DIGITIMES: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Tata Sons injects US$115.7M into Tata Electronics as chip and iPhone arm gains weight in group

DIGITIMES — Mon, 2 Nov 2026 02:57:07 GMT

Tata Sons has put INR11 billion (US$115.71 million) into Tata Electronics through a rights issue, according to regulatory filings, adding capital to a business that has quickly become one of the largest in the Tata group.

FuriosaAI raises US$620 million, quadruples valuation to challenge Nvidia

DIGITIMES — Mon, 2 Nov 2026 02:44:04 GMT

South Korean AI chip startup FuriosaAI has raised US$620 million in its latest funding round, quadrupling its valuation from the previous round to US$2.9 billion and strengthening its challenge to Nvidia.

South Korea's army advances energy transition with microgrids, hydrogen

DIGITIMES — Mon, 2 Nov 2026 02:34:35 GMT

As AI and unmanned systems see wider adoption, the military's reliance on electricity continues to grow, making energy transition critical to maintaining combat capabilities. The South Korean Army made its debut at Smart Energy Plus (SEP) 2026, showcasing microgrids integrating solar power, energy storage systems (ESS), and hydrogen fuel cells, along with hydrogen-powered tactical vehicles and hydrogen fuel-cell drones to reduce dependence on external power grids.

India's Mivi opens electronics plant in Hyderabad as it moves into smartphones

DIGITIMES — Mon, 2 Nov 2026 02:28:59 GMT

Indian consumer electronics brand Mivi has inaugurated an INR2 billion (approx. US$21.05 million) research, development, and manufacturing facility at E-City in Tukkuguda, Hyderabad, giving the audio-focused company a monthly capacity of 500,000 earbuds and 75,000 soundbars as it pushes into smartphones.

EasyJet bets on Starlink for full-fleet connectivity by 2027

DIGITIMES — Mon, 2 Nov 2026 02:23:17 GMT

UK low-cost airline EasyJet has agreed with SpaceX to install Starlink satellite internet on its A320, A320neo, and A321neo fleets starting in the first half of 2027, with the rollout expected to be completed by early 2028. The service will allow passengers to stream video, work in the cloud, play online games, and access information during flights.

Apple Intelligence heads toward paid tiers in 2027, yet AI usage limits leave key questions unanswered

Levi Li — Mon, 2 Nov 2026 02:20:32 GMT

Apple is preparing to charge for heavier use of certain Apple Intelligence features from 2027, introducing usage caps for cloud-based AI services that could become part of its existing iCloud+ subscriptions. The plan, outlined on Apple's website alongside two consecutive months of product launches in 2026, adds another consideration for consumers already facing hardware upgrades and higher prices.

Rebuilding the American edge: How TSMC is driving US manufacturing and economic opportunity

DIGITIMES — Mon, 2 Nov 2026 02:20:24 GMT

The ambition to repatriate advanced manufacturing to the United States has reached a critical turning point. Central to this national push is the massive expansion of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) in Phoenix, Arizona—a project that highlights both the economic potential of reindustrialization and the operational complexities of restoring long-lost technical expertise.

Meta reportedly advances humanoid robot development with Chinese partner Fourier

DIGITIMES — Mon, 2 Nov 2026 02:16:27 GMT

Meta is accelerating its humanoid robotics ambitions through a partnership with Chinese robotics company Fourier, having developed an initial prototype and begun work on a second version as it explores the potential of AI-powered household assistants.

Commentary: China's Nvidia H200 challengers look beyond GPU power, with Huawei and T-Head targeting system-scale AI

Levi Li — Mon, 2 Nov 2026 02:08:22 GMT

Iluvatar CoreX has reported benchmark results showing its Tiangai 300 AI accelerator outperforming Nvidia's H200 on selected metrics, drawing renewed attention to China's progress in developing domestic alternatives to high-end GPUs. Yet the broader competition extends beyond raw processing power, as Chinese chipmakers seek to narrow the gap with leading international AI computing platforms through chip design, software optimisation and system integration.

