DIGITIMES: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Quantum computing faces security, geopolitical, talent hurdles

Lily Hess — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 21:47:15 GMT

The 2026 UK National Quantum Technologies Showcase recently concluded in London, where the DIGITIMES team interviewed experts from the UK's industry, academia, and research sectors about the challenges facing quantum computing's transition into real-world applications, including cybersecurity, US-China geopolitical tensions, and talent shortages.

Inside Y Combinator's Taipei debut: lessons from the accelerator's first Startup School in Asia

DIGITIMES — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 21:46:29 GMT

"If you want a future, you have to build it yourself."

Samsung reportedly moves up 8-inch foundry exit to 2029, outsources some production to UMC

DIGITIMES — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 21:46:08 GMT

Samsung Electronics is targeting an exit from its 8-inch foundry business by the end of 2029, a year earlier than previously reported, and has been outsourcing some production to Taiwan's United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC), South Korea's Dealsite reported on November 12, citing industry sources.

Qualcomm begins India job cuts as handset chip sales slide

DIGITIMES — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 21:45:44 GMT

Qualcomm has started laying off employees in India, its largest engineering base outside the US, as the chipmaker carries out a performance-focused global workforce reduction amid a fall in smartphone chip sales.

India unveils indigenous AI models under IndiaAI Mission

DIGITIMES — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 21:45:18 GMT

India's release of the EKA-1, Dhīr 2B, and Dhīr 5B foundation models highlights a public-backed effort to develop multilingual AI for domestic and international use. The models range from those with large-scale reasoning and coding capabilities to lightweight, offline-capable assistants, with implications for data sovereignty, public services, enterprise deployment, and access in low-connectivity environments.

Pegatron 3Q26 operating profit jumps 150% on strong server, smartphone shipments

Sherri Wang — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 21:45:00 GMT

Pegatron's third-quarter operating profit jumped 149.7% from a year earlier to NT$8.04 billion (approx. US$244 million), as stronger server and smartphone shipments lifted revenue by more than 50%, the Taiwanese contract electronics manufacturer said on November 12.

Taiwan’s drone makers look beyond hardware to AI

Charlene Chen — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 21:44:29 GMT

DIGITIMES hosted a Tech Forum on developments in unmanned vehicles and Taoyuan's low-altitude economy, with Taoyuan Mayor Simon Chang, Qisda Chairman Peter Chen and Auden Techno Chairman Yu-Pin Chang among those attending. DIGITIMES Intelligence said Taiwanese companies are working to become a "reliable and trusted supply chain," while HY Tech CEO Yu-Tuan Chou expects the next phase of unmanned vehicles to focus on AI autonomy, unmanned operations and multi-vehicle coordination.

Relationships built on Jensen Huang's personal ties now face a test

DIGITIMES — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 21:43:53 GMT

The controversy surrounding Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has grown from a personal dispute into a broader question about corporate governance, succession planning, and the shifting power structure of the global AI supply chain. With Huang's formal resignation, the AI industry faces a new period of uncertainty, and Taiwan's supply chain must reassess its partnerships, order allocations, and industry interests.

Jensen Huang resigns as Nvidia CEO; CFO Colette Kress named interim chief

DIGITIMES — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 14:15:37 GMT

Nvidia co-founder Jensen Huang resigned as president, CEO and board member on November 12, effective immediately, the company's board said. He had led the company for 33 years, since its founding.

Micron says it has not required waivers and will keep negotiating in Taoyuan labor dispute

DIGITIMES — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 14:05:14 GMT

Micron Technology has responded to an open letter from the Taoyuan Union, a labor group in Taiwan, about its ongoing contract talks. Taoyuan is a city in northern Taiwan where Micron has a large factory, and the dispute centers on a new employee bonus program that the union has been pressing the company to discuss.

Quanta shifts 2027 capex toward power, the new battleground for AI server ODMs

Lily Hess — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 08:56:09 GMT

Quanta Computer posted strong revenue and earnings in the third quarter of 2026 and expects operations to continue accelerating in the fourth quarter, driven by AI servers. The company also forecasts another growth year in 2027, planning capital expenditure (capex) of NT$40 billion (US$1.21 billion) to NT$45 billion, although it says spending will begin to moderate.

Pegatron targets multiyear AI server surge, with Nvidia Vera Rubin shipments set for 1H27

Levi Li — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 08:52:40 GMT

Pegatron said at its November 12 earnings briefing that 2026 would mark its first year of server shipments, with the business expected to contribute about 10% of consolidated revenue and grow severalfold in 2027. Its portfolio spans Nvidia's GB series and HGX platforms, as well as custom ASIC servers, while shipments of next-generation Vera Rubin systems are expected to begin in the first half of 2027.

