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Monday 7 July 2025
Weekly news roundup: Samsung secures patents, Intel leadership shakeup, Apple foldable prototype
Below are the most-read DIGITIMES Asia stories from June 30 to July 6, 2025. This week's highlights include Samsung's strategic licensing of Intel patents to avoid global IP battles, Intel's executive shakeup, and Apple edges closer to launching a foldable iPhone. Meanwhile, China's domestic AI chipmakers face steep uphill battles, while Taiwan's semiconductor ecosystem formed a new alliance backing TSMC's international expansion
Monday 7 July 2025
US plans AI chip curbs on Malaysia, Thailand over China concerns
President Donald Trump's administration plans to restrict shipments of AI chips from the likes of Nvidia Corp. to Malaysia and Thailand, part of an effort to crack down on suspected semiconductor smuggling into China
Monday 7 July 2025
Tariff pressure pushes South Korea down on list of top US import sources
South Korea's exports to the US have declined due to growing protectionist measures under the Trump administration, raising concerns about the competitiveness of South Korean products in the US market. A recent Korea International Trade Association (KITA) report highlights the impact of tariffs on key export sectors and warns of further challenges ahead if reciprocal tariffs are fully enforced
Monday 7 July 2025
China trains AI natives as it closes the algorithm gap with the US
As global competition in artificial intelligence (AI) intensifies, the US-China rivalry has expanded beyond chips and models to include the competition for talent and education integration
Monday 7 July 2025
Australia sues China-backed firm over rare earths stake in national security move
Australia has filed a lawsuit against China-backed Indian Ocean International Shipping and Service Company for violating foreign investment laws, demanding it divest from rare earths producer Northern Minerals, as rare earths become a focal point for geopolitical and technological competition
Monday 7 July 2025
Malaysia's electricity tariff hike prompts data center cost reassessments
Malaysia has revised its electricity tariff structure, resulting in a sharper-than-expected rise in power costs that is prompting data center operators to reassess their expenses as Malaysia has emerged as a data center hub thanks to favorable geographic and policy factors
Monday 7 July 2025
South Korea recruits technocrats into government for AI push
South Korean president Lee Jae-myung has pledged to invest KRW100 trillion (US$73.9 billion) in AI development to make the country the third-largest AI power after the US and China. Lee is also turning to technocrats for three of the key positions in his new administration to lead his AI campaign
Monday 7 July 2025
India roundup: India's EMS under the shadow of G2 rivalry
China is reportedly slowing down Apple's diversification endeavors, impacting India. India reportedly eyes 2D chip materials for a technology leap
Monday 7 July 2025
Humanoid robots accelerate development, expected to become a lifeline for South Korea's battery industry
Due to the slowdown in electric vehicle (EV) demand and intensified competition in the battery market, South Korea's major battery manufacturers LG Energy Solutions (LGES), SK On, and Samsung SDI have shown lackluster performance. However, as global IT and automotive companies actively invest in the humanoid robot industry, batteries dedicated to humanoid robots are poised to become a key factor in reversing this trend
Sunday 6 July 2025
From behind the curve: Apple and Xiaomi chase long-dominated 5G modem self-reliance
Apple and Xiaomi are doubling down on efforts to develop in-house 5G baseband chips, joining a race long dominated by tech heavyweights like Qualcomm and MediaTek. Both companies signaled their ambitions in 2025 to break away from reliance on third-party modem suppliers and take fuller control of their mobile silicon strategies
Sunday 6 July 2025
Yamaha Motor launches robotics division to tap semiconductor equipment demand
Yamaha Motor is accelerating its pivot into the semiconductor equipment space with the launch of Yamaha Robotics, a newly established division focused on robotic systems for electronics manufacturing. The company aims to position the business as its third major revenue pillar, alongside motorcycles and marine engines
Sunday 6 July 2025
Baidu, Huawei spark open-source AI arms race
Baidu and Huawei announced the open-sourcing of their proprietary large language models (LLMs) on June 30, 2025, signaling a strategic shift in China's AI landscape. The move reflects a growing push to rival closed-source leaders such as OpenAI and Anthropic through a more collaborative, transparent approach
Sunday 6 July 2025
China's humanoid robots cut out US chips, and 90% of the supply chain is now local
As US President Donald Trump intensifies rare earth export negotiations with China, Beijing is countering with a media blitz to highlight its rising independence from US semiconductor technology. In June 2025, Chinese authorities arranged a foreign press tour covering biopharma, humanoid robotics, AI, and automotive sectors, with executives from major firms showcasing efforts toward tech self-sufficiency and global competitiveness
Friday 4 July 2025
Big screens, bigger stakes: LG and Samsung compete in the SDV display market

The global automotive industry is rapidly pivoting toward software-defined vehicles (SDVs), fueling a parallel surge in demand for large in-car displays. Market research firm Omdia forecasts that displays larger than 10 inches will account for a staggering 81% of automotive display sales by 2027, nearly doubling their market share from 2021

Friday 4 July 2025
Japan's chip tool market to top JPY5 trillion in FY26 amid AI boom
The Japan Semiconductor Equipment Association (SEAJ) has updated its sales forecast for Japanese-made semiconductor manufacturing equipment over the next three fiscal years, projecting a steady increase reaching JPY5.51 trillion (US$38.35 billion) by fiscal 2027. The latest forecast sees modest growth driven primarily by investments in cutting-edge chip technologies and AI-related applications
Research Report Database
Intel signals overhaul of IDM 2.0 and foundry strategy with Lip-Bu Tan's appointment, says DIGITIMES