Samsung Electronics' smartphone division is reportedly struggling with escalating cost pressures, largely attributed to the rapid rise in prices for mobile application processors (AP). While increasing the use of its own Exynos chips could potentially reduce procurement expenses, Samsung still finds it challenging to fully replace Qualcomm's products due to performance and market competitiveness considerations
Memory spot prices surged in the second quarter of 2025 but have since stabilized at high levels. DDR4 supply remains constrained, yet the earlier rush to secure inventory has eased, with market activity reverting to more typical trading patterns. Industry analysts expect DDR4 contract prices to continue rising through year-end, as inventories at leading memory suppliers remain low
China's top economic planner has pledged to prevent excess competition in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector, signaling Beijing's intent to balance rapid innovation with the risks of overcapacity. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said provinces should pursue AI development in a coordinated and complementary way, leveraging their distinctive strengths rather than duplicating efforts
BYD Electronic (International) Co. Ltd. posted first-half 2025 revenue of CNY80.61 billion (US$11.3 billion), a 2.58% increase year-over-year, while net profit climbed 14% to CNY1.73 billion. Earnings per share were CNY0.77, with no interim dividend declared
Huawei Technologies Co. posted a first-half profit, getting back into the black after the emergence of DeepSeek ignited a wave of AI development across China
At its 48th AGM, Reliance Industries unveiled Reliance Intelligence, a new AI-focused subsidiary driving India's artificial intelligence ambitions, alongside partnerships with Google and Meta to scale AI across industries. The company also detailed its renewable energy push, including gigawatt-scale green data centers, solar and battery projects, and green hydrogen production, signaling a transformative blend of AI innovation and sustainable energy leadership for India's future
At the 2025 India-Japan Annual Summit, leaders advanced collaboration in semiconductors, AI, robotics, green energy, and space technologies. With JPY10 trillion (USD$67 Bn) in planned Japanese investment, both nations aim to integrate high-tech manufacturing, digital innovation, and talent mobility, strengthening industrial competitiveness and future-ready technology partnerships
China's Cambricon Technologies, a leading domestic AI chip startup, has endured a turbulent rise marked by the brilliance of its founding brothers and the pressure of shifting geopolitics. Formally known as Beijing Zhongke Cambricon Science and Technology Co., the firm was founded in 2016 by brothers Chen Yunji, 42, and Chen Tianshi, 40. Both were child prodigies at the University of Science and Technology of China and later earned doctorates at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, laying the groundwork for their entry into AI chip design
As artificial intelligence and high-performance computing continue to advance rapidly, high-bandwidth memory (HBM) paired with GPUs has become a critical battleground in the semiconductor industry. Joungho Kim, a professor of electrical engineering at KAIST and widely recognized as the "father of HBM" in South Korea, emphasized the importance of emerging technologies such as hybrid bonding, high-bandwidth flash (HBF), and compute-in-HBM in shaping the future of memory design
Samsung Electro-Mechanics (Semco) CEO Duckhyun Chang reportedly met Boston Dynamics CEO Robert Playter at the company's Suwon headquarters in late July to discuss potential cooperation on next-generation robotics, including humanoid robots
The drone industry is growing beyond its earlier focus on military applications into other industrial sectors and public safety. As an example, the South Korean government is accelerating the development of next-generation drone technologies as vital tools for addressing public safety and disaster response
On August 27, 2025, the labor unions of six sub-subsidiaries under South Korean internet giant Naver Corporation held a rally at Naver's headquarters, demanding negotiations with management. Following the passage of the "Yellow Envelope" bill, South Korean businesses now expect joint actions among IT company subsidiaries to intensify
VeriSilicon Microelectronics (Shanghai), China's top semiconductor IP and custom chip design service provider, said on August 28 that it will acquire Nuclei System Technology, a Shanghai-based RISC-V CPU IP specialist. The acquisition will be carried out through a mix of share issuance and cash, with an additional fundraising round. VeriSilicon's shares will be suspended from August 29 for up to 10 trading days
Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment (AMEC) reported sharp first-half 2025 revenue growth, driven by robust demand for advanced etching systems used in cutting-edge logic and memory manufacturing
China's fast-growing autonomous driving market has cemented Horizon Robotics as the country's leading automotive chip supplier. The company posted first-half 2025 revenue of CNY1.567 billion (approx. US$219 million), a 67.6% increase from a year earlier. Founder and CEO Yu Kai said adoption is shifting from advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) to robotaxi platforms, predicting full-scale autonomous driving within five to ten years. He added that Horizon will begin collaborations with robotaxi operators in the second half of 2025
