DIGITIMES: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Nvidia unveils OOI CPO prototype for post-2028 AI needs

Charlene Chen — Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:45:44 GMT

Nvidia has unveiled a prototype of its next-generation co-packaged optics (CPO) technology, Optics-on-Interposer (OOI), at SEMICON West 2026. The design moves the optical engine from a conventional organic package substrate to the silicon interposer carrying the compute chips, increasing bandwidth density and reducing power consumption for future AI system interconnects.

China clears DeepSeek, MiniMax for overseas AI deployment

DIGITIMES — Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:45:17 GMT

DeepSeek and MiniMax have received approval to deploy their artificial intelligence models overseas, according to a post published October 22 by China Central Television’s Yuyuantantan account. The move signals that Beijing intends to permit Chinese AI companies to pursue global commercialization, even as proposed export controls could raise the threshold for transferring some advanced technologies abroad.

Namuga expands beyond Samsung with humanoid robot camera modules

Lily Hess — Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:44:27 GMT

South Korean image-sensing module maker Namuga is accelerating its physical AI strategy after securing a supply deal with a global humanoid robot company. The company is preparing for shipments and mass production while targeting revenue of KRW1 trillion (approximately US$754.7 million) by 2030.

Chinese automakers capture record 14.6% Europe market share as looming hybrid import curbs spur shipments

Willis Ke — Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:44:13 GMT

Chinese automakers achieved record sales in Europe in September, doubling their monthly volume to 194,800 vehicles and capturing an unprecedented 14.6% market share. Beyond their expanding model portfolios, the surge appears to reflect accelerated shipments ahead of potential European Union restrictions on Chinese hybrid vehicle imports, expected to take effect in 2027.

AI data centers drive Taiwan's electrical firms into modular, EPC markets

Charlene Chen — Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:43:37 GMT

As demand for AI data centers expands, next-generation AI servers are raising requirements for power supply, cooling efficiency, and deployment speed. Taiwan's electrical and mechanical equipment providers are therefore moving beyond standalone equipment supply into system integration, engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC), and modular data center solutions.

Meta’s AI commitments surge to US$825 billion, testing financing power

DIGITIMES — Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:43:06 GMT

Meta Platforms’ long-term AI infrastructure spending is driving rising financial pressure, with free cash flow turning negative in Q3 2026 and future lease and non-cancelable contract commitments climbing to about US$825 billion. The company also raised the lower end of its 2026 capex forecast by US$5 billion to US$135 billion, signaling continued AI expansion as financing and investment returns become new challenges.

Texas Instruments sees up to $1,000 in chip content per humanoid robot as analog supply tightens

Scarlett Yu — Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:42:49 GMT

Texas Instruments (TI) held its latest earnings call this week, projecting fourth-quarter 2026 revenue of US$5.8 billion to US$6.3 billion. The midpoint of its guidance is broadly in line with third-quarter revenue, outperforming the seasonal declines typically seen in the fourth quarter.

Column: Will general-purpose models overtake Physical AI?

Jingyue Hsiao — Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:42:25 GMT

After GPT-6 Astra launched in early September 2026, researchers quickly put it through Physical AI and robotics benchmarks. In some tests, it outperformed specialized models trained on large amounts of robot data.

Magnate Technology sees aerospace, semiconductor growth opportunities

Jingyue Hsiao — Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:41:58 GMT

Magnate Technology expects rising aircraft engine demand and semiconductor equipment opportunities to support growth as it expands production capacity, with implications for global aviation and chip supply chains. The aerospace components maker forecasts revenue of nearly NT$2 billion (US$61.5 million) in 2026 and expects 15% to 20% revenue growth in 2027.

Moonshot's Singapore hiring shows how China's open-model labs plan to get paid abroad

DIGITIMES — Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:41:45 GMT

Moonshot AI's first visible overseas sales hire marks a new stage in how Chinese developers of open-weight models compete outside China. They have given away model weights to win developers and earned money through cloud platforms and license terms; Moonshot now appears to be adding staff on the ground to manage partners and large customers.

