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Feb 21
AI supply chain tracker: Rack infrastructure joins the AI buildout
January 2026 revenue data show that Taiwan's AI server supply chain expansion is reaching beyond chipmakers and server assemblers into rack-level infrastructure, as mechanical, thermal, and optical component suppliers posted strong annual gains.

To accelerate the expansion of its Snapdragon X series processors in the PC market, Qualcomm has recruited former AMD corporate vice president Jason Banta as vice president of global compute sales. He will oversee channel sales strategy across consumer and commercial markets and expand OEM partnerships.

Agility Robotics and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada have signed agreements to deploy the Digit humanoid robot in a commercial production setting, moving the technology from a one-year pilot to operational use on assembly lines. The deal uses a Robots-as-a-Service model to automate logistics and material handling tasks.
Nvidia is returning to the consumer PC market with AI-focused laptop processors designed to power next-generation Windows systems. According to The Wall Street Journal, Nvidia's system-on-chip (SoC) processors are expected to debut this year in laptops from Dell and Lenovo. Analysts do not expect a near-term earnings impact, but the move secures Nvidia a role in the emerging AI PC upgrade cycle.
SoftBank Group (SBG) is spearheading an investment alliance to develop a US-based natural gas-fired power plant project valued at US$33.3 billion, aiming to support infrastructure demands driven by artificial intelligence (AI). This initiative is one of three projects launched under the US-Japan trade agreement signed with President Donald Trump in 2025.
OpenAI is scrambling to secure computing power after its Stargate data center venture stalled, turning to cloud partners and alternative hardware to fill the gap, according to The Information.

The Trump administration plans to overhaul the 60-year-old Peace Corps to support US artificial intelligence (AI) exports and counter China's expanding AI presence in developing markets. The initiative, branded the "Tech Corps," would send thousands of US science and engineering graduates overseas to promote American AI hardware, models, and software in markets where Chinese systems are gaining ground, as noted by The Business Times and Bloomberg.

Meta is reviving its smartwatch ambitions as part of a broader push to define the next era of AI-powered consumer hardware, setting up a fresh competitive battle with rivals including Apple and Google. According to The Information, Meta plans to release its first smartwatch, code-named "Malibu 2," in 2026. The device will feature health-tracking capabilities and a built-in Meta AI assistant. This revival comes after the company abandoned an earlier smartwatch project in 2022 amid cost-cutting at its Reality Labs hardware division.
Microsoft has named AI executive Asha Sharma as the new head of its Xbox and gaming division. The appointment signals a deliberate pivot back to console players, after years of chasing mobile and PC audiences.

Apple is laying the groundwork for a new generation of wearable devices built around what it calls Visual Intelligence, signaling a deeper push into AI-driven hardware, according to Bloomberg. CEO Tim Cook has repeatedly highlighted the technology in earnings calls and internal meetings, suggesting it will anchor Apple's next major product category, following the Apple Watch and Vision Pro.

Below are the most-read DIGITIMES stories from the week of February 16-22, 2026.
According to Reuters, citing unnamed sources, India has postponed a planned trade delegation to Washington, citing uncertainty after the US Supreme Court struck down key tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, in a decision that has reshaped but not resolved global trade tensions.