self-sufficiency. In a strategic move toward vertical integration, Huawei's chip subsidiary HiSilicon has entered the smartphone touch and display IC market with its self-developed Zhuque OLED driver chip—marking a shift toward more comprehensive, system-level solutions within the Huawei ecosystem.
Intel's server chip dominance erodes as AMD expands market share
Intel's dominance in the server CPU market is steadily eroding as AMD continues to narrow the gap—potentially reaching parity shortly. While Intel faces uncertainty surrounding the development of its 14A (1.4nm) process node and contends with Samsung securing a significant wafer order from Tesla, AMD is poised to strengthen further its position with its second-quarter earnings report, set to be released on August 5 in the US.
Who's really after TSMC's 2nm secrets? The trail may not lead to China
TSMC is dealing with a high-stakes internal security breach after several employees were dismissed over attempts to leak confidential information regarding its 2nm process technology, according to a report from Nikkei Asia.
Article edited by Jack Wu