Kioxia's AI storage boom faces a test as pricing gains moderate, shipments shift

DIGITIMES — Mon, 2 Nov 2026 02:04:40 GMT

Kioxia's latest results show how AI infrastructure spending is reshaping the NAND flash business, lifting profitability even as consumer demand weakens. Its nearly flat outlook for the next quarter, however, shifts attention from the scale of the price surge to whether enterprise storage shipments can sustain growth as that surge moderates.

Taiwan’s R&D investment reaches NT$1.13 trillion in 2025

DIGITIMES — Mon, 2 Nov 2026 01:43:57 GMT

Master’s degree holders remain the backbone of Taiwan’s technology R&D workforce, while locally trained PhD students generally show weaker research capabilities, according to academic sources. The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) said on October 30 that Taiwan’s total R&D investment reached NT$1.13 trillion (US$34.79 billion) in 2025, up 8.5% year-over-year, including NT$981 billion from the private sector and NT$157 billion from the government.

Canada invests CAD1.6 billion in Cohere to build AI independence

DIGITIMES — Mon, 2 Nov 2026 01:38:25 GMT

The Canadian government plans to invest up to CAD1.6 billion (about US$1.14 billion) in domestic AI startup Cohere, becoming a major investor in the company's latest funding round as Canada seeks to reduce its reliance on the US and China for critical AI technologies.

Foxconn sees double-digit growth amid 2027 K-shaped AI market

DIGITIMES — Mon, 2 Nov 2026 01:28:23 GMT

Foxconn chairman Young Liu said at a media briefing following Hon Hai Tech Day (HHTD 26) on October 30 that the long-term AI industry trend remains intact, but the overall market will develop in a K-shaped pattern in 2027, with AI data center-related industries on the upswing and other sectors moving in the opposite direction. Foxconn expects to continue growing at a double-digit rate next year.

Foxconn, Mitsubishi Fuso joint venture to launch on November 2 as Japan's auto industry opens up

Eifeh Strom — Mon, 2 Nov 2026 01:20:23 GMT

Hon Hai Precision Industry (Foxconn) and Japan's Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus (MFTBC) will officially launch their bus joint venture on November 2, according to Foxconn chief strategy officer for electric vehicles (EVs) Jun Seki. Separately, Foxconn's joint venture with Mitsubishi Electric's automotive business is expected to take around nine to 10 months to complete antitrust reviews in various countries.

Weekly news roundup: Taiwan debates talent distribution; SK Hynix looks beyond HBM

DIGITIMES — Mon, 2 Nov 2026 01:11:14 GMT

This week’s coverage highlights intensifying competition and capacity constraints across the global semiconductor industry. Taiwan faces debate over whether public R&D funding should prioritize universities and talent development. Micron workers receive unusually large bonuses amid unresolved labor negotiations. India is expanding state-level semiconductor incentives, while KLA reportedly considers local manufacturing. Memory shortages may persist through 2030, and SK Hynix is investing beyond memory. Server CPU demand is projected to surge, with AMD potentially surpassing Intel in revenue.

Musk may let TSMC run his Texas chip fab as his go-it-alone plan stalls

Scarlett Yu — Mon, 2 Nov 2026 00:52:45 GMT

Elon Musk is reportedly reconsidering his approach to collaborating with TSMC on the Terafab project, signaling a potential shift from his original ambition to independently build and operate semiconductor fabs.

Column: Samsung's memory boom reshapes its investment strategy

Sherri Wang — Sun, 1 Nov 2026 22:22:00 GMT

Samsung Electronics has never had more capital at its disposal. The company reported operating profit of KRW89.5 trillion (approx. US$67 billion) in the second quarter of 2026 and KRW107.4 trillion in the third, when its operating margin reached approximately 55%. Samsung became the first technology company worldwide to post quarterly operating profit exceeding KRW100 trillion. The company is benefiting enormously from the memory boom, but its dependence on the industry has also deepened.

