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Nov 4
Pegatron chairman says AI crisis fears after Democratic midterm win are overblown
Pegatron Corp. Chairman Tung Tzu-hsien said on November 4 that claims AI is in crisis because the Democratic Party won the US election are somewhat overblown, adding that the narrative could be the work of short sellers.
Taiwanese server makers have committed billions of dollars to manufacturing facilities in Texas over the past two years. Now, the state's incoming governor has pledged to suspend new data center approvals, raising uncertainty over AI infrastructure investment in one of America's largest development markets.
Humanoid robots require at least US$2,000 worth of semiconductors per unit—twice the content of an EV—and could drive the next semiconductor supercycle, Texas Instruments (TI) said. The company is expanding capacity for the next wave of demand rather than the current boom, according to William Feng, TI's Taiwan and South Asia sales and applications general manager.
Foxconn reported October 2026 revenue of NT$1.3053 trillion (US$39.8 billion), up 12.66% from September and 45.73% from a year earlier, as consumer smart products, computer terminals, components and other products posted strong growth. The result marked another month in which revenue exceeded NT$1 trillion. According to DIGITIMES, the performance was supported by stronger product pull-in activity and higher shipment prices.
Eight Taiwanese electronics manufacturers have disclosed approximately US$2.9 billion in factory-related asset transactions and investment plans in Texas since January 2024, accounting for nearly half of their US factory-site commitments.
Acer is set to approve a senior executive reshuffle at its board meeting on Thursday afternoon, with Acer Being Communication general manager Chan-ping Bo reportedly taking over product and procurement responsibilities after chief operating officer Jerry Kao resigned. Bo is familiar with PC procurement and development operations and is considered a suitable successor, according to sources in the PC supply chain.
Industrial PC (IPC) maker Advantech announced on November 5, 2026, that founder K.C. Liu will become full-time chairman on January 1, 2027, while Miller Chang, currently president of its Embedded Sector, will succeed him as CEO.
Hewlett Packard (HP) has appointed Emma Walmsley, the former head of drugmaker GSK, as its next CEO, ending a search that began after the company named an interim leader earlier this year.
US voters favored restrictions on data center development in 40 of 41 local ballot measures across 10 states on November 3, signaling growing opposition to AI infrastructure expansion. Meanwhile, the election of a governor in Texas who has pledged to halt new data center approvals raises broader questions about the country's 345.9 GW pipeline of planned and under-construction projects.
Industrial PC leader Advantech reported record quarterly revenue and net profit for the third quarter of 2026, propelled by strong demand across semiconductor equipment, factory automation, and medical devices, alongside surging shipments of high-end edge AI systems. However, component price increases squeezed its gross margin down to 36.7%. Looking ahead, the company expects to maintain high-double-digit growth in both revenue and profit through 2027.
Advantech expects strong growth in 2027, identifying semiconductor equipment, edge AI and robotics as its principal growth engines. The Taiwanese industrial computing company reported robust orders across North America, China, Europe and Taiwan, although demand in parts of Southeast Asia and other emerging markets remains subdued. It is also monitoring potential US policy changes following the midterm elections.
Goldman Sachs and Apollo Global Management have reportedly begun approaching potential investors about purchasing parts of a US$40 billion deal to finance SpaceX's leasing of Nvidia chips. The firms are seeking to complete the transaction quickly in the wake of Democratic victories in this week's midterm elections, which some worry could slow the growth of AI development.