MediaTek has introduced its new Dimensity 8400 SoC series for light flagship smartphones, with Redmi being the first to release a model featuring this processor.
The US trade deficit with Taiwan is projected to grow to US$59 billion in 2024, an increase only ranking behind Mexico and Vietnam. However, although US President-elect Donald Trump is now certain to target trade with Mexico, Taiwan should remain safe from restrictions for a number of reasons.
The PC market, traditionally dominated by x86 processors from Intel and AMD, is now abuzz with rumors about Nvidia's entry into the AI PC processor market. The company is reportedly preparing to challenge Qualcomm, Intel, and AMD with its upcoming solutions.
The Chinese chip market faces severe challenges during the semiconductor industry's down cycle, with 14,648 chip companies shutting down in 2024. However, the entrepreneurial spirit remains resilient, as evidenced by 52,401 new registrations in the same year.
On December 16, Gree Electric Chairwoman Ming-zhu Dong told Sina Finance CEO Qing-xu Deng, "Gree's chips have succeeded. We have achieved everything from independent research and design to manufacturing and a complete semiconductor value chain," according to ICSmart.
Nanya Technology has greenlit a strategic alliance with DRAM design firm PieceMakers Technology, committing up to NT$6.6 billion (US$1.5 million) in a cash capital increase to secure a 38% stake. The collaboration targets customized ultra-high-bandwidth memory solutions tailored for AI and edge computing demands.
India's semiconductor industry will convene next month in Bengaluru for the 38th VLSI Design Conference, a flagship event showcasing advancements in chip design, research, and innovation.
US chip designer Synaptics Inc. aims to assemble and package at least 10% of its chips in India by 2027 to diversify its supply chain and reduce dependency on China.
Etron Technology's subsidiary eYs3D Microelectronics has achieved new milestones in visual sensing technology with the launch of multi-sensor control chips for robots and unmanned vehicles. The company's solution includes a proprietary AI platform featuring multimodal vision-language model (VLM) capabilities, providing clients with a comprehensive reference design for testing.
TSMC chairman C.C. Wei recently relayed Tesla CEO Elon Musk's view that Tesla should bet its future on multifunctional robots instead of electric vehicles. This echoes Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's recent comments highlighting humanoid robots as one of the few robot categories suitable for high-volume manufacturing.
The edge AI computing sector reached a crucial maturity milestone in 2024, with 2025 expected to witness large-scale edge AI implementation, according to Etron Technology chairman Nicky Lu.
Nvidia faces growing competition from ASIC chip developers, as Broadcom, Google, and AWS advance their development efforts in AI chips, according to industry sources.
Broadcom's stellar performance and outlook have energized the ASIC market, prompting numerous companies to enter the AI chip arena. The industry sentiment has shifted from overwhelming support for Nvidia to optimism about ASIC chips driving the next wave of AI demand. Cloud service providers are already working to reduce their dependence on Nvidia, as the surge of ASIC developers threatens to disrupt Nvidia's AI chip dominance and intensify competition for AMD.
In response to Taiwan's panel and traditional industries facing fierce competition from Chinese peers, deputy minister of Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) Chin-tsang Ho said that the MOEA will offer R&D subsidies totaling NT$11.6 billion (approx. US$354.15 million) starting in 2025 and welcomes applications from related industry players.
At a Bluetooth audio technology seminar on December 18, 2024, Airoha discussed current trends and provided perspectives on market development and competition. The company emphasized the increasing importance of integrating AI into Bluetooth devices to meet customers' demands for "hearing clearly and speaking distinctly."
Japan-based Denso announced a strategic collaboration with Onsemi, aimed at advancing semiconductor technology vital for autonomous driving and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). As part of the partnership, Denso plans to acquire a stake in Onsemi, but the exact financial details are undisclosed.
Major semiconductor design titans Qualcomm and Arm have begun their legal battle this week in the US court, with both sides presenting their arguments in a case that centers on licensing agreements. Arm alleges that Qualcomm must renegotiate licensing fees following its Nuvia acquisition and subsequent product launches without proper agreements. The company is seeking to halt Qualcomm's use of all Nuvia-related technology. In its defense, Qualcomm claims Arm's targeting of Nuvia stems from its aspirations in IC design.
Industry sources indicate that prices for mature semiconductor manufacturing process tape-outs will likely decrease in 2025, primarily driven by higher tape-out demand from integrated circuit (IC) design customers.
Rapidus has established strategic partnerships with two leading electronic design automation (EDA) companies to expedite the mass production of next-generation semiconductor chips.
US cloud service providers (CSPs) are entering a new phase of AI investment, with continued growth in capital expenditures (capex), driving short-term demand for high-end AI chips. However, the lack of clear returns on these investments means tech giants are increasingly focusing on cost-performance ratios in their AI strategies.
The Chinese government has ramped up actions against Nvidia, including reopening antitrust investigations and abruptly removing all products from the company's Tmall flagship store. These measures are widely viewed as Beijing's response to recent US Department of Commerce sanctions.
Samsung Electronics is stepping up talent recruitment in China to advance next-generation semiconductor development. With China's rapidly growing semiconductor IP market, Samsung is actively forging strategic partnerships with local firms to strengthen its foothold and accelerate innovation in the region.
According to industry sources, the PC market should see some replacement demand in 2025, but visibility remains low for IC design houses despite the hype about AI devices.
Japanese semiconductor testing equipment firm Advantest has announced its latest testing solutions for advanced applications such as high-end memory, 5G, AI, and high-performance computing (HPC). The company is also closely monitoring Rapidus's progress in mass-producing 2nm chips.
MediaTek continues to make waves with recent order wins. Sources indicate its 5G modem chips may enter the Apple Watch supply chain, while media reports suggest these chips could also feature in Google's next-generation smartphones.
