Two of the world's leading closed-source AI models—Ernie Bot and ChatGPT—are set to become free to use, intensifying competition in the AI market. The move, widely seen as a response to DeepSeek's growing influence, is expected to trigger a new wave of AI price wars
China's rapid expansion in mature-node wafer foundries is reshaping the global semiconductor landscape and intensifying competition for Taiwanese second-tier players. In a market estimated at roughly US$56.3 billion, Chinese foundries—such as Hua Hong Semiconductor and SMIC—are aggressively cutting prices and rapidly expanding capacity. This surge has not only prompted the US government to initiate a Section 301 investigation but has also served as a wake-up call across the industry
On February 13, Applied Materials released its latest financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 (November 2024 to October 2025), with net sales reaching US$7.17 billion, reflecting a 6.8% increase compared to the same period last year
Honda and Nissan have officially called off their merger negotiations, which began in December 2024. Both companies held board meetings on February 13, 2025, where they decided to end the discussions
ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) has accelerated its next-generation DRAM development, transitioning from 17nm to 16nm process technology for its first DDR5 product, according to TechInsights. The company is also advancing 15nm DRAM, with plans to complete R&D by 2025 and begin mass production in late 2026
The advanced logic ICs and memory needed to support generative AI (GenAI) have brought huge benefits to related semiconductor equipment manufacturers. In 2025, the DeepSeek impact is not expected to deter US tech giants from investing heavily in AI infrastructure, fueling optimism for semiconductor equipment makers eyeing the AI chip opportunity
During Qualcomm's latest earnings call, CEO Cristiano Amon described DeepSeek-R1 as a turning point for the AI industry, driving the shift of AI inference from the cloud to edge devices. He highlighted that DeepSeek-R1 strengthens Qualcomm's competitive position, as its chips are optimized for efficient on-device AI processing, reducing dependence on cloud-based computing
Samsung Electronics' foundry unit is set to ramp up production, lifting shutdown measures on its manufacturing equipment and targeting full operational capacity at its Pyeongtaek facility by June 2025, according to industry sources
Samsung Electronics plans to convert part of its 3D NAND production at its Xi'an plant in China to the company's most advanced 286-layer stacked products
China's semiconductor equipment purchases are expected to decline in 2025 after three years of growth, according to Canadian research firm TechInsights. The decline comes amid industry overcapacity and intensified US export controls
Donald Trump's administration is implementing sweeping tariff reforms that reverse many of his predecessor's policies. The US has initiated a Section 301 investigation targeting China's mature semiconductor manufacturing and third-generation silicon carbide (SiC) technologies. With the Trump administration showing no signs of halting the probe, the investigation appears set to continue
Japanese electronic components supplier Taiyo Yuden has revised its financial forecast for fiscal 2024 (ending March 31, 2025), expecting year-over-year increases in revenue and operating profit
The proposed merger between Honda and Nissan has reached an impasse, while Renault is preparing to reduce its 36% ownership in Nissan. This development has sparked speculation about potential new investors, notably Apple and Foxconn
