DIGITIMES: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

The case for an AI speed limit collapsed in a weekend

DIGITIMES — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 01:10:19 GMT

The AI industry's proposal to slow frontier model development ran into geopolitics over the weekend. US President Donald Trump rejected a slowdown, saying America must stay ahead of China, while Chinese President Xi Jinping used the BRICS summit in New Delhi to pitch a China-led open-source AI network for developing economies. The executive who proposed pacing concedes that a verifiable US-China limit may not be achievable.

AI labs ask to be slowed, Congress stirs, and Nvidia calls the alarm a sales pitch

DIGITIMES — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 01:07:15 GMT

The strongest case for restraining frontier AI development is now coming from the companies building it, and one of the sharpest rebuttals is from the supplier that sells them the chips. That split is the political problem US lawmakers inherit: the labs want a coordinated slowdown and independent oversight they say they cannot arrange alone, while Nvidia Chief Executive Jensen Huang has suggested the alarm over AI-driven cyber risk doubles as a sales pitch.

India's chip show nearly doubles in two years, with suppliers leading the build-out

DIGITIMES — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:47:29 GMT

The exhibitor list for Semicon India 2026 suggests the country's semiconductor push has moved past announcements and into procurement. The show has drawn 535 exhibiting companies, up 52% from 351 in 2025 and 97% from 271 in 2024. Moreover, the sharpest growth is not in chipmakers, but in areas that fabs purchase only once construction is real: cleanroom and utility contractors, specialty gas and chemical suppliers, and metrology and inspection tool vendors.

CoreIntelligence Holdings posts 6% revenue growth in first 8 months as optical ASP soars and energy-saving products grow

Yunnie Cheng — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:44:33 GMT

CoreIntelligence Holdings (CiHC) reported unaudited consolidated revenue of NT$3.429 billion (approx. US$108.6 million) for August 2026, representing a slight 3% month-over-month decline from NT$3.535 billion (US$112.1 million) in July, but a 3% year-over-year increase compared to NT$3.342 billion (US$105.8 million) in 2025. Cumulative consolidated revenue for the first eight months of 2026 reached NT$26.36 billion (US$834.8 million), up 6% from NT$24.819 billion (US$786 million) recorded during the same period in 2025.

Weekly news roundup: HBM4 strain, Intel price hikes and the next AI infrastructure buildout

DIGITIMES — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:40:44 GMT

AI demand remained the dominant force across semiconductors, memory, foundry and data-center infrastructure this week. Intel raised CPU prices while Qualcomm and MediaTek targeted openings in IPC and IoT; memory inventories tightened as HBM4 and server demand strained DRAM and NAND supply; and Micron, Taiwan Mobile, Samsung Electronics, ASML, Synopsys and Eaton advanced plans tied to AI, advanced-node manufacturing and higher-density data centers. Below are the most-read DIGITIMES stories from September 7–13, 2026.

Blokcert launches Gefjon AI to help Taiwan charging operators improve profitability as EV demand rebounds

Willis Ke — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:36:21 GMT

Taiwan's EV market is staging a strong recovery in 2026, boosting vehicle registrations and charging demand, but operators remain under pressure from high capital costs and thin returns. Against that backdrop, charging software provider Blokcert Technology on September 9 unveiled Gefjon AI, billed as Taiwan's first operational decision-making brain designed specifically for charging sites, with the goal of helping operators turn charging infrastructure into more manageable and profitable energy assets.

Hiroca revenue jumps 35% as auto summer slowdown fades

DIGITIMES — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:33:10 GMT

Hiroca reported August consolidated revenue of NT$503 million (approx. US$16.0 million), up 35.81% from a month earlier and 10.19% from a year earlier. Cumulative consolidated revenue for January–August 2026 reached NT$3.4 billion, slightly up 0.25% from the same period in 2025.

Lite-On revenue rises in August on cloud power demand

DIGITIMES — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:32:52 GMT

Lite-On Technology posted NT$19.6 billion (approx. US$622.1 million) in consolidated revenue in August 2026, up 3% month-over-month and 25% year-over-year, as strong demand continued for AI and cloud computing high-end server power supplies, high-efficiency battery backup units (BBUs), and optoelectronic semiconductors. Revenue for the first eight months reached NT$134.7 billion, up 27% year-over-year.

Aurotek posts record August revenue on semiconductor, robot shipments

Eifeh Strom — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:32:13 GMT

Taiwanese robotics component maker Aurotek attributed its strong revenue growth in August 2026 to continued robust customer pull-ins for its automation subsystem equipment in the semiconductor, high-end artificial intelligence (AI) server, and electronics manufacturing industries. The company also highlighted the outlook for robot shipments.

Renesas readies second price hike amid stronger power-chip demand

DIGITIMES — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:31:33 GMT

Renesas Electronics is reportedly preparing a second product price increase this year, with new pricing set to take effect January 1, 2027, as rising manufacturing costs coincide with stronger demand for power semiconductors used in data centers and other high-growth applications.