Foxconn sees high-double-digit AI rack growth in 2027

Lily Hess — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 08:46:00 GMT

Foxconn reported third-quarter 2026 revenue of more than NT$3 trillion (US$91 billion) and raised its full-year outlook, while taking a "cautiously optimistic" view of 2027 and forecasting high-double-digit growth in AI rack shipments. The company expects to gain market share through diversified AI solutions and an expanding customer base, but warned that component supplies, geopolitical and economic conditions, inflation, and monetary policy will shape its 2027 operations.

Aleees makes Tainan plant launchpad for North American LFP expansion

DIGITIMES — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 08:45:00 GMT

Advanced Lithium Electrochemistry (Aleees), a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode-material maker, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a North American partner on November 12 to trial-produce LFP cathode materials through a joint venture, as demand for power batteries and energy storage rises and Europe and the US accelerate supply-chain localization.

Chinese universities obtain Nvidia chips despite US export controls

DIGITIMES — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 08:35:46 GMT

Several Chinese universities, including Northwestern Polytechnical University, one of China's "Seven Sons of National Defense," have successfully obtained Nvidia chips despite US export controls, according to Reuters. Procurement records show the university purchased two Nvidia H200 chips for CNY875,000 (approximately US$177,629) through a domestic supplier rather than directly from Nvidia.

Naver signs US$1.5 billion AI cloud deal with US firm

DIGITIMES — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 07:59:53 GMT

Naver said on November 12 it had signed a KRW2 trillion (approx. US$1.5 billion) AI computing services contract with a US-based AI inference company, securing its first major customer for the AI Factory business it is developing with Nvidia and Brookfield.

India's Tata Electronics reportedly seeks up to US$2 billion in loans

DIGITIMES — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 07:48:50 GMT

Tata Electronics is lining up fresh debt at a moment when nearly every leg of its expansion has run into friction: a flagship chip fab whose production start has moved from the end of 2026 to mid-2028 and will launch on an older process, losses that widened even as revenue doubled, and a run of incidents at its iPhone component plant in Tamil Nadu.

ByteDance plans to release Muse-like AI agent in coming weeks

DIGITIMES — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 07:48:39 GMT

ByteDance reportedly intends to release an AI agent similar to Meta's Muse within several weeks. The firm, whose AI assistant tool Doubao has seen wide adoption within China, seeks to catch up with leading US labs within a few years, even as its co-founder has called for reducing reliance on distillation techniques.

Synnex pivots to AI solution enabler, targets continued growth in 2027

DIGITIMES — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 07:25:00 GMT

Synnex Technology International Corp. posted record quarterly revenue in the third quarter of 2026 and expects continued growth and new highs in 2027, driven by AI semiconductors, AI servers and infrastructure, and its China AI server business. The company is also launching fundraising plans, including a cash capital increase, CD issuance and expanded bank credit lines, to meet its funding needs.

China's AI short-drama boom opens new token revenue opportunity for ByteDance's Seedance, Volcengine

Levi Li — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 07:01:06 GMT

China's AI-generated short-drama market is expanding rapidly, with surging content production and viewership making the sector an increasingly significant source of demand for AI computing resources.

SoftBank rejects Musk's default claim, books JPY597.2B data-center loss

DIGITIMES — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 06:57:38 GMT

SoftBank Group (SBG) has denied SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's claim on X that the company defaulted after ordering turbines, while saying its AI infrastructure plans remain on track. However, SBG recorded a JPY597.2 billion (US$3.73 billion) loss in the second quarter of fiscal 2026 (July–September 2026) after reviewing purchases of power-generation equipment for US data centers, though it said the loss was unrelated to Project Stargate Ohio.

Sharp sells LCD color filter plant to Nitto Denko for JPY22.2B

Charlene Chen — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 06:55:00 GMT

Sharp is accelerating efforts to address its loss-making display component business. According to Nikkei, Sharp will sell its Hisai plant in Tsu, Mie Prefecture, Japan, which produces color filters for LCD panels, to Nitto Denko. Sharp officially announced the sale on the morning of November 12. The transaction is valued at JPY22.2 billion (approximately US$139 million) and is expected to close on December 24.

Amtran's 3Q26 profit tops 1H26 total as non-TV shipments surge

DIGITIMES — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 06:55:00 GMT

Amtran Technology reported a sharp profit increase in the third quarter of 2026, driven by stronger shipments of high-value non-TV products and an optimized product mix. Third-quarter earnings per share reached NT$0.59 (US$0.018), up 103% quarter-over-quarter, while earnings for the first three quarters rose 27% year-over-year to NT$1.03 per share.

Sam Altman warns Samsung of short-term AI demand volatility

DIGITIMES — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 06:45:03 GMT

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman warned Samsung Electronics executives that AI memory demand could fluctuate in the short term, with the market potentially counting the same demand more than once. He nevertheless expects long-term AI demand to surge, creating shortages of chips and data centers and underscoring the need for greater supply chain investment.

