John M. Martinis, one of the winners of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics, has announced plans to ally with Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) and several chip vendors to develop scalable quantum supercomputers with practical applications. Globally, efforts are underway to establish product specifications and technical standards, and to discuss legal, social, and governance frameworks for quantum technology.
According to Reuters, South Korean companies, led by tech giant Samsung Electronics, are voicing significant concern over Vietnam's proposed reforms to high-tech investment incentives, warning the changes could inflate costs and deter future foreign investment.
Apple is reportedly preparing for a leadership transition, with CEO Tim Cook potentially stepping down as early as January 2026, according to reports from Reuters and TechCrunch, both citing the Financial Times. A formal announcement of the succession plan is expected following the company's financial results at the end of January 2026.
Samsung Group has unveiled plans to invest around KRW450 trillion (approx. US$309.10 billion) in manufacturing and R&D across South Korea over the next five years. This investment aims to bolster the country's position in the global semiconductor industry while expanding operations in AI data centers, batteries, and display technologies through its subsidiaries, also supporting balanced regional development.
Google has announced plans to invest US$40 billion in Texas through 2027, expanding its cloud and AI infrastructure with new data center campuses in Armstrong and Haskell counties.
Apple and Tencent Holdings Ltd. have reportedly reached a preliminary agreement to lower Apple's revenue share on WeChat mini games and mini programs to around 15%, with Apple handling payments for the platform going forward. This development could resolve a protracted dispute over WeChat mini programs on iOS devices and represents a significant milestone in China's tech industry negotiations with Apple.
Three former senior executives from Google and Meta Platforms Inc. have launched Majestic Labs, a startup focused on developing advanced server architectures to address memory limitations in AI computing. The company recently raised US$100 million for this endeavor.
Kaynes Semiconductor is looking to expand into IC backend businesses as Kaynes Technologies' EMS business faces uncertainties due to US tariffs.
Qisda chairman Peter Chen said the company's third-quarter 2025 performance was weaker than previous years' seasonal peaks, mainly due to currency fluctuations and tariffs. He noted that US demand has been clearly soft since the third quarter of 2025. He expects the fourth quarter to remain flat amid lackluster promotional events for Thanksgiving, Singles' Day, and Christmas.
SignalPro is committing NT$3 billion (approx. US$100 million) to construct an advanced AI factory in Tainan, a strategic move designed to supply critical computing power and inference services. The initiative targets the drone, medical technology, and traditional manufacturing sectors, positioning itself as a counterweight to a market currently dominated by global tech giants focusing resources on training large language models.
Salesforce, the global enterprise software giant, hosted Salesforce Innovation Day Taipei on November 13, unveiling its latest agent-based AI platform, Agentforce 360, designed to help companies accelerate their journey toward the "Agentic Enterprise" era.
More coverage
