As next-generation AI server platforms enter volume deployment, supply chain constraints are extending beyond high-bandwidth memory (HBM). Bottlenecks are increasingly emerging in printed circuit boards (PCBs) and critical upstream materials, according to DIGITIMES analysis
On January 16, 2026, Taiwan and the US finalized a trade agreement that cuts tariffs on Taiwanese exports to the US to 15% without stacking. The US also pledged most-favored-nation status and duty-free quotas for Taiwan under Section 232 semiconductor-related tariffs regardless of future rate changes. This outcome reflects Taiwan's technological strength and raises questions about whether Taiwanese firms investing in China and Vietnam will now consider reshoring amid improved US-Taiwan trade terms
While the global EV market shifts gears into a phase of slower, regionally fragmented growth (15.2%) as subsidies fade, the edge AI chip sector is aggressively evolving. DIGITIMES observes a clear bifurcation in semiconductor strategies: startups are now splitting between cost-effective mature nodes and high-risk, high-performance bets on sub-5nm processes to meet surging computing demands
On January 12, 2026, Japan's scientific drilling vessel Chikyu slowly departed port, heading toward the waters near Minamitorishima Island, about 1,900km southeast of Honshu. This mission is not merely a scientific expedition but a critical test tied to Japan's national economic security and the restructuring of global critical mineral supply chains
Nvidia unveiled its Alpamayo family at CES 2026, introducing a suite that includes the open-source AI model Alpamayo 1, the AlpaSim simulation framework, and Physical AI Open Datasets. Alpamayo 1 centers on chain-of-thought reasoning and vision-language-action (VLA) inference models designed for autonomous driving applications
As Taiwan and the US reached a consensus in their tariff negotiations, a long-standing cloud hanging over Taiwan's automotive aftermarket industry began to lift. Securing the most favorable treatment under Section 232—capping tariffs at 15%—was not only a trade victory but a psychological turning point for Taiwan's vehicle-parts supply chain. The agreement has injected new confidence into the sector, allowing manufacturers to shift from a posture of defensive caution to one of proactive expansion
The server industry is reaping the benefits of AI. Quanta's revenue hit a record high in 2025, surpassing the NT$2 trillion (US$63.2 billion) mark, with AI servers as the primary growth driver. Mike Yang, Executive Vice President of Quanta and President of Quanta Cloud Technology (QCT), said that the AI paradigm shift will last a decade, and that the winner-take-all mindset will create more competitive barriers
As electric vehicles and autonomous driving technologies spread rapidly, and as automotive electrical and electronic (E/E) architectures grow more centralized, the value of semiconductors embedded in each vehicle is rising sharply. According to an analysis by DIGITIMES, the average semiconductor content per car is expected to increase from about US$759 in 2024 to US$1,332 by 2030
After months of trade negotiations, Taiwan and the US have finalized a reciprocal tariff agreement that lowers rates to 15% without stacking most-favored-nation (MFN) tariffs. The deal grants semiconductor products under Section 232 preferential treatment, expands supply chain investment cooperation, and establishes a credit guarantee fund totaling US$500 billion
The US and Taiwan have formally concluded a tariff agreement that sets a 15% rate on covered goods, alongside a sweeping package of Taiwanese commitments aimed at deepening ties with the American semiconductor industry. Under the deal, Taiwan will make US$250 billion in direct investment in US semiconductor manufacturing, while its government will provide an additional US$250 billion in credit guarantees
In August 2024, the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) finalized three Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) standards, known as FIPS 203, 204, and 205. These standards incorporate ML-KEM algorithms for key exchange and encryption, along with ML-DSA and SLH-DSA algorithms for digital signatures. Industry leaders are actively integrating these algorithms into web browsers, operating systems, and hardware products to prepare defenses against anticipated quantum-computer-enabled cyberattacks
On December 10, 2025, Qualcomm Inc. disclosed its acquisition of Ventana Micro Systems in the US without revealing the deal's financial terms or completion date. The company highlighted that the move would reinforce its global leadership in the RISC-V ecosystem and improve its CPU development capabilities, complementing its existing Oryon custom CPU team
Singapore's sovereign wealth fund, the Government Investment Corporation (GIC), has made significant investments in artificial intelligence startups Anthropic and MiniMax amidst rising concerns about an AI investment bubble. Anthropic recently closed a funding round valuing it at US$35 billion, with GIC as a key backer. At the same time, Chinese AI startup MiniMax saw a strong stock debut on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, also reportedly supported by GIC
The long-discussed Taiwan-US tariff negotiations have finally concluded, agreeing on US$500 billion investment and reciprocal tariffs aligned with those of the EU, Japan, and South Korea without stacking. These terms match disclosures from US sources
Record profits. Soaring margins. Relentless demand. TSMC's January 15, 2026, earnings call painted a picture of semiconductor dominance so complete it seems almost untouchable. Almost
