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Oct 12 SEMICONDUCTORS

TSMC, ASML eye 12-inch photomasks to unlock High-NA EUV's full-field potential

Oct 12 SEMICONDUCTORS

AI racks approach megawatt power levels as SiC, GaN, silicon divide power delivery roles

Oct 12 SEMICONDUCTORS

Rapidus targets customers underserved by TSMC, but can it convince them to take the risk?

TSMC, Intel, and Musk's Terafab

As Elon Musk's Terafab ambitions advance, the realities of modern silicon manufacturing become increasingly apparent.

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SEMICONDUCTORS

Oct 12

Samsung, SK Hynix accept ASML's 10% price hike in parts, report says

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix have accepted a 10% increase in ASML's replacement-part prices for lithography systems in South Korea, with the higher rates taking effect for deliveries starting in January 2027, The Elec reported on October 11, citing industry sources.

Oct 12

Samsung could unseat SK Hynix as HBM leader in 2027

Samsung Electronics could overtake SK Hynix as the world's largest supplier of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) in 2027, as HBM4 prices climb and memory manufacturers compete for limited DRAM production capacity, according to forecasts presented at an October 6 semiconductor industry forum in Seoul.

Oct 12

MediaTek flagship AP share to surpass Samsung as TSMC boosts Dimensity

As the global smartphone system-on-chip (SoC) market contracts, competition in the high-end application processor (AP) segment is intensifying. MediaTek is accelerating its push into the flagship market, putting greater pressure on Samsung Electronics, which is promoting 2-nanometer Exynos chips.

ICT

Oct 12

Moonshot AI's Hong Kong IPO faces a critical ownership dispute ahead of US$50 billion debut

China's Moonshot AI is seeking to settle a shareholder dispute involving claims potentially exceeding US$700 million ahead of a potential US$5 billion Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO). Allegations concerning asset transfers and corporate governance could complicate the AI startup's listing preparations.

Oct 12

Microsoft calls for observable AI systems with emergency shutdown controls

Microsoft urged organizations to design artificial intelligence systems as observable, controllable infrastructure rather than opaque "black boxes," arguing that people must be able to monitor model behavior and stop it during an emergency. The company said the approach should apply to enterprise AI systems as they are tested, deployed, and connected to business data and tools.

Oct 12

Taiwan exports soar as shipments to the US top US$200 billion in first nine months

Taiwan's exports hit a single-month record high of US$87.22 billion in September 2026, lifting the year-to-date total for the first nine months of the year to US$661.55 billion, according to customs import and export statistics released by Taiwan's Ministry of Finance (MOF) on October 8. Exports to the US totaled US$207.78 billion in the first nine months, a level the ministry called "unprecedented."

TRENDING

COMMUNICATIONS

Oct 12

Memory surge lifts phone prices, boosting N-1 and used-device demand

Rising memory prices have forced smartphone brands to raise handset prices, hurting new-device sales in 2026. Global smartphone shipments are expected to drop 15-17%, while demand for N-1 generation and used smartphones is surging, potentially pushing the used-phone market beyond 300 million units and creating new orders for display, battery, and casing suppliers.

Oct 12

Apple's iPhone 18 order cuts expose widening divide in premium demand

Apple's iPhone 18 Pro lineup is showing mixed demand signals weeks after launch. Reports of component order cuts suggest weaker-than-expected sales, while Chinese supply-chain sources point to stronger demand for the pricier Pro Max and foldable iPhone Duo. The divergence highlights growing pressure on Apple's premium strategy as rising memory costs drive smartphone prices higher.

Oct 12

Commentary: Largan plays defense in phones, presses CPO offensive

Largan chairman Adam Lin spoke about the company's cautious smartphone outlook while taking a more aggressive stance on co-packaged optics (CPO) during a recent online earnings briefing. His comments on order trends, gross margins, and 2026 visibility highlight three simultaneous pressures facing the smartphone camera-lens industry.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Oct 12

DIGITIMES Insight: Personal AI agents could reshape who controls the smart cockpit experience

Meta's recent introduction of its personal AI agent, Muse, has renewed interest in AI assistants capable of operating across devices. Unlike conventional AI features tied to individual smartphones, computers or vehicles, personal AI agents use memory, reasoning and tools to understand user needs and maintain personalised experiences across services and devices. DIGITIMES observes that this shift could extend AI agents into vehicles, transforming smart cockpits from standalone in-car systems into connected environments integrated with smartphones, wearables and personal digital services.

Oct 12

EU caps annual HEV imports at 350,000 to curb trade deficit with China

The European Union plans to cap imports of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) at 350,000 units per year, with safeguard measures potentially taking effect as early as December 1, 2026. The four-year framework sets a 350,000-unit limit in its first year, followed by a 6% annual quota expansion starting in the second year, while both sides commit to complying with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.

Oct 12

AITO doubles down on CATL as China's battery supply chain shifts toward selective diversification

As efforts to curb CATL's dominance accelerate across China's automotive landscape, the domestic battery market is beginning to move away from single-supplier dependence and toward a more diversified sourcing model.

SUSTAINABILITY

Oct 12

Taiwan semiconductor industry eyes landmark geothermal power deal exceeding 20MW

Taiwan's geothermal energy market could be approaching a major breakthrough as the semiconductor industry seeks new sources of reliable renewable electricity amid surging AI-driven power demand.

Oct 8

Bloom Energy SOFC system to support AOI's Taiwan expansion

Taiwan-based energy solutions provider Leadray Energy has partnered with Bloom Energy to deploy a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) on-site power generation system at an expansion project operated by Applied Optoelectronics' (AOI) subsidiary in Taiwan.