Apple is in discussions with Google about hosting a new version of Siri in Google's data centers, a move that could significantly deepen Apple's reliance on outside cloud infrastructure as it pushes to modernize its AI capabilities.
During German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's visit to China, the most closely watched stop was Hangzhou-based Unitree Robotics. Footage showed Merz standing with arms crossed, nodding and reacting with visible surprise to a humanoid robot's martial arts demonstration.
Taiwan President Ching-te Lai stated on March 2 that one of the government's core policy goals for 2026 is to boost the economy by fully promoting the country's AI major infrastructure projects. Silicon photonics (SiPh) is reportedly a key focus within this plan. Cheng-Wen Wu, chairman of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), confirmed that the government has decided to actively invest in localizing SiPh equipment and materials. TSMC has pledged to assist Taiwan's traditional industries in developing related equipment and materials, opening new opportunities for these sectors.
The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) has ranked Taiwan second worldwide in its latest National Entrepreneurship Context Index (NECI), up one place from the previous survey, trailing only the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Under Taiwan President Lai Ching-te's National Project of Hope blueprint, innovation and entrepreneurship have been elevated to the level of national strategy, with the government committed to continuing to provide startup subsidies and share failure risks.
Tesla's pivot to free factory space for its humanoid robot Optimus by cutting Model S and Model X production lines highlights a broader shift in the robotics industry toward a structural competition between Tesla's closed-off approach and an Nvidia-led alliance connecting automakers and robotics firms. The move raises questions about risks tied to vertical integration and the alternative offered by platform-driven collaboration.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis, and Google senior vice president James Manyika jointly outlined a shift in the competitive landscape for artificial intelligence, arguing that deployment speed, task reorganization, capability gaps, and physical integration will determine outcomes over the next five years.
Samsung Electronics officially launched its annual flagship Galaxy S26 series smartphones and Galaxy Buds 4 Bluetooth earphones on February 26. Following integrations with Bixby and Google's Gemini, Samsung has now added support for Perplexity, broadening compatibility with multiple large language models (LLMs). Observing Samsung's AI strategy for 2026 phones reveals three key characteristics.
Apple on March 2 unveiled the iPhone 17e and the latest iPad Air powered by the M4 chip, signaling a focus on performance, value, and ecosystem expansion amid a cooling global consumer electronics market. Analysts suggest these updates aim to defend Apple's market share in midrange segments, attract price-conscious consumers, and encourage upgrades from older devices, rather than directly drive near-term revenue growth.
Apple's latest product updates signal a strategic focus on defending midrange segments and encouraging upgrades from older devices, rather than delivering immediate revenue growth. The iPhone 17e and M4 iPad Air bring incremental performance improvements, enhanced connectivity, and added value at established price points, aiming to retain customer loyalty in a soft consumer electronics market.
Nvidia has announced a strategic partnership with Lumentum Holdings, accompanied by a US$2 billion investment aimed at boosting US-based manufacturing and R&D for advanced optics technologies. The deal includes multiyear purchase commitments and access rights to next-generation laser components, with a focus on accelerating development for AI data centers.
By 2025, China had more than 140 humanoid robot OEMs, with over 330 products launched in a single year. The rapid increase in vendors and models is prompting synchronized expansion across the upstream, midstream and downstream supply chain.
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