South Korean leading tech conglomerates Naver and Kakao have placed artificial intelligence firmly at the core of their future strategies, as evidenced by recent shareholder meetings. However, despite this shared focus, the companies are pursuing markedly different approaches shaped by distinct leadership styles and internal priorities, reports ETNews and ZDNet Korea

China has taken steps to restrict local companies from investing in the US, according to people familiar with the matter, in a move that could give Beijing more leverage for potential trade negotiations with the Trump administration

Microsoft has closed its AI and IoT laboratory in Shanghai, adding to the growing list of multinational corporations scaling back operations in China. According to a report by The South China Morning Post, the lab in Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park now stands empty, with office equipment removed and Microsoft's corporate logo taken down from the building

Goertek, a leading Chinese electronics manufacturer, is expanding its footprint in Vietnam with a proposed VND9,717 billion (approx. US$391 million) investment while also formalizing a partnership with Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST) to support talent development and joint research initiatives

Sharp Corporation announced on March 31 that it has agreed to sell an idle LCD panel factory in Mie Prefecture, Japan, to local electronics component maker Aoi Electronics. Known as Mie Plant 1, the facility spans roughly 60,000 square meters (approx. 14.83 acres) and has been inactive since 2015, when Sharp halted small- and medium-size LCD production there

Vivo, China's top smartphone brand from 2021 to 2024, is making a surprising pivot into the home robotics market. While global tech giants double down on electric vehicles (EVs) amid a saturated smartphone landscape, Vivo is betting its future on consumer-grade robots for personal and household use

On April 1, 2025, TSMC's Japanese subsidiary, JASM, hosted its annual new employee enrollment ceremony, a tradition for many Japanese companies, at its headquarters in Kikuyo Town, Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu. Despite delays in the installation of some equipment at JASM's first wafer plant and a postponed construction schedule for the second plant, the company saw a significant increase in the number of new hires this year

At the 2025 ZGC Forum, Chinese chipmaker Loongson introduced the 3C6000/D—its first dual-socket 2U server fully designed and manufactured in-house. The launch highlights China's efforts to advance homegrown high-performance computing (HPC) technologies amid tightening US export restrictions and signals progress in building domestic alternatives to foreign server chips

Towa, a prominent name in Japan's semiconductor manufacturing equipment industry, has introduced a new technology specifically designed for the sixth-generation high bandwidth memory (HBM4) advanced packaging. In addition to this development, the company revealed a strategic three-year midterm plan set to culminate in March 2028. The aim is to expand its sales channels throughout Asia for its leading equipment. Towa forecasts a 31% increase in consolidated revenue from March 2025 figures, expecting it to reach JPY71 billion (US$473.97 million), while net profit is projected to rise by 39% to JPY10.9 billion

At the 2025 ZGC Forum in Beijing, held from March 27 to 31, artificial intelligence (AI) dominated the agenda. At the event's flagship "Future AI Pioneer Forum," 01.AI CEO and Sinovation Ventures founder Kai-Fu Lee shared his perspective on the trajectory of generative AI in China

As China rapidly advances in artificial intelligence, local smartphone brands are integrating AI technology to strengthen their market positions. Meanwhile, Apple has yet to launch its AI chatbot in China, raising questions about its ability to compete. Given China's strong demand for AI services, Apple must collaborate with local firms to meet regulatory requirements and remain relevant in the market

Rapidus officially launched its IIM-1 semiconductor fab in Chitose City, Hokkaido, on April 1, marking a major milestone in Japan's ambition to produce cutting-edge 2nm chips. However, company executives caution that improving yield rates and securing future customers remain key challenges, reports Nikkei and Bloomberg

Chinese companies like BYD are now leaders in autonomous driving technology, bolstered by a strong ecosystem and government support, putting significant pressure on Tesla

Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong was recently joined by senior executives from the company's semiconductor and display departments on a rare visit to China. Industry analysts in South Korea say the joint trip is highly unusual and likely points to a strategic pivot in Samsung Group's China operations