Nvidia, on January 26, unveiled a new family of open-source AI models aimed at making weather forecasting faster and less expensive as part of the company's broader push to provide open-source software.
Taiwanese semiconductor companies specializing in visual AI technologies are pivoting away from the Chinese market, increasingly focusing on Europe and the US amid growing challenges in China. These firms are advancing comprehensive solutions encompassing SoCs, ISPs, sensors, and algorithms to maintain competitiveness.
With strong demand for AI servers, TSMC—holding the vast majority of AI chip orders—is executing major expansions in advanced process technology and packaging capacity. As TSMC and Nvidia light the way for AI development, related semiconductor and electronics suppliers across Taiwan are investing heavily to boost production capabilities in response to surging orders.
Taiwan's finance minister and central bank governor have welcomed the US promise to extend most-favored-nation treatment under Section 232 tariffs, calling it a strong endorsement of Taiwan's industries in the trade negotiations between the two countries.
The removal of US tariffs on Taiwan's machine tools has leveled the playing field with major competitors Japan and South Korea, offering some relief to the industry. However, while this short-term resolution eases concerns, long-term challenges such as exchange rate fluctuations remain unresolved. Even as market doubts fade and demand shows signs of recovery, Taiwanese manufacturers cannot afford complacency.
Taiwan's information and communications technology (ICT) sector—dominated by the semiconductor industry and Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS)—accounted for 65.2% of Taiwan's exports in 2024. This share is projected to rise to roughly 74% in 2025, reflecting the island's unique position in global industrial competition and underscoring profound implications for the country's future industrial trajectory.
OpenAI began testing ads within ChatGPT in the US shortly after Google reaffirmed no ad plans for its Gemini AI, highlighting differing strategies amid generative AI competition. OpenAI aims to offset high infrastructure costs, whereas Google focuses on balancing user experience and commercial interests.
South Korea's artificial intelligence industry is bracing for tighter regulation following the implementation of the AI Basic Act, particularly provisions aimed at protecting personal rights. The manufacturing AI segment, however, is widely viewed as gaining a foothold for growth, as its data characteristics, lighter regulatory exposure, and clearer legal grounds for government support are expected to work in its favor.
Rising memory prices and persistent supply tightness are prompting PC brands to pull forward notebook orders, disrupting traditional seasonal patterns and keeping shipments elevated through the first quarter of 2026, supply-chain executives said.
India and the EU have finalized negotiations on a landmark free trade agreement (FTA), a move hailed as historic by both sides as they navigate strained relations with the US and global trade volatility, Reuters reported on January 26, 2026. The pact, expected to be announced on January 27, 2026, at the India-EU Summit in New Delhi, opens the door for free trade of goods between India and the 27-nation EU bloc, which together represent roughly a quarter of the world's GDP and a market of 2 billion consumers.
Microsoft introduced Maia 200 on January 27, 2026, its latest in-house AI accelerator, as part of a broader effort to optimize cloud infrastructure for inference-heavy workloads. Analysts see the move as aimed at lowering costs, reducing reliance on external chip suppliers, and strengthening control over Azure's AI hardware stack.
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