Tesla-SpaceX merger tests whether Musk's technology empire is worth more together

DIGITIMES — Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:41:21 GMT

Since Elon Musk publicly confirmed that Tesla and SpaceX are evaluating a potential merger, the prospect has stirred widespread speculation over what could become the largest corporate transaction in history—and whether combining two of Musk's biggest technology platforms would actually create value beyond the sprawling ecosystem they already share.

Interview: The story of LEACHIM, a working humanoid robot from the 1970s

DIGITIMES — Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:40:56 GMT

The robotics industry has come a long way since robots were first built over 50 years ago. Yet LEACHIM, a robot teacher and one of the world's first humanoids created back in the 1970s, may hold a key clue as companies seek to transition their technological advancements into on-the-ground deployment: develop machines that solve real-world problems.

Nvidia rejects near-term memory glut fears, leaves CXMT cooperation open

DIGITIMES — Sat, 24 Oct 2026 01:44:19 GMT

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said the company did not expect memory supply to exceed demand in the coming years and remained open to working with China's ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT). The comments, made during the GTC Berlin conference and reported by CNBC, came as falling market valuations for memory manufacturers and new Chinese dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) developments intensified concerns about oversupply.

SpaceX's 80,000-site push turns Starlink from satellite overlay into full mobile challenger

DIGITIMES — Sat, 24 Oct 2026 01:44:02 GMT

SpaceX has firmly established itself in direct-to-device connectivity through Starlink's expanding satellite constellation. But the space giant is now pushing beyond orbital coverage as it seeks an equally consequential position in terrestrial mobile infrastructure.

Bosch to spin off automotive business as Asian rivals intensify pressure

DIGITIMES — Sat, 24 Oct 2026 01:43:46 GMT

Bosch Group plans to establish Bosch Mobility as a wholly owned, legally independent subsidiary in August 2027, separating the business that generated about 60% of group revenue. The move will complete the restructuring of Bosch's four major business areas and leave the parent company focused on strategic oversight and centralized research and development.

AIDC launches Taiwan's largest industrial microgrid with 9MW/54MWh energy storage capacity

Scarlett Yu — Sat, 24 Oct 2026 01:43:35 GMT

Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) held an inauguration ceremony for its 9MW/54MWh large-scale microgrid system at its Shuinan facility in Taichung on October 22, marking the official commissioning of what the company describes as Taiwan's largest industrial behind-the-meter energy storage microgrid.

LGES Poland plant nears breakeven as utilization rebounds

DIGITIMES — Sat, 24 Oct 2026 01:36:29 GMT

LG Energy Solution (LGES)'s Wroclaw plant in Poland, long viewed as a major drag on the business, is nearing profitability after posting an operating loss of nearly KRW600 billion (approximately US$430 million) in 2025. A surge in European EV demand and the early conversion of some production lines to energy storage system (ESS) applications have lifted utilization, putting the plant on track to return to profit in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Doosan Robotics targets automakers, chipmakers as Chinese rivals cut prices

DIGITIMES — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 08:59:00 GMT

Doosan Robotics is focusing its sales efforts on large automotive and semiconductor manufacturers as it develops AI-powered systems capable of handling more complex factory tasks, Hyeonchang Jeon, senior manager of the company's Korea sales team, said in an interview with DIGITIMES at FIX 2026 in Daegu, South Korea.

Taiwan's inaugural semiconductor strike pauses as nearly 70% of Micron Taoyuan Union rejects new bonus offer

Yunnie Cheng — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 08:43:34 GMT

Taiwan's first-ever strike in the semiconductor industry has temporarily drawn to a close. A 24-hour warning strike spearheaded by Micron Technology's Taoyuan union concluded on the morning of October 23, 2026. During the action, an internal ballot saw nearly 70% of all union members sign statements opposing management's proposed compensation structure. Formal labor-management negotiations are set to resume on October 27.

Semco's 61-week MLCC lead times give suppliers upