The Trump administration pushed for a 50-50 split in chip manufacturing between the US and Taiwan, pressuring TSMC to expand US production. This raises costs and risks for Taiwan's economy and semiconductor industry, with potential implications rippling beyond the industry's expectations.

The global market for key components has recently seen another wave of price fluctuations. Memory products are experiencing especially significant increases, impacting the industrial PC (IPC) industry. IPC vendors acknowledge that with memory manufacturers successively announcing end-of-life plans and demand from edge computing, AI, and various industrial applications continuing to rise, companies still reliant on DDR4 are feeling the pressure. Prices are unlikely to fall in the short term. To mitigate the impact of these price spikes, IPC manufacturers are being forced to adopt diversified supplier certifications and speed up the integration of new specifications.

US sanctions are taking a toll on one of China's top chipmakers, Yangtze Memory Technologies (YMTC), as its share of the global NAND flash memory market has slipped below 5%.

Canadian artificial intelligence startup Cohere has secured an additional US$100 million in funding, elevating its valuation to US$7 billion. The company also announced an expanded partnership with AMD, with its Command series models now compatible with AMD's Instinct GPUs.

SK Telecom (SKT) has established an internal independent company, AI CIC, to consolidate and expand its AI business, accelerating AI innovation. The company plans to invest KRW5 trillion (US$3.5 billion) over the next five years, aiming for AI revenue of KRW5 trillion by 2030.

Google DeepMind has announced the release of two updated AI models, Gemini Robotics 1.5 and Gemini Robotics-ER 1.5, aimed at improving robots' ability to reason, plan multi-step tasks, and use online information to complete assignments. These models also facilitate the sharing of skills across different robotic devices, pushing the boundaries of autonomous robot functionality.

Samsung Electronics is overhauling its flagship smartphone camera supply chain for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, with South Korea's Mcnex taking over folded zoom (periscope) module supply from China's Sunny Optical. Industry watchers see the shift as a direct reaction to Sunny's ongoing quality issues, signaling Samsung's push to secure greater stability across its high-end imaging lineup.

The AI glasses jointly launched by Meta and Ray-Ban have been selling well. With strong promotion from other major brands such as Google and Samsung Electronics, AI glasses are now seen as one of the potential next mainstream mobile device products. Supported by edge computing, generative AI (GenAI), and AR/VR technologies, AI glasses are expected to redefine the way humans interact with mobile devices, bringing new changes to smartphone hardware design.

At its annual Snapdragon Summit in Hawaii, Qualcomm unveiled its latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen5 processor, setting the stage for a new wave of AI-powered flagship smartphones in 2025. But despite powerful new hardware from industry giants like Qualcomm, MediaTek, and Apple, a clear vision for the "AI phone" has yet to emerge. So far, no company has delivered a breakthrough feature that defines the next generation of smartphones or gives consumers a compelling reason to upgrade.

Baidu's Apollo Go robotaxi service, gaining traction in China, is fast-tracking expansion abroad with Southeast Asia and Australia as its next targets. Halton Niu, GM of Overseas Business at Baidu's Intelligent Driving Group, said the company is in talks with governments in Southeast Asia and Australia to explore pilots and service launches. Baidu is also in discussions with regulators in the Middle East and Europe. In Dubai, Apollo Go has already obtained 50 autonomous test permits, expanding its fleet to 100 vehicles.

Despite ongoing uncertainty in Taiwan's auto market and a slower-than-expected recovery in showroom traffic, Hotai Motor Co. remains cautiously optimistic about achieving its full-year sales target, citing three key factors that could drive a robust fourth quarter of 2025.

Isuzu Motors and Toyota Motor plan to develop hydrogen fuel cell-powered route buses, combining their respective technologies. Production is scheduled to begin in fiscal 2026, according to Nikkei and Yomiuri.

US President Donald Trump stated on September 23 that Ukraine, with support from the EU, could potentially reclaim territory from Russia, marking a departure from his previous stance favoring Ukraine ceding land for peace. Concurrently, Indian media reports suggest India may adjust its policy on Russian oil purchases, potentially expediting peaceful resolutions in Ukraine.

China is ramping up its nuclear fusion drive with the launch of a new state-backed firm. China Fusion Energy Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), was founded in Shanghai in July 2025 and made its public debut on September 24, 2025, at the 25th China International Industry Fair (CIIF), emerging as the nation's newest "national team" player in the fusion race.

AiSails, a subsidiary of Wistron, has announced a strategic partnership with Germany's SkySails Power to deepen collaboration on kite-based airborne wind energy technology and integrate artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities across multiple applications.

As the Russia–Ukraine war rages on, another battle of intelligence and counterintelligence is quietly unfolding in the deep sea. The Canadian firm MetOcean is one of only a handful of suppliers offering solutions in this sector with its NiKA underwater acoustic monitoring system, which was recently showcased at the Taipei Aerospace and Defense Technology Exhibition (TADTE) 2025. Combining precision detection capabilities with versatile strategic value, NiKA can be used in a wide range of applications from submarine surveillance to subsea cable protection.

The future of global defense is on display in Taipei, centered on unmanned systems and artificial intelligence. At the Taipei Aerospace and Defense Technology Exhibition, Taiwan's leading defense research institute unveiled a powerful joint arsenal created with top US defense startups. Their goal is to build a large, domestically produced deterrent fleet.

Sharp plans to decide on transferring large-size LCD panel technology to India by the end of 2025, CEO Masahiro Okitsu said, signaling potential expansion of the country's display manufacturing capabilities.

Prices for LCD TV panels stabilized in the third quarter, following months of decline, and remained flat across all sizes in August and September. As the industry moves into the fourth quarter, demand for LCD TV panels is expected to soften. However, Chinese producers are set to scale back output during the National Day holiday. Industry executives anticipate that supply and demand will remain balanced through year-end, limiting price swings; however, a rebound in the first quarter of 2026 cannot be ruled out.

Pimax has introduced three micro OLED VR headsets using its patented ConcaveView optical technology: the entry-level Dream Air SE, the mid-range Dream Air, and the flagship Crystal Super. All feature high-resolution visuals, lightweight design, and immersive performance, with preorders already open. Shipments of the Dream Air and Dream Air SE have been delayed, with deliveries unlikely before December 2025.