During an in-depth reporting trip to the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), DIGITIMES explored the evolving AI landscape through exclusive interviews with Microsoft executives from Singapore and Malaysia. As Nvidia and AI supply chain players increasingly highlight "AI implementation" applications, we sought to understand how cloud giants perceive this trend, what enables or hinders progress, and the appropriate role for governments
Against a backdrop of escalating geopolitical strain and unresolved trade friction, the US and China have concluded a new round of high-level negotiations, releasing a joint statement to adjust and suspend recently imposed tariffs. Though narrow in scope, the deal signals a partial de-escalation and offers markets overdue relief after months of volatility since April 2025
Following a high-level meeting in Geneva, the US and China abruptly announced a 90-day pause in their ongoing tariff war. Under the deal, both countries agreed to lower reciprocal tariffs to 10% for 90 days. However, US tariffs on Chinese fentanyl-related goods remain, and Trump-era levies still keep China's overall tariff burden near 30%—a truce in form, not in substance
After surging to a multi-decade high last week, the New Taiwan dollar (NT$) has reversed course, weakening 0.45% on May 6 to close at NT$30.28 against the US dollar. The currency's volatility is unsettling Taiwan's export-oriented industries, which had already been grappling with the implications of a stronger NT dollar on margins and competitiveness. The erratic moves have sparked uneasy comparisons to the 1985 Plaza Accord—raising the question: could Taiwan be headed toward its own version of that historic realignment
Despite surpassing analysts' forecasts for both revenue and profit in its fiscal second quarter, Apple CEO Tim Cook expressed caution about the months ahead, citing growing uncertainty from US-China trade tensions and tariff risks. In response, Apple is accelerating efforts to diversify its manufacturing base, working closely with partners like Foxconn to shift more production to India and Vietnam
Micro LED technology is gaining momentum as the next big leap in display innovation. Driven by the global AI surge, China's intensifying "hundred-glasses war" in smart eyewear has pushed micro-displays into the spotlight. Meanwhile, Micro LED is emerging as a potential game-changer in silicon photonics, offering high-speed optical communication capabilities. Long-anticipated uses in large-format TVs and automotive displays are finally moving toward mass production, signaling a broad and accelerating wave of commercialization across multiple industries
As the Ukraine-Russo war reaches a stalemate in peace talks, the United States is actively promoting agreements on rare earth elements (REEs) with Ukraine. This move underscores the critical importance of these elements in global geopolitics and technological competition. This article analyzes the strategic value of Rare earth elements (REEs), the context of the China-US rivalry, and Taiwan's strategies for addressing these challenges
Since the 20nm node, advancements in DRAM process technology have decelerated, with development from 19 to 11nm occurring in small, 1 to 2nm steps across several nodes labeled from 1x to the forthcoming 1d
While the Czech Republic is often seen in Taiwan as Europe's semiconductor hotspot, Spain receives the most EU funding for tech initiatives. In early 2025, the DIGITIMES team visited Barcelona to cover MWC 2025 and explore the region's fast-evolving innovation ecosystem
Xiaomi has unveiled its first large language model for inference tasks, "Xiaomi MiMo," signaling a bold entry into the competitive AI landscape. Known for its roots in IoT and smartphones, the tech giant now aims to stake a claim in the large language model (LLM) market
Since its 1970 debut, DRAM has supplanted magnetic core memory as an essential element in von Neumann's computer architecture. By the mid-1980s, fueled by the popularity of PCs and workstations, DRAM became the leading market share product in the semiconductor industry
US President Donald Trump signed two executive orders on Tuesday (April 29, 2025, PT), easing certain tariffs affecting automakers. The rollback of these trade measures, which companies like Ford and General Motors had warned could hurt US manufacturing by raising production costs and squeezing profit margins, offers short-term relief
The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), actively promoted by the governments of Singapore and Malaysia, leverages Johor state's advantages in land, water, electricity, and natural resources, combined with Singapore's advanced technology, financial sector, and status as an international business hub
For five consecutive quarters through the first quarter of 2025, Intel Corporation has grappled with a staggering cumulative net loss of US$19.57 billion, marking the most protracted period of sustained losses in the company's history since 1990
Despite flat demand for most consumer electronics chips and a muted outlook for traditional wire bonding and packaging equipment, Singapore's semiconductor packaging equipment giant Kulicke & Soffa (K&S) has confirmed its close collaboration with Taiwan's semiconductor foundry leaders in the advanced packaging field for high-end chips
In early April, US President Donald Trump floated the idea of reciprocal tariffs, ramping up import duties on Chinese goods to as high as 125%. Yet on April 23, he reversed course, stating that current tariffs on Chinese imports are too high and promising to significantly lower them, adding that he would pursue "friendly" dialogue with Beijing