India roundup: India accelerates semiconductor push as states, chipmakers and equipment suppliers expand investment

DIGITIMES — Sun, 1 Nov 2026 21:19:00 GMT

India's semiconductor ambitions are gathering momentum as states launch new subsidies, chipmakers weigh fabs, global suppliers consider manufacturing, and engineering partnerships deepen the country's role in chip supply chains.

NearLink looks to chip vendors to expand beyond Huawei ecosystem

Yunnie Cheng — Sun, 1 Nov 2026 19:22:00 GMT

China's next-generation short-range wireless connectivity technology, NearLink, is actively pushing into markets beyond the Huawei ecosystem. Securing support from major chip vendors such as MediaTek, STMicroelectronics (ST), and NXP will be critical as the International SparkLink Alliance works to encourage wider adoption among non-Huawei smartphone brands, according to alliance secretary-general Guosong Zeng.

Lite-On reports record third-quarter profit as AI revenue exceeds 30%

DIGITIMES — Sun, 1 Nov 2026 19:19:00 GMT

Lite-On Technology reported record net profit for the third quarter of 2026 as demand for AI infrastructure boosted its cloud and power businesses. The Taiwanese electronics supplier posted consolidated revenue of NT$57.4 billion (US$1.8 billion), up 9% quarter-over-quarter and 28% year-over-year, while executives said AI-related revenue had exceeded 30% of the company's year-to-date total.

GigaDevice's massive financial growth in 2026 capitalizing on its A+H listing, memory surge

DIGITIMES — Sun, 1 Nov 2026 19:18:00 GMT

GigaDevice's financial performance through the first three quarters of 2026 highlights a transformative period driven by strategic market positioning, capital expansion, and robust product demand.

Nvidia's Korea robotics push gains ground as LG starts data factory operations

DIGITIMES — Sun, 1 Nov 2026 18:15:00 GMT

Nvidia's robotics partnerships in South Korea are moving beyond initial agreements, with LG Electronics beginning partial operations at its robot-training Data Factory and LG Innotek expanding cooperation on sensing technologies. Hyundai Motor Group, another Nvidia partner, has also outlined new steps toward building AI infrastructure for robotics and autonomous driving.

Humanoid robots, robotaxis take center stage at Korea's FIX 2026

DIGITIMES — Sun, 1 Nov 2026 18:13:00 GMT

South Korean companies showcased humanoid robot components, dual-arm machines, and autonomous driving systems at FIX 2026 in Daegu, offering a look at how developers are bringing automation into factories and transportation. The technologies ranged from robotic hardware under development for manufacturing applications to an autonomous taxi service already carrying paying passengers.

Nytex targets 35% of sales from high-end materials by 2027

Sherri Wang — Sun, 1 Nov 2026 17:10:00 GMT

Nytex Composites, a Taiwan-based specialty plastics compounder, aims to increase high-end materials' share of revenue to 35% in 2027, up from 25.76% in the first half of 2026, as demand grows for materials used in semiconductor wafer carriers, IC trays, and battery backup units (BBUs) for AI data centers.

Seoul Viosys begins mass production of rare earth-free white micro LEDs

DIGITIMES — Sun, 1 Nov 2026 17:09:00 GMT

A South Korean company says it has begun mass-producing white-light micro LED chips without rare earth materials, potentially reducing costs and environmental concerns in a market valued at about US$10 billion. The technology could also support smaller lighting systems, augmented reality displays, and optical links for artificial intelligence data communications.

Analysis: Samsung's own memory unit pushes its foundry toward a 2027 capacity crunch

DIGITIMES — Sun, 1 Nov 2026 16:09:00 GMT

Samsung Electronics' contract chipmaking business spent years struggling to fill its factories. On its third-quarter earnings call, the company said that by 2027, demand will exceed capacity across all its nodes below 8nm, which it expects to run at over 100% utilization.

