As 2025 nears its close, the global artificial intelligence (AI) boom is again prompting debate over whether the sector is entering speculative territory. From Silicon Valley to Wall Street and across China's tech and investment circles, comparisons with the 2000 dot-com bubble have intensified. With China now a central participant in the AI landscape rather than an observer, the debate has gained broader industry attention

The US satellite industry has evolved over nearly seven decades through sustained investment from NASA and the Department of Defense (DoD). Early NASA commercial resupply and launch contracts also enabled SpaceX to build its technological and financial foundation, setting the stage for its dominance in the New Space era

As low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite networks move from development into full commercial deployment, major operators are racing to expand and secure their global supply chains. Among them, Eutelsat OneWeb is deepening its footprint in Taiwan, now treating the island as an essential pillar of its worldwide ecosystem

SoftBank Group's agreement to acquire the robotics division of Switzerland's ABB for approximately US$5.4 billion is a significant strategic move. The deal highlights Japan's increasing dominance in industrial automation and simultaneously marks a substantial withdrawal for Europe from the rapidly evolving, AI-driven robotics race

The surge in generative AI has intensified demand for AI servers and chips, shifting the focus from pure computational power to data transmission speed. This transition has accelerated the adoption of high-bandwidth memory (HBM). At GTC 2025, Nvidia introduced its Spectrum-X and Quantum-X silicon photonics network switches, positioning silicon photonics and co-packaged optics (CPO) as new frontiers in AI infrastructure. Consequently, AI innovation is extending beyond chip performance to encompass communication and transmission technologies

As the global deployment of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites accelerates, the Asia-Pacific region has become a strategic frontier for satellite operators. Rising demand driven by economic growth, geopolitical complexity, and the need for disaster resilience has turned the region into a coveted market. Yet, regulatory fragmentation across countries has slowed commercial rollout compared with the United States and Europe. That is now changing, as several governments move to open their skies to LEO operators, triggering a new wave of deployments

As SpaceX's low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites reshape global communications, Taiwan is accelerating its push into the space industry. According to a recent DIGITIMES report on NTN convergence, the Taiwan Space Center (TASA) is advancing dual tracks in "cubesat" and "communications satellite" programs, aiming to cultivate domestic system integration (SI) capabilities. The goal is to enable Taiwanese firms to move beyond producing individual components and subsystems toward full satellite design and mission planning, laying the groundwork for future international expansion

Quantum communication, which uses phenomena such as entanglement to enable highly secure data transmission via photons, is set for significant expansion. Market forecasts estimate the sector will reach around US$1.2 billion in 2024 and continue growing at an annual rate approaching 30% through 2035. Early applications like Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and quantum networks are already being adopted in industries, despite obstacles such as high costs and the absence of standardized protocols

Elon Musk's declaration that he is "very excited about chips" has rattled the global foundry industry. His plan for a massive Tesla-built wafer fab threatens to turn what was once a victory for Samsung's foundry arm into its next big headache

While TSMC's October consolidated revenue hit a historic high of NT$367.47 billion, up 16.9% year-over-year, the growth rate was the lowest since March 2024

The Future Innovation Tech Expo (FIX) 2025 concluded its Global Media Awards by highlighting companies that have successfully moved from concept to execution. The awards focus on firms translating forward-looking ideas into deployable, real-world systems

China is using the escalating Nexperia dispute to showcase a new, flexible export strategy that mixes hardline control with selective exemptions. As the Dutch government's takeover of the chipmaker triggered factory shutdowns in China, Beijing countered with both sanctions and relief measures, proving it can retaliate while also managing the global supply chain

As low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite deployments accelerate and 5G standards continue to evolve, direct-to-device (D2D) technology is emerging as the cornerstone for integrating mobile and satellite communications. The architecture extends terrestrial network coverage into space, addressing connectivity gaps in remote, maritime, and disaster-stricken regions, while also creating new business opportunities for telecom operators and satellite providers

Quantum sensing, one of the three pillars of quantum technology alongside quantum computing and quantum communication, is rapidly advancing toward commercial use. By leveraging quantum effects at atomic or subatomic scales, quantum sensors enable precision and security beyond the reach of conventional systems

As Moore's Law slows, advanced packaging has become the critical lever driving breakthroughs in AI chip performance, according to DIGITIMES chief semiconductor analyst Tony Huang. Speaking with DIGITIMES Asia, Huang emphasized that heterogeneous integration is now as pivotal to system performance as transistor scaling once was