India roundup: India says it cannot build electronics without China

DIGITIMES — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:31:07 GMT

India is accelerating its semiconductor and electronics ambitions, courting Taiwan, easing China restrictions, expanding local manufacturing and chip infrastructure, while global technology companies deepen investment despite rising costs and regulatory risks.

Image Match Design wins exclusive fingerprint module role in African ID project

DIGITIMES — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:30:40 GMT

Image Match Design secured an exclusive role in a national identity enrollment and collection system project for a major African country, according to the company. The biometric IC design firm said it will supply fingerprint collection and recognition equipment through a systems integrator, marking a move into a high-barrier international government market.

AI agents drive token use 300-600x, Dell Taiwan says

Charlene Chen — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:30:15 GMT

Dell Taiwan said the shift from generative AI to agentic AI is pushing token usage up by hundreds of times, sharply lifting costs and accelerating demand for on-premises AI computing as enterprises move faster toward hybrid cloud. General manager Terence Liao made the remarks at the company's annual technology event, Dell Technologies Forum 2026, on September 10.

Shihlin Electric eyes orders through 2029 as T4 plant starts in 2027

DIGITIMES — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:29:47 GMT

Shihlin Electric is bullish on continued growth in heavy electrical equipment and energy-related businesses as demand rises for Taiwan Power grid reinforcement, energy transition projects, and AI data center (AIDC) build-outs. The company said its planned T4 plant is scheduled to start production in September 2027, while orders on hand have already topped NT$60 billion (approx. US$1.9 billion) and are extending into 2030.

China's robot champions can run; now they have to prove they can earn

DIGITIMES — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:23:56 GMT

China's humanoid robot boom is entering a harder phase. After years of headline-grabbing demonstrations and heavy private funding, companies are being pressed to prove something less theatrical but more consequential: that robots can perform reliable work, generate recurring revenue, and justify their valuations.

AI, 5G upgrades lift Taiwan's top three telecoms in August

DIGITIMES — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:23:44 GMT

Strong demand for AI and AI data centers, along with a wave of enterprise information and communications technology (ICT) projects moving into delivery, helped Taiwan's top three telecom operators extend growth in August 2026. Chunghwa Telecom posted record August revenue, operating profit, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), and earnings per share (EPS); Taiwan Mobile remained the telecom trio's cumulative EPS leader; and FarEasTone set monthly highs in revenue, EBITDA, and net profit.

Column: What is SLAM? The first step in Physical AI

Jingyue Hsiao — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:23:30 GMT

We previously discussed how automation removes environmental uncertainty, while autonomy requires systems to operate in complex settings. The biggest difference is that autonomous robots must enter unstructured environments and get work done, knowing where they are, what surrounds them, and how to move safely and efficiently while carrying out tasks.

China auto exports hold above 1 million as new energy shipments surge

DIGITIMES — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:23:19 GMT

China's auto exports stayed above 1 million units for a third straight month in August 2026, reaching 1.01 million vehicles, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. The increase of 65.3% from a year earlier came as weaker domestic demand pressured the home market and exports became a larger growth driver for Chinese automakers.

AI server exports to US slow; electronics parts jump 1.5 times in August

DIGITIMES — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:23:08 GMT

Taiwan's Ministry of Finance on September 9 said electronic parts exports reached US$32.22 billion in August 2026, a record monthly high, rising US$11.83 billion, or 58%, from the same month in 2025. Integrated circuits rose US$11.55 billion, up 60%, while printed circuit boards increased US$140 million, up nearly 30%.

AI server tracker: Taiwan optics race beyond 1.6T

DIGITIMES — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:22:57 GMT

Taiwan's optical communications supply chain is entering a more consequential phase of the AI infrastructure cycle. Demand is broadening beyond conventional pluggable transceivers toward continuous-wave (CW) lasers, fiber array units (FAUs), external laser sources and co-packaged optics (CPO), while transmission speeds advance from 800G and 1.6T toward 3.2T and beyond.

Delays trim CAEC August sales, but UPS demand outlook stays firm

Jingyue Hsiao — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:21:37 GMT

Changs Ascending Enterprise (CAEC) said some shipments of lithium iron phosphate battery systems used in semiconductor uninterruptible power supply equipment were delayed after customers adjusted plant expansion schedules, and heavy rain in southern Taiwan slowed delivery and acceptance. August 2026 revenue fell from July, but still ranked as the second-highest August on record.

Taiwan's BTL builds new plant for high-power AI server testing, eyeing 4Q27 launch

Yunnie Cheng — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:21:09 GMT

Electronic testing and certification provider BTL Inc. has kicked off construction plans for Guishan Plant 3. The expansion targets high-power testing capacity for AI server systems, power delivery infrastructure, liquid-cooling equipment, and related peripherals, positioning the company to meet next-generation AI market demand. BTL expects the facility to begin accepting client orders and contributing to top-line revenue in the fourth quarter of 2027.

Artery secures spot in Arm ecosystem, pushing high-end MCUs into robotics, physical AI

Yunnie Cheng — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:20:55 GMT

As Arm targets expansion in physical AI, microcontroller (MCU) maker Artery Technology has emerged as a key ecosystem partner. Focusing on high-end 32-bit MCU applications, Artery has penetrated supply chains for robotics and unmanned aerial vehicles, with full-year 2026 revenue projected to double.

