Tokyo Electron (TEL) has reaffirmed its positive annual outlook and announced plans to invest JPY104 billion (approx. US$685 million) in a new factory for circuit etching equipment. This move underscores the company's expectation that artificial intelligence (AI)-related spending will continue to rise

Copper has been hailed as "the oil of the new energy sector," playing an irreplaceable role in areas such as power transmission, renewable energy, and electric vehicles (EVs). Specifically, China has been the world's largest consumer of copper due to its leading development in renewable energy and EVs, making its demand trends the focal point of global markets. Furthermore, movements in major copper-producing countries in South America, along with US tariff policies, also impact the global supply landscape

China has opened an antitrust investigation into Google, in what analysts view as a retaliatory move against heightened US tariffs. While Google's presence in China is minimal, industry sources indicate that authorities seek to undermine Android's influence to bolster domestic brands like Huawei. However, the probe appears politically driven rather than market-driven, with potential fallout for China's tech industry

DeepSeek has achieved a significant breakthrough in China's artificial intelligence landscape amid escalating technological tensions with the US. The company's self-developed deep learning framework has successfully integrated with multiple domestic CPUs and GPUs, marking a crucial step in bridging China's AI software and hardware industries

Japan's Cabinet approved amendments to the Act on the Promotion of Information Processing and the Act on Special Accounts on February 7, 2025. The proposal, which will undergo a National Diet review, aims to support next-generation semiconductor and data center firms through enhanced government investment and tax incentives, with Rapidus positioned as a primary beneficiary

Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has demonstrated a cost-effective approach to high-performance AI, potentially disrupting SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics' positions as key suppliers of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) for Nvidia. This development has prompted both companies to consider strategic shifts, with industry observers closely monitoring the situation

As the Trump administration considers tariffs on semiconductors imported into the US, which country would be most affected, and to what extent

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) strengthens its dominance in advanced semiconductor manufacturing as Apple begins mass production of the M5 chip for MacBook and iPad models. The new chip leverages AI-driven manufacturing enhancements for improved performance

Samsung Electronics Device eXperience (DX) division is implementing significant changes to its overseas leadership to strengthen global competitiveness. Most notably, former Taiwan General Manager Dustin Lee has taken over the position for the China region. As Samsung faces challenges in the fiercely competitive Chinese market, industry observers are watching closely to see if his management experience can lead to breakthroughs

While the release of an open-source model by Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has been met with widespread acclaim in China, mainstream US media have responded with cautious scrutiny, raising concerns about potential privacy and national security risks. However, US President Donald Trump unexpectedly has taken a notably different stance on DeepSeek

DeepSeek's conclusion of its promotional trial period brings substantial price increases to its API services, potentially shifting enterprise strategies toward on-premise deployments while easing competitive pressure on public cloud providers. The move signals a broader transformation in AI investment strategies as demand continues to grow

DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence startup, has disrupted the global AI landscape by launching two open-source models that demonstrate significant innovation and cost efficiency, potentially altering market dynamics amid ongoing geopolitical tensions

Chinese smartphone brands and system-on-chip (SoC) designers are showing increased optimism about demand for premium devices, driven by the country's new consumer electronics subsidy program. This development particularly benefits Qualcomm and MediaTek, which are strengthening their flagship smartphone SoC offerings while their competitor Apple faces growing market challenges in China

Samsung Electronics faces renewed uncertainty after South Korean prosecutors filed an appeal against chairman Lee Jae-Yong's acquittal in a merger case, potentially hampering the company's strategic initiatives. The appeal comes just as Lee had begun to leverage his cleared status to strengthen global partnerships and advance the company's AI ambitions

These are the most-read DIGITIMES Asia stories from February 3 – February 8