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Aug 5
Analysis: AMD and Nvidia take opposite paths to capture next wave of AI infrastructure spending
Two earnings calls three months apart show AMD and Nvidia converging on the same AI infrastructure boom from opposite directions. AMD is building a single rack-scale platform, Helios, aimed squarely at the handful of frontier labs and hyperscalers who can commit to gigawatt-scale deployments. Nvidia, already dominant with those same customers, is restructuring its own disclosures and business model to capture the much larger, more fragmented tier of capital-constrained startups and neoclouds beneath them.

CHT Security posted strong results for the first half of 2026, with consolidated revenue rising 21% year-on-year to NT$1.182 billion (US$36.6 million), net profit after tax growing 13% year-on-year to NT$251 million, and earnings per share of NT$6.16. Both revenue and profit set new highs for the period, driven by surging corporate cybersecurity demand amid growing AI adoption. Additionally, July revenue rose 9% year-on-year to NT$210 million, bringing cumulative revenue for the first seven months of the year to NT$1.392 billion, up 19% year-on-year and also marking a new high.

Chinese robotics company Unitree is entering a critical stage in its initial public offering. The IPO is expected to raise about CNY4.2 billion (approximately US$622 million), while the company's post-listing valuation could range from CNY40 billion to CNY50 billion. It would become the first company on China's A-share market whose primary investment theme is humanoid robotics.

On August 5, Taiwan's National Science and Technology Council said it had completed the central government's 2027 budget plan, with NT$182.3 billion (US$5.7 billion) earmarked for technology spending, up about 9.5% from 2026. The biggest increase goes to sovereign AI computing power and infrastructure as Taipei pushes ahead with its Smart Nation 2.0 initiative.

Primax Electronics reported stronger second-quarter 2026 consolidated revenue on the back of robust shipments from new consumer audio programs and contributions from professional audio projects, while profit metrics weakened under pressure from a stronger yuan, rising component costs and product-mix changes. The Taiwan-based electronics maker said it was adopting a more cautious view of the third quarter as it expanded into AIoT, smart surveillance and robotics.

ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming recently said that the company would not use distillation to train its AI models, even if they fall behind those of other Chinese rivals. His comments come as China's advances in AI have accelerated faster than expected, leading to accusations that its developers are training them based on outputs from US models.

Industrial computer maker iBase Solution said its new subsidiary, which began operations in July 2026, has already moved into production after completing qualification with US customers. The unit, Coolify Inc., secured orders from several US networking and cloud companies for optical module cooling adhesive lines and began formal shipments.

SpaceX's first earnings disclosure delivered a stronger-than-expected quarterly performance, but the greater significance of the call lay beyond the headline beat. It gave investors their clearest look yet at how the company intends to extend its ambitions beyond rocket launches or broadband connectivity alone.

Nuvoton Technology is navigating weaker PC-related demand as memory shortages reshape global hardware orders, while cloud, AI, and security products gain momentum. The company said its shift toward server controllers, quantum-safe microcontrollers, and XR components could help offset near-term pressure and support stronger growth from 2027.
Taiyo Yuden has lifted its full-year outlook after a stronger first quarter, as demand from AI servers and related IT infrastructure increasingly drives sales of higher-end capacitors. The Japanese passive component maker returned to profit in the quarter ended June 30 and said a weaker yen, higher volumes, and stronger demand for high-reliability products are improving the outlook for the year.

Soonest Express said strong AI shipments and the traditional second-half peak are extending its supply-chain visibility into 2027. The freight forwarder expects better performance in the third quarter of 2026 than in the second quarter, and a stronger second half than the first. The company said the air and sea freight market in the second half of 2026 is becoming an environment where "space is king" as demand tightens.

Meta is trying to close the gap with Anthropic and OpenAI in AI coding by combining a public product launch with an unusually aggressive internal training campaign.