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.
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.
By the first quarter of 2025, hyperscalers operated 1,189 data centers, representing 44% of global data center capacity, according to Synergy Research Group. This share is expected to rise to 61% by 2030, reflecting ongoing shifts in the data center landscape driven by cloud and AI developments.
Amazon is accelerating its warehouse automation strategy as the global number of warehouse robots surpasses one million, nearing parity with the company's workforce. Over 75% of Amazon's orders worldwide are now processed with robotic assistance, highlighting the increasing reliance on automation in its fulfillment operations.
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.
China is reportedly slowing down Apple's diversification endeavors, impacting India. India reportedly eyes 2D chip materials for a technology leap.
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.
Amid falling TV demand and pandemic-driven high inventories, LG Electronics Taiwan president Kevin Jeong said the company aims to boost demand through product innovation and new business models. The surge in shipments brought by COVID-19 are still being digested.
WPG Holdings' subsidiary, Silicon Application Corporation Group (SACG), announced on July 3 that it has secured exclusive distribution rights in the Asia-Pacific region for European edge AI chip startup Axelera AI.
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.
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.
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