Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are set to join a US-led initiative to secure artificial intelligence and semiconductor supply chains, expanding a framework Washington views as a cornerstone of its economic security strategy.

CES returned to Las Vegas this month, but whether CES 2026 felt as electric as past editions remains a matter of debate. The answer depends on where one looks. A handful of key metrics offer a clearer, if more nuanced, picture of the show's true momentum.

As the automotive sector advances towards software-defined vehicles, Garmin has introduced its Unified Cabin architecture, emphasizing integration of generative AI, spatial positioning, and cross-device connectivity within a single high-performance system-on-chip (SoC). This approach highlights a shift from mere feature stacking to deep convergence of hardware and software for enhanced in-car experiences.

CES has increasingly become a key platform for the automotive industry, often dubbed an alternative auto show in recent years due to the rising presence of car-related technologies. From concept vehicles and autonomous driving to electrification, automakers' displays frequently outshine traditional consumer electronics.

Given shifting tariff policies and ongoing supply chain restructuring, Taiwan's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are undergoing a structural transformation in their foreign trade models. Annie Liao, the newly appointed general manager of Alibaba.com Taiwan, observed that order-taking practices that were once concentrated in a few markets have loosened over the past year. More companies are now experimenting with diversified export markets and accepting smaller but more varied orders. Taiwan manufacturers' flexibility in customization and strong capability to replicate and refine products have become key advantages that set them apart from competitors.

Below are the most-read DIGITIMES Asia stories of the first full week of 2026: January 5-11.

Electronic component distributor Honey Hope Honesty Enterprise (3H) reported December 2025 revenue of NT$652 million (US$20.63 million), up 52.01% year over year. The strong growth was primarily driven by urgent customer orders, which boosted sales. For the full year of 2025, cumulative revenue reached NT$5.43 billion, up 15.75% compared to 2024.

Benefiting from a rebound in global retail, financial automation, and cybersecurity demand, Industrial PC (IPC) maker Ennoconn announced that its Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) business grew significantly, pushing monthly revenue to a new record high. Although cumulative full-year 2025 revenue showed a slight year-over-year decline due to the timing of project revenue recognition, Ennoconn's standalone operations maintained double-digit growth for the full year. This shows that the group's efforts in optimizing its product mix and transitioning toward higher-margin Ennoconn Solution as a Service (ESaaS) strategies have begun to pay off.

China's Ministry of Commerce announced on January 8, 2026, that it supports lawful cross-border business and international technology cooperation, emphasizing that overseas investments, technology exports, data transfers, and mergers and acquisitions must comply with applicable regulations and complete required procedures. The ministry is currently reviewing Meta Platforms' acquisition of artificial intelligence (AI) startup Manus, working with other authorities to assess whether the transaction aligns with export control rules, technology import-export governance, and outbound investment regulations.

For years, smart glasses and augmented reality (AR) headsets were among the most visible attractions at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), peaking in 2025 when they dominated the exhibition floor. At CES 2026, their presence was noticeably reduced. This does not point to an industry slowdown. Rather, it signals the sector's exit from the "concept phase" and its entry into a market defined by price competition and practical commercialisation.

The surge in global artificial intelligence data centers (AIDCs) revealed at CES 2026 highlights a pivotal shift in energy consumption patterns. From autonomous vehicles to smart healthcare, these technologies increasingly depend on robust energy infrastructure, transforming traditional power supply dynamics. The growth of energy storage systems (ESS) now surpasses electric vehicle (EV) batteries, marking a new chapter in the energy transformation landscape.

CyberPower Systems, a Taiwanese maker of uninterruptible power supply systems, said its revenue declined modestly in December 2025 and for the full year 2025, as changes in US tariff policy and customer inventory adjustments weighed on shipments.

Cloud and AI services provider Acer E-Enabling Service Business (AEB) reported December 2025 revenue of NT$1.14 billion (approx. US$36.1 million), representing year-over-year growth of more than 20%. Cumulative full-year 2025 revenue reached NT$9.66 billion, up 11% year-over-year, marking an all-time high and the company's eighth consecutive year of record revenue. General manager Sandy Chou said that revenue grew from NT$5.43 billion in 2020 to more than NT$9.6 billion in 2025. The company earned more than its paid-in capital each year from 2021 to 2024, demonstrating its long-term operational strength.

Tai-Tech Advanced Electronics posted record revenue in December, the fourth quarter, and the full year of 2025, driven by strong AI-related demand and an initial round of price increases for ferrite bead products, the company said.

Connector and cable harness maker Pan-International announced its December 2025 revenue, benefiting from year-end customer pull-ins and settlement effects, with monthly revenue rebounding by more than 10% from November. Declines in both year-over-year and quarter-over-quarter revenue in the fourth quarter of 2025 were driven by cautious consumer electronics customers and slowing automotive demand, but Pan-International is now actively restructuring.

Japanese semiconductor equipment maker TEL is ramping up investments to capitalize on a supercycle in memory demand driven by artificial intelligence (AI) servers. With DRAM and other memory prices expected to surge roughly 10x starting fall 2025, rapid global data center expansion is fueling explosive demand for advanced semiconductor manufacturing tools.

At the opening of his keynote, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang delivered a stark message: the world's US$10 trillion computing infrastructure is entering a fundamental modernization phase, driven by two platform shifts unfolding in parallel.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang addressed concerns over tight memory supply and soaring prices during a media Q&A at CES 2026, stating that Nvidia is likely the world's only chip company consistently purchasing large volumes of memory and ranks among the largest direct memory buyers globally.

Hyundai Motor Group said it plans to begin mass production of artificial-intelligence-powered robots by 2028, building a manufacturing system capable of producing about 30,000 units annually as it moves decisively from experimentation into commercialization.

Chinese humanoid robots made a high-profile debut at CES 2026, demonstrating capabilities ranging from table-tennis play to kung fu routines. For many exhibitors, the Las Vegas show was less about spectacle and more about securing overseas customers and accelerating commercial orders.

As artificial intelligence (AI) advances and computational demands intensify, the industry is witnessing a fundamental shift in how AI system architecture is understood, with energy and power supply emerging as critical constraints. The anticipated arrival of next-generation GPU platforms such as Nvidia's Blackwell and Vera Rubin after 2026 highlights looming challenges in rack-level power delivery, forcing the power supply sector to evolve beyond traditional roles toward accelerated development at the device level.

With the ongoing volatility in the electronics supply chain and persistent component shortages, Chicony Power is accelerating its transformation on the back of its existing notebook power supply business. The company is cautious for 2026 with expectations that the PC and consumer electronics industries will be constrained by semiconductor supply issues. In response, Chicony Power stated that it will shift its operational focus from pursuing shipment scale to optimizing its product mix. Through strategic alliances, the company has officially entered Supermicro's modular AI containerized computing center supply chain, intending to offset volatility in the traditional consumer electronics market with high-value-added AI applications and intelligent solutions.

Tex Year Industries has just about completed its layout in specialty adhesives, materials, and chemicals for the AI and optoelectronics industries. It expects to see a significant increase in shipments and double-digit growth in 2026. This year, Tex Year will focus on five areas: AI cloud data centers, EVs, drones, smartphones, and Mini LED displays.

At CES 2026, Qualcomm Technologies highlighted new collaborations and growing adoption of its Snapdragon Digital Chassis solutions, aiming to advance software-defined vehicles (SDVs) and agentic AI-driven in-cabin experiences. The company outlined updates across infotainment, digital cockpit, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), and end-to-end automated driving platforms.