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Friday 20 March 2026
Samsung reportedly secures OpenAI HBM4 supply deal, shifts foundry capacity
Samsung Electronics is reportedly set to exclusively supply sixth-generation high-bandwidth memory (HBM4) to OpenAI while reallocating more than half of its advanced foundry capacity to internal production, according to Hankyung and industry sources. The move underscores the South Korean chipmaker's drive to meet surging demand for artificial intelligence (AI) components as orders from major customers — including Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) — continue to accelerate
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Monday 23 March 2026
China's AI GPU self-sufficiency to hit 80% by 2030 highlights growing challenges for Nvidia
Recent reports indicate that the Trump administration planned to tighten export controls on AI chips to China but has since withdrawn new proposals. While these regulatory pressures make it difficult for US-based AI chipmakers like Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), China's AI GPU market is not standing still waiting for Washington's approval
Monday 23 March 2026
China moves into high-end photoresist production: Dinglong ramps up, YMTC lends support
As geopolitical tensions and energy transport risks heighten volatility in the global semiconductor supply chain, the stability of upstream critical materials — particularly photoresists — is coming back into focus
Monday 23 March 2026
Samsung chairman joins Beijing forum as China seeks foreign chip investment

Samsung Electronics chairman Lee Jae-yong is attending the China Development Forum (CDF) in Beijing on March 22-23 and is expected to meet major Chinese business partners following the event, according to Asiae and Korea Times

Monday 23 March 2026
China's DeepLink unifies heterogeneous chips to boost AI computing power
The Shanghai AI Laboratory recently unveiled its DeepLink hybrid inference solution, emphasizing heterogeneous chip collaborative computing capabilities. This move marks a breakthrough in integrating China's AI computing infrastructure and is seen as a localized alternative amid limited access to advanced GPUs and interconnect technologies
Monday 23 March 2026
SK Hynix plans TSMC 3nm adoption for HBM4E edge over Samsung
SK Hynix is reportedly evaluating the use of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's (TSMC) 3-nanometer process for producing the logic die in its seventh-generation high-bandwidth memory (HBM4E)
Monday 23 March 2026
An imminent strike looms over Samsung's AI memory supply
Samsung Electronics is facing escalating labor tensions after its largest union secured approval for a strike, raising concerns over potential disruptions to semiconductor production at a critical juncture for the global AI supply chain, according to Korean media reports, including SEDaily and Chosun Ilbo
Monday 23 March 2026
Facing regulatory and competitive pressures, Apple CEO signals alignment with China
Apple CEO Tim Cook struck a conciliatory tone at the China Development Forum, praising Chinese developers and manufacturing capabilities while emphasizing shared goals in innovation and sustainability, just days after renewed state media criticism of Apple's App Store practices, according to Bloomberg
Monday 23 March 2026
Konica Minolta to expand AI chip inspection optics capacity 2.6x by 2027

Japanese optical component and office equipment maker Konica Minolta said on March 18 it will scale up its optical components business for semiconductor inspection systems, targeting revenue of JPY15 billion (approx. US$94.1 million) in the fiscal year ending March 2031 (April 2030-March 2031). The segment is projected to generate JPY2.5 billion in fiscal 2025

Monday 23 March 2026
Apple cuts China App Store fees as AI agents threaten app economy
Apple will cut App Store commissions in China from March 15, lowering the standard rate from 30% to 25% and discounted tiers for small developers and selected programs from 15% to 12%. The move marks a rare adjustment to a core revenue model and signals a new phase in the global "Apple tax" debate
Sunday 22 March 2026
Samsung union votes to strike, risking Nvidia HBM4 supply disruption
Samsung Electronics' labor union has voted overwhelmingly to initiate dispute proceedings following a breakdown in wage negotiations, raising concerns over potential disruptions to the supply of HBM4 memory for Nvidia's next-generation AI accelerators
Saturday 21 March 2026
Xiaomi MiMo-V2-Pro tops AI model rankings in blind tests

An unidentified artificial intelligence (AI) model, Hunter Alpha, has drawn industry attention in recent weeks. It has now been confirmed as an early internal test version of Xiaomi's flagship foundation model, MiMo-V2-Pro

Saturday 21 March 2026
Samsung orders 15M mid-range OLED panels from CSOT amid cost pressure
Samsung Electronics is reportedly shifting a significant portion of its mid-range smartphone OLED panel orders to China Star Optoelectronics Technology (CSOT) as rising memory prices intensify cost pressure, according to The Elec
Saturday 21 March 2026
MA-tek secures top 3 global SiPh orders, eyes US-Japan growth in 2026
With silicon photonics (SiPh) demand surging, MA-tek chairwoman Yong-Fen Hsieh announced the company has secured major orders from the world's three largest customers, driving revenue contributions. Following the booming AI chip market, SiPh and co-packaged optics (CPO) are set to become the next strong growth engines. Although the SiPh boom still requires time to mature, MA-tek expects its testing business revenue to double over the next three years, with overall operations targeting double-digit growth in 2026
Friday 20 March 2026
Samsung plans over KRW110 trillion investment in AI semiconductor facilities and R&D for 2026
Samsung Electronics announced it will invest more than KRW110 trillion (approx. US$73.4 billion) in facilities and R&D by 2026 to secure a leading position in the AI semiconductor era. This marks the first time its annual investment surpasses the "KRW100 trillion" threshold
Friday 20 March 2026
Samsung reportedly ceasing TriFold smartphone sales

Samsung Electronics is reportedly discontinuing its premium Galaxy Z TriFold smartphone just months after launch, underscoring the device's role as a technological showcase rather than a mass-market product, according to Bloomberg. The US$2,899 foldable, featuring a dual-hinge design that expands into a 10-inch tablet, will first be pulled from South Korea before sales are halted in the US. Samsung's website has already removed messaging around restocks, listing the device as "sold out.