STMicroelectronics (STM) is partnering with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to develop a data center photonic chip that delivers 800Gbps and 1.6Tbps optical interconnect speeds for AI and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads. AWS plans to integrate the chip into its internal infrastructure.
Taiwan's status as a global powerhouse in the semiconductor industry could be undermined by labor shortages, but talent from India could provide a solution.
Cable and connector maker BizLink expects steady demand for high-performance computing (HPC) and semiconductor production equipment (SPE) to drive growth in 2025, with chairman Roger Liang decidedly optimistic about quarter-by-quarter growth this year, in contrast with the cautious optimism held previously.
SK Hynix CEO Noh-Jung Kwak, reflecting on the emergence of China's DeepSeek, predicts that the generative AI model will ultimately have a positive impact on the semiconductor industry in the long run.
To enhance AI's role in scientific R&D, Google has introduced an "AI co-scientist," a multi-agent AI system initially available for testing by a select group of research organizations.
Alibaba Group's financial report for the fourth quarter of 2024 reveals an 8% year-over-year revenue increase, driven by the year-end shopping season. The revenue totaled CNY280.2 billion (US$38.6 billion), registering the fastest growth rate in over a year. This reflects strong performance in its core e-commerce and cloud computing sectors.
Taiwan's first domestically produced intelligent chemotherapy dispensing robotic arm, developed by panel maker Innolux in collaboration with Chi Mei Hospital in Tainan, has reached a significant milestone—successfully dispensing over 1,000 chemotherapy prescriptions.
Oppo intends to expand generative AI features to all its smartphones, not just flagship models. After meeting a sales target of over 50 million AI-enabled smartphones in 2024, the company plans to double this figure, targeting over 100 million units in 2025.
The fight in China's auto market has shifted from electrification to intelligent driving, as leading new energy vehicle (NEV) maker BYD makes intelligent driving a standard feature in its entry-level vehicle models at no extra cost, drawing in its competitors and triggering intense competition in the domestic market.
The surge of artificial intelligence (AI) is prompting Taiwanese networking companies to seize emerging opportunities. Accton is actively expanding into areas such as all-optical communications and AI accelerators, while Senao Networks has teamed up with Intel to enter the standard server market. Sercomm is also diligently exploring growth potential in sectors like the smart grid and the Internet of Things (IoT).
DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, has fueled growing attention toward low-cost models in the AI industry. Ubitus Founder and CEO, Wesley Kuo, believes that lower training costs will drive up demand for inference-end services. As more language models showcase "chain of thought" (CoT) abilities, the computational power required for these processes will increase, leading to a continued rise in GPU demand.
Wireless communication testing laboratory Sporton International is expected to maintain growth momentum in 2025, with consolidated revenue for the fourth quarter reaching NT$1.126 billion (US$34.4 million), a consolidated gross margin of 50%, and a consolidated pre-tax net profit of NT$386 million. The post-tax net profit stood at NT$295 million, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 3.87%. For the entire year of 2024, consolidated revenue is projected to be NT$4.555 billion, with a consolidated gross margin of 50%, a consolidated pre-tax net profit of NT$1.677 billion, and a post-tax net profit of NT$1.29 billion.
Alibaba Cloud, the cloud computing arm of Alibaba Group, has inaugurated its second data center in Thailand, expanding its infrastructure to meet the rising demand for cloud services and generative artificial intelligence (AI). The expansion aligns with Thailand's digital innovation and sustainability goals. According to The Nation, this development represents a significant expansion of Alibaba Cloud's footprint in Southeast Asia.
DeepSeek has rapidly emerged as a transformative force as the impact of affordable AI models continues to accelerate. James Yang, President and COO of Innolux, highlighted that DeepSeek is driving a shift in AI computing power and costs, moving them from the realm of exclusivity into the mainstream. If perfected, AI could shed its high-end status and become deeply embedded in everyday applications. In essence, lower costs could lead to higher volume, sparking widespread demand across various industries.
Alibaba Chairman Joseph Tsai recently confirmed a partnership with Apple to bring AI features to the Chinese version of the iPhone, drawing renewed focus on the AI smartphone race. As of February 17, 2025, nearly six Chinese smartphone makers—including Huawei, Honor, Oppo, Meizu, Nubia, and Vivo—had integrated DeepSeek, leaving Xiaomi as a notable holdout.
Microsoft has unveiled its groundbreaking Majorana 1 quantum chip, marking a significant advancement in quantum computing technology. This development represents a fundamental shift in quantum computing architecture, combining innovative materials with a revolutionary design that promises to address long-standing challenges in the field.
The emergence of DeepSeek as a transformative force in edge AI development has supply chain operators anticipating a new wave of consumer upgrades across smart devices, from smartphones to AI PCs.
Lenovo posted strong third-quarter results for the 2024/25 fiscal year, with revenue reaching US$18.796 billion, up 19.6% year-over-year, marking its best quarterly sales in three years and the second-highest in company history. The growth was largely fueled by AI-driven demand and expanding enterprise solutions.
Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek has published breakthrough research findings on enhancing AI model efficiency in processing large-scale data. Sources indicate that the company is maintaining its focus on research activities rather than pursuing immediate financing or business expansion.
The emergence of DeepSeek has demonstrated that edge artificial intelligence (AI) development can proceed without high-performance graphics processing units (GPUs), spurring increased interest in Winbond Electronics' tailored AI memory solutions.
Elon Musk's xAI has unveiled its latest AI large language model (LLM) Grok 3, which the company claims is the most powerful AI model on Earth. The development team revealed they encountered significant difficulties in stabilizing GPU operations due to two main issues—power supply and heat dissipation. However, they successfully overcame computational bottlenecks by adopting liquid cooling, emphasizing its necessity.
Nvidia's RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 launched on January 30, but demand has far outstripped supply. The limited initial stock, a common trend for high-end Nvidia GPUs, quickly vanished due to skyrocketing global demand, bulk purchases from Chinese buyers, and resellers hoarding inventory to capitalize on price surges. In Taiwan, the RTX 5090, originally priced at NT$70,000–80,000 (approx. US$2,138–2,444), is now being resold for NT$200,000, making it nearly impossible to find at its official price.
A recent summit for private entrepreneurs in Beijing, attended by tech leaders including Alibaba founder Jack Ma and Huawei founder Zhengfei Ren, has drawn attention to the notable absence of Baidu founder Robin Li. Market observers speculate this absence may be linked to the mounting challenges facing Baidu.
Recent developments in artificial intelligence have intensified the competition among tech giants, as Elon Musk's xAI unveiled Grok 3, which the company claims to be the most powerful AI model to date. This launch is expected to catalyze growth in AI server sales.
