Nvidia, SK Telecom and South Korean AI chip startup Rebellions have agreed to develop rack-scale AI inference systems that combine Nvidia GPUs with Rebellions' next-generation neural processing units (NPUs), bringing Korean-designed accelerators into Nvidia's data center infrastructure.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang appears to have become a target of Chinese intelligence activity, while his admission of an extramarital affair has drawn attention to his relationship with a former female executive at Singapore data-center operator Megaspeed. The episode highlights chip-transshipment risks and export-control loopholes in Singapore and Malaysia.
Washington's case for letting Nvidia sell H200 chips to China rested on case-by-case national-security screening. A New York Times investigation published on November 7 suggests that the screening cleared companies whose listed offices stood empty and whose owners have ties to firms on the US trade blacklist. The findings sharpen doubts over whether the licensing channel can keep advanced AI hardware away from restricted entities.
Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix and Micron are reportedly collaborating on charging standards for mobile robots used in semiconductor fabs, seeking to accelerate factory automation and lay the groundwork for unmanned manufacturing. The initiative is unusual as it brought together major industry rivals to standardise robotic components, equipment, communications and system interfaces, potentially drawing broader attention across the semiconductor industry.
China announced on November 9 that it would extend the suspension of an additional 24% tariff on US imports for another two months, while retaining the 10% additional tariff, following agreements reached during talks between Chinese and US leaders in Washington. The extension, announced by the State Council Tariff Commission, will take effect at 1:01pm on November 10, 2026, and is intended to maintain stability in bilateral trade relations.
Surging demand for AI computing is accelerating data center construction in both the US and China, although the US is expected to retain a substantial lead in installed capacity through 2030.
Shanghai Micro Electronics Equipment (SMEE) has showcased a new generation of domestically developed lithography systems spanning front-end wafer fabrication and advanced packaging, marking further progress in China's semiconductor equipment localisation. The company claims more than 90% of key components in its front-end systems are sourced domestically, with the equipment advancing into volume production.
South Korean equipment maker Naintech is expanding beyond secondary-battery equipment by entering TCL China Star Optoelectronic Technology’s 8.6-generation inkjet OLED mass-production line. South Korean media reported that Naintech secured a KRW25.4 billion (approximately US$17.5 million) supply contract with LG Electronics.
China Mobile plans procurement exceeding CNY500 billion (≈ US$75.1 billion) in 2027, including more than CNY100 billion for AI computing infrastructure, signaling a shift from conventional telecom services towards large-scale AI infrastructure. Chairman Zhongyue Chen expects intelligent computing capacity to double in each of the next two years, supported by an expanding network of gigawatt-scale data centers.
Toyota Motor has established Toyota Robotics, a dedicated robotics division, joining major global rivals in developing robotics technologies and using data from its manufacturing sites to accelerate commercial deployment.
China's semiconductor equipment localisation is accelerating, with chipmakers increasing domestic procurement and local suppliers expanding into advanced manufacturing. Yangtze Memory Technologies (YMTC) is emerging as a key example of this shift.
Madison Huang, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's eldest daughter and the company's senior director of marketing for Omniverse and robotics products, has canceled her entire visit to South Korea, including a planned meeting with South Korean Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT (MSIT) Bae Kyung-hoon. Nvidia cited only "family reasons" for the cancellation.
Optical lens maker Genius Electronic Optical (GSEO) reported October 2026 consolidated revenue of NT$2.126 billion (approx. US$64.9 million), down 20.41% from September and 5.78% from the same month in 2025, as China's National Day holiday and delayed customer product launches reduced shipments.
Japan's Nittobo (Nitto Boseki) plans to invest an additional JPY20 billion (approx. US$127 million) to expand production of T-Glass, a specialized low-coefficient-of-thermal-expansion (low-CTE) glass fiber cloth used in advanced semiconductor packaging. The expansion will increase capacity to 3.6 times its fiscal 2025 level by fiscal 2029, reflecting persistent supply shortages and growing demand from AI chipmakers.
The US AI data center expansion is entering a critical phase, with electricity supply and local governance emerging as major constraints. Democrat Gina Hinojosa's victory in the 2026 Texas gubernatorial election has added policy uncertainty to new data center projects already delayed by grid interconnection and environmental reviews.
