China's smartphone shipments fell nearly 4% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, despite government initiatives aimed at stimulating demand through purchase subsidies for ICT terminal products. The attempt to boost sales has struggled against extended replacement cycles and widespread market penetration
Ant Group has taken a minority stake in InnoStar Semiconductor (Shanghai) Co., a rising Chinese memory chipmaker, highlighting Beijing's drive for semiconductor self-sufficiency as US export restrictions intensify
Physical AI has become a key focus in the manufacturing and IT industries, as AI applications extend from online environments into the physical world, leading companies to begin deploying robots in real-world settings through significant improvements in training efficiency. However, considerable challenges remain in achieving high precision in applications such as autonomous driving
Taiwan's GCCS has become a preferred third-party supplier for global semiconductor and EV giants amid China's SiC substrate price wars. Chairman Chung-Chieh Chang expects long-term supply contracts starting in the second half of 2026 to drive revenue growth and profitability
MicroLED is regarded as the next-generation display technology, with Taiwan leading global development due to strong semiconductor and display integration, plus government support. Despite high costs slowing mass adoption, microLED's role in advanced chip packaging co-packaged optics (CPO) creates fresh applications beyond displays
China's SenseTime is starting to reap the benefits of its "1+X" business strategy, CEO Xu Li said. The Hong Kong-based AI firm halved its adjusted net loss in the first half of 2025 compared with a year earlier and expects the pace of improvement to quicken in the second half. Xu added that divesting certain non-core businesses from the balance sheet could push the company into profitability immediately
Surging demand for AI, large language models (LLMS), and high-performance computing is propelling co-packaged optics (CPO) into the spotlight of the semiconductor industry. The technology integrates optical engines with switch chips to reduce power consumption and expand bandwidth, positioning it as a core enabler for next-generation data centers and AI servers
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's lobbying efforts for the H20 GPU and the company's upcoming Blackwell-based custom chips have drawn wide attention. But in China's GPU market, Nvidia and AMD continue to dominate thanks to their technology edge and software ecosystems, while local vendors are still struggling with four persistent weaknesses
South Korea's semiconductor push into India is being spearheaded by major players such as Samsung Electronics, while smaller firms have shown limited investment despite growing interest
SK Hynix announced that it has successfully assembled the industry's first high-NA extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography system for mass production at its M16 fabrication plant in Icheon, South Korea
Taiwan-based Yageo has secured approval from Japanese foreign direct investment (FDI) authorities to acquire Shibaura Electronics, following an extensive national security review. The clearance allows Yageo to move forward with its tender offer bid (TOB), advancing the US$740 million acquisition into its final stages
Hangzhou Unitree Technology, a leading Chinese robotics startup, plans to file listing documents between October and December for an upcoming stock market debut. The company announced the timeline on September 2 via X (Twitter), adding that it had already submitted a pre-listing application in July
TSMC has become the latest chipmaker to lose its exemption to use US semiconductor equipment in China, following similar moves against South Korea's Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Intel. Industry analysts suggest the operational impact may be limited in the short term, but will bring fresh uncertainty for the long term
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming diagnostic and treatment methods in healthcare. Ho Chun-yung (transliterated from Korean), a neurologist at South Korea's Yonsei University, has been exploring the integration of AI technology into clinical practice to help patients receive more timely and effective care while reflecting on the evolving relationship between AI and physicians
China has been actively demonstrating advancements in its artificial intelligence (AI) sector. Despite still trailing major US companies, China continues to pursue development amid ongoing US export controls that limit access to advanced technology