The 20% problem: why Taiwan's imported equipment parts still carry 70% of the cost

DIGITIMES — Sun, 1 Nov 2026 15:09:00 GMT

Taiwan can manufacture some of the world's most advanced chips, package them into increasingly complex AI systems, and connect much of the surrounding electronics supply chain within a remarkably small geographic footprint.

TWM's BNPL users rise 49.9% as Taiwan targets gig-worker demand

DIGITIMES — Sun, 1 Nov 2026 15:08:00 GMT

Taiwan Mobile (TWM) said its buy now, pay later (BNPL) service is expanding beyond e-commerce checkout to travel, pet care, and other consumer scenarios, driven by the growth of atypical employment and rising demand for flexible payments. The service, branded "OP Pay," had 49.9% more cumulative users as of the end of September 2026 than at the end of September 2025.

Tesla at a historic crossroads as Musk bets on AI, space to revive growth

Scarlett Yu — Sun, 1 Nov 2026 14:08:00 GMT

From the spectacular flying demonstration of its next-generation Roadster to the prospect of a merger with SpaceX, Tesla appears to be approaching a historic strategic turning point.

Foxconn expands AI deployment with smart manufacturing across sites worldwide

Kevin Wang — Sun, 1 Nov 2026 14:07:00 GMT

As part of its efforts to harness AI for tangible benefits, Foxconn is integrating AI models, computing infrastructure, factory management, and automation equipment to build a model for smart manufacturing that can be replicated across sites. The company has already achieved initial results in applying AI to injection molding, computer numerical control (CNC) machining, surface-mount technology (SMT) processes, and production scheduling, with further plans to use digital twins and physical AI in process optimization, factory design, and automated system deployment.

Interview: Pactum sees AI as a cybersecurity boon despite public fear

DIGITIMES — Sun, 1 Nov 2026 13:12:54 GMT

High-profile breaches caused by AI agents from frontier labs are leading to public alarm over what AI means for the future of cybersecurity. However, Taivo Pungas, chief intelligence officer of agentic procurement platform Pactum, said that AI development is becoming a cybersecurity boon and could even be a boost for software as a service (SaaS) products.

The pioneer behind TSMC's FinFET leap: a personal look at Chenming Hu

DIGITIMES — Sun, 1 Nov 2026 13:12:46 GMT

In 2008, I accompanied a graduate student delegation sponsored by Applied Materials to visit the University of California, Berkeley. The trip was arranged with hopes of meeting Dr. Chenming Hu, but he was away from his laboratory that day, leaving his students to host our group instead. Looking back years later, what stands out most vividly in my memory—aside from the academic shrine of a semiconductor pioneer—are several splash-ink paintings hanging inside the lab that seemed completely detached from transistors, fabrication processes, and physics equations.

Six decades in the making: Why the world can't easily copy Taiwan's chip ecosystem

DIGITIMES — Sun, 1 Nov 2026 13:09:11 GMT

Taiwan's semiconductor strength is often described today through leading-edge process nodes, advanced packaging capacity, or its pivotal role in the global AI supply chain. At the Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Association's (TSIA) 30th anniversary gathering in Hsinchu, however, industry pioneer Shih Chin-Tay offered a different way to understand that advantage: not as the product of one breakthrough, one company or even one technology cycle, but as the cumulative result of six decades of learning.

Nvidia moves beyond GPUs as Meta's Muse agent stack pulls it deeper into AI infrastructure

DIGITIMES — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 23:35:09 GMT

The launch of Muse in September across Meta's expanding agent ecosystem has highlighted how quickly AI agents are evolving beyond conventional chatbot architectures, bringing more complex operating requirements and increasingly diversified roles into the definition of what an AI agent can do.

TSIA 30: The manpower problem behind Taiwan's semiconductor resilience

DIGITIMES — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 23:34:24 GMT

Taiwan's semiconductor industry has earned its reputation for chip dominance through decades of sustained investment in solving some of the world's hardest technological challenges. That persistence has helped build a manufacturing ecosystem whose industrial density, specialization, and resilience remain difficult for competitors to replicate.