HannStar to halve panel output as layoffs and a management exit fuel closure talk

Joseph Chen — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:20:44 GMT

HannStar Display is preparing to cut output at its only fab roughly in half, alongside a workforce reduction that industry sources put at as much as 70% — being carried out through a voluntary buyout program. The moves landed in the same week its general manager resigned, turning long-running speculation about a plant closure into the central question around the company.

Europe buys time in the LEO race as Eutelsat extends OneWeb toward the IRIS² era

DIGITIMES — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 01:29:18 GMT

Starlink's enormous low-Earth-orbit (LEO) footprint has long cast a shadow over the broader aerospace industry, turning satellite broadband into a race defined as much by constellation scale as by network performance.

Renault sets 2-year car development quality line

DIGITIMES — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 01:28:58 GMT

Facing an aggressive push by Chinese automakers to launch new models at short intervals and rapidly seize market share, major automakers in Europe, the US, Japan, and South Korea are confronting a new trade-off between R&D speed and quality control. Renault Group CEO Francois Provost said the French automaker will not blindly follow suit at the expense of quality and will not bring a new model to market if its development cycle is under two years.

Rethinking defense perimeters, supply chain resilience in the AI era

Kevin Wang — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 01:27:01 GMT

The concept of corporate cybersecurity used to begin at the so-called perimeter, with firewalls guarding network entry points, email gateways filtering out suspicious messages, and antivirus software blocking malware. This wall-building mindset at the perimeter worked reasonably well when corporate information systems were relatively closed.

Analysis: Speed built Colossus, yet redundancy may decide whether SpaceX can scale it

DIGITIMES — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 01:26:42 GMT

Much of the industry attention surrounding AI infrastructure buildouts is now inextricably tied to sheer compute power, with market dominance or competitiveness defined largely by the highest-performing GPUs or the fastest construction.

Apple foldable plans drive new demand for Japanese smartphone parts makers

DIGITIMES — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 01:20:35 GMT

Apple’s move into foldable smartphones is creating fresh business for Japanese component makers with expertise in thin, lightweight and compact designs. According to Nikkei Asia, suppliers that once helped shape Japan’s feature phone era are seeing renewed interest in foldable display materials, hinges and battery-related parts.

Exclusive: ASUS xHIS aims to become digital backbone for AI-ready healthcare

Scarlett Yu — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 01:14:25 GMT

Asustek Computer (Asus) has been accelerating the integration of AI, hardware, software, and cloud technologies into healthcare as it builds a next-generation smart healthcare ecosystem. Kuo-Hao Huang, vice president of the Asus AI Research Center, said the biggest challenge hospitals face in adopting AI is not the AI models themselves, but whether their data, workflows, and system architectures are ready.

AI server boom reshuffles MLCC supply, opening a rare expansion window for Taiwan makers

Levi Li — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 01:14:05 GMT

Strong demand for AI computing is creating a capacity squeeze across the passive-component industry, opening new opportunities for Taiwanese suppliers.

Murata targets mass production of its AI power substrate next year

DIGITIMES — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 01:13:47 GMT

Murata Manufacturing plans to begin mass production next year of iPaS, the power substrate it has spent several years developing for AI chips, a step that would carry the world's largest multilayer ceramic capacitor maker out of the passive components it dominates and into the substrate layer itself. The company is targeting annual sales of JPY50 billion (US$325.56 million) within 18 months of that launch, according to The Elec, which reported the plan after Murata showed the product at the KPCA Show 2026 in Incheon on September 9.

Taiwan sees AI-era power upgrade openings in France

Charlene Chen — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 01:13:31 GMT

Taiwan's power and energy companies are looking to grow their presence in Europe. To support that push, the Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association (CIECA) organized the "2026 Taiwan Economic and Trade Delegation to France," a 25-member group of representatives from domestic industry groups and energy and power companies, which traveled to Paris from September 5 to 13 to discuss trade and investment opportunities centered on grid upgrades and energy security and resilience.

Pegatron's AI server engine starts to outweigh notebook drag, with Apple adding lift

Levi Li — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 01:13:14 GMT

Pegatron reported consolidated revenue of NT$88.31 billion (approx. US$2.8 billion) in August 2026, up 2.66% from the previous month and 34.11% from a year earlier, supported by its information and communications technology businesses. The company expects stronger second-half shipments, led by expanding server volumes and the launch of Apple's iPhone 18 series, with the fourth quarter likely to mark the seasonal peak.

Commentary: Apple sends off Cook with a foldable flourish, but Ternus's trial is still ahead

Charlene Chen — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 01:13:01 GMT

Apple has finally unveiled the long-anticipated foldable iPhone Duo, with former CEO Tim Cook making a brief appearance at the start of the launch video. The moment suggested the device was Cook's farewell act, rather than John Ternus' first turn as chief executive, even as Apple used the 2026 fall event to frame its next stage of AI strategy.