China's drive for self-sufficiency in AI has taken a new turn with Huawei's launch of AI solid-state drives (SSDs), aimed at easing severe shortages of high-bandwidth memory (HBM). Industry analysts describe the shift as "storage-driven computing," where SSDs move beyond passive data storage to play an active role in AI workloads

On August 26, 2025, China's State Council released a guideline on deepening the implementation of the Artificial Intelligence Plus Initiative, outlining six key sectors and setting phased targets for 2027, 2030, and 2035

Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics' television businesses have fallen from their former status as "flagship divisions" to becoming performance "obstacles," frequently losing ground in competition against Chinese companies. Industry insiders in South Korea are hopeful that the microLED TV market will flourish, helping Samsung and LG reverse their disadvantages in the TV sector

Sharp Corporation announced on August 29 that it will sell part of its LCD panel factory in Kameyama City, Mie Prefecture, to automotive parts developer Topia for JPY1.2 billion (approx. US$8.172 million). The transaction involves the Kameyama Kita Plant, which ceased production in fiscal year 2020, according to Nikkei and NHK

Memory spot prices surged in the second quarter of 2025 but have since stabilized at high levels. DDR4 supply remains constrained, yet the earlier rush to secure inventory has eased, with market activity reverting to more typical trading patterns. Industry analysts expect DDR4 contract prices to continue rising through year-end, as inventories at leading memory suppliers remain low

China's top economic planner has pledged to prevent excess competition in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector, signaling Beijing's intent to balance rapid innovation with the risks of overcapacity. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said provinces should pursue AI development in a coordinated and complementary way, leveraging their distinctive strengths rather than duplicating efforts

BYD Electronic (International) Co. Ltd. posted first-half 2025 revenue of CNY80.61 billion (US$11.3 billion), a 2.58% increase year-over-year, while net profit climbed 14% to CNY1.73 billion. Earnings per share were CNY0.77, with no interim dividend declared

Huawei Technologies Co. posted a first-half profit, getting back into the black after the emergence of DeepSeek ignited a wave of AI development across China

At the 2025 India-Japan Annual Summit, leaders advanced collaboration in semiconductors, AI, robotics, green energy, and space technologies. With JPY10 trillion (USD$67 Bn) in planned Japanese investment, both nations aim to integrate high-tech manufacturing, digital innovation, and talent mobility, strengthening industrial competitiveness and future-ready technology partnerships

China's Cambricon Technologies, a leading domestic AI chip startup, has endured a turbulent rise marked by the brilliance of its founding brothers and the pressure of shifting geopolitics. Formally known as Beijing Zhongke Cambricon Science and Technology Co., the firm was founded in 2016 by brothers Chen Yunji, 42, and Chen Tianshi, 40. Both were child prodigies at the University of Science and Technology of China and later earned doctorates at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, laying the groundwork for their entry into AI chip design

As artificial intelligence and high-performance computing continue to advance rapidly, high-bandwidth memory (HBM) paired with GPUs has become a critical battleground in the semiconductor industry. Joungho Kim, a professor of electrical engineering at KAIST and widely recognized as the "father of HBM" in South Korea, emphasized the importance of emerging technologies such as hybrid bonding, high-bandwidth flash (HBF), and compute-in-HBM in shaping the future of memory design

Samsung Electro-Mechanics (Semco) CEO Duckhyun Chang reportedly met Boston Dynamics CEO Robert Playter at the company's Suwon headquarters in late July to discuss potential cooperation on next-generation robotics, including humanoid robots

The drone industry is growing beyond its earlier focus on military applications into other industrial sectors and public safety. As an example, the South Korean government is accelerating the development of next-generation drone technologies as vital tools for addressing public safety and disaster response

Samsung Electronics' smartphone division is reportedly struggling with escalating cost pressures, largely attributed to the rapid rise in prices for mobile application processors (AP). While increasing the use of its own Exynos chips could potentially reduce procurement expenses, Samsung still finds it challenging to fully replace Qualcomm's products due to performance and market competitiveness considerations

On August 27, 2025, the labor unions of six sub-subsidiaries under South Korean internet giant Naver Corporation held a rally at Naver's headquarters, demanding negotiations with management. Following the passage of the "Yellow Envelope" bill, South Korean businesses now expect joint actions among IT company subsidiaries to intensify