Intel is grappling with an operational crisis as its IDM 2.0 transformation plan has yet to yield results, casting doubt on when its foundry business might finally become profitable. This raises the question of whether Intel should consider abandoning its IDM model and separating its product design and manufacturing divisions—a move with both potential advantages and drawbacks. Industry leaders, including former board members, are offering advice in hopes of helping Intel find a viable path forward. However, the conflicting nature of their advice highlights the complexity of the company's dilemma
Nvidia projected third-quarter fiscal 2026 revenue of about US$54 billion, beating market consensus but trailing the most optimistic forecasts of US$60 billion. Crucially, the outlook excludes sales of its H20 chips to China, underscoring how US export curbs continue to weigh on one of its biggest potential markets
Humanoid robots remain far from commercial readiness, with ongoing doubts about their practicality and technical feasibility. As debate continues over when — or even if — humanoids will gain traction, momentum is shifting to alternative designs. Quadruped and wheeled robots, prized for their stability and load capacity, are emerging as the more realistic entry point for companies seeking near-term robotics applications
Meta Platforms has reportedly signed a six-year agreement worth US$10 billion with Google Cloud, marking an unprecedented partnership between two dominant companies in digital advertising. The collaboration underscores both Meta's growing need for cloud computing resources and Alphabet's expanding presence in the cloud services market
Since August 11, 2025, when Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan met with US President Donald Trump at the White House, and following the White House confirmation on August 22 that it would subsidize Intel through the CHIPS and Science Act in exchange for about a 10% equity stake, speculation has swirled around Trump's special mission to save Intel and promote "Made in America.
The US government's acquisition of a 9.9% stake in Intel, alongside TSMC's exclusion from such equity participation, highlights contrasting subsidy approaches under shifting US administrations. For TSMC, the exclusion preserves operational independence, and the US-Intel deal may temper regulatory scrutiny over its dominant market position, even as global semiconductor competition intensifies
As Meta Platforms Inc. and OpenAI prepare to launch gigawatt-scale AI data centers by 2026, the surging electricity demand raises concerns over existing energy infrastructure capacity. Industry analysis suggests future data centers will increasingly adopt decentralized, low-carbon energy systems to achieve 100% carbon-free energy
The Financial Times recently cited sources revealing that before Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan visited the White House on August 11, 2025, to meet with President Donald Trump, a preliminary framework for SoftBank's equity investment in Intel had already been established. SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son met with Tan weeks earlier to discuss potential deals
SoftBank's investment in Intel may look routine, but it has sent ripples through tech and geopolitics. The move shows Washington taking a more active hand in the semiconductor race. A country that once championed free-market capitalism now leans on tactics more commonly associated with Beijing's state-driven model
The launch of the Pixel 10 series marks the tenth anniversary of Google's Pixel brand. Over the past decade, the company's smartphone venture has highlighted persistent shortcomings in hardware sales and market execution
Reports that Chinese automaker BYD may enter the Taiwanese market through indirect channels have sparked widespread debate, reflecting growing interest—alongside skepticism—toward Chinese electric vehicles (EVs). While some Taiwanese consumers are intrigued by the value proposition, many industry experts remain wary of potential safety and privacy risks
US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick recently stated in interviews that the government should not only offer free subsidies but also acquire non-voting stakes to safeguard American taxpayers' interests. A spokesperson from the White House confirmed that discussions are ongoing with Intel regarding a deal for a 10% equity stake
As the US government seriously considers taking a stake in Intel, the company faces more than just a simple transaction; it has become a strategic industry bet. Once the semiconductor leader, Intel's lagging advanced process technology has gradually eroded its ability to compete with TSMC and Samsung Electronics at the 7nm, 5nm, and even upcoming 2nm nodes. Meanwhile, construction delays at the Ohio wafer fab have hindered the US government's carefully crafted blueprint for domestic advanced manufacturing from materializing
Gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductors are on the brink of a major transformation. Once hailed as the rising star among third-generation semiconductors, this technology has fallen from grace due to intense price competition in the Chinese market. Now, with global GaN foundry leader TSMC announcing its withdrawal by mid-2027, the entire industry is entering an early era of fragmentation reminiscent of the Warring States period
Like advanced AI processors, high-bandwidth memory (HBM) has been a target of US export curbs under former President Joe Biden. HBM capacity and bandwidth shape the speed and efficiency of AI training and inference. From Nvidia's H100 to the GB200, HBM capacity has grown 2.4 times and bandwidth 2.6 times. Despite that, China still lacks self-developed HBM and cutting-edge AI chips, which have been left exposed to Washington's pressure points
US President Donald Trump recently announced that semiconductor tariffs could reach 300%, yet this has not triggered panic in the chip industry. Supply chain players stress that the market's primary concern is the impact on TSMC, but in reality, whether the tariff rate is 100%, 300%, or even 500%, the US risks mostly harming itself