Chinese media question timing of Huang allegations amid chip controls

DIGITIMES — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 06:44:54 GMT

With Chinese and US leaders expected to meet on October 18 during the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, allegations involving Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's extramarital affair and supposed links to Chinese espionage continue to escalate. China's state-run Global Times questioned whether the closely timed media reports and congressional actions reflect political maneuvering behind US technology policy toward China.

Kwang-Hwa swings to profit in 3Q26 as EPF film line nears launch

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 06:44:41 GMT

Kwang-Hwa Electronic reported consolidated revenue of NT$1.315 billion in the third quarter of 2026, down 2.78% quarter-on-quarter and 3.01% year-on-year. Gross profit was NT$324 million, up 8.61% quarter-on-quarter but down 9.07% year-on-year. Supported by foreign-exchange gains, the company swung to a net profit attributable to its parent of NT$1.98 million, or NT$0.03 per share.

Meta infrastructure chief to hand over AI compute role in 2027

DIGITIMES — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 06:44:41 GMT

Meta Platforms' longtime infrastructure chief Santosh Janardhan will leave after the end of 1Q27, with former Amazon Web Services (AWS) vice president Dave Brown set to succeed him. The leadership transition comes as Meta accelerates its AI strategy and expands data centers and in-house chip development.

Taiwan's electronics industry targets four overseas tech parks under TEEMA's global expansion plan

Levi Li — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 06:37:05 GMT

The Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (TEEMA) released its first industry white paper in 78 years on November 11, proposing a "Taiwan+N" global expansion strategy centred on overseas technology parks, supply chain integration and stronger domestic manufacturing capabilities.

Samsung and Hyundai forge AI alliance

Charlene Chen — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 06:35:00 GMT

Samsung Group and Hyundai are deepening their strategic partnership, exploring opportunities in robotics, energy and physical AI alongside existing cooperation in automotive semiconductors, batteries and displays. More than 100 senior executives from the two conglomerates met in Yongin, Gyeonggi-do province, South Korea, on November 9 to map out collaboration in future mobility and industrial applications.

Chinese models capture 89% of US corporate spending in open-source AI

Charlene Chen — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 06:33:12 GMT

Chinese AI models have taken a dominant position as demand for open-source models grows among US businesses. According to the "2026: The State of Enterprise AI" report released in early November by US venture capital firm Menlo Ventures, Chinese models accounted for 89% of US corporate spending on open-source AI models.

Huawei's new OSTA smartphone brand targets wider displays, AI features ahead of November 20 debut

Levi Li — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 06:21:14 GMT

Huawei is preparing to introduce a new smartphone sub-brand, OSTA, at a product launch event on November 20, potentially expanding its portfolio with a wider-format candybar smartphone featuring AI capabilities.

Toyota to assemble and sell Japanese light-duty trucks in the US, with sales starting in 2H27

Eifeh Strom — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 06:15:08 GMT

Japanese automaker Toyota has announced plans to revive the Scion brand, which was discontinued nearly a decade ago, with the launch of its first model, the KEI-01, in the second half of 2027. The light-duty truck (kei truck) will be assembled in Indiana and sold in the US market, targeting short-distance transportation needs at farms, ranches, small businesses, and corporate campuses. Based on Daihatsu Motor's Hijet Jumbo light commercial mini pickup truck, the KEI-01 will be Toyota's first kei truck manufactured in the US.

Intel China wants to turn untapped renewable energy into AI tokens with computing pods slated for 1H27

Levi Li — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 05:58:38 GMT

As demand for AI computing expands across industries and applications, chipmakers are seeking opportunities beyond conventional data centers, extending into enterprise deployments and personal devices. At the ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in 2026, Intel China showcased three AI computing solutions: green computing pods for large data centers and enterprise campuses, integrated AI inference systems for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and AI Agent PCs for individual users.

Samsung moves up HBM packaging plant opening to June 2028

DIGITIMES — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 05:57:08 GMT

Samsung Electronics said on November 12 it had moved up the planned opening of its new high-bandwidth memory (HBM) packaging plant in South Korea by one year to June 2028 to meet rising demand for AI server memory.

DIGITIMES Insight: Entering glass substrate era, core layers are no longer an exclusive process for substrate makers

Charlene Chen — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 04:48:21 GMT

DIGITIMES observes that as AI accelerators continue to grow in size, substrate dimensions are gradually moving beyond 100x100mm. Warpage issues in organic substrates have also become increasingly pronounced, prompting industry players to invest in the development of different core-layer materials. Glass, which offers excellent flatness and an adjustable coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) that can be brought closer to that of silicon, can help reduce warpage. As a result, it has emerged as a closely watched core-layer solution and a key focus of future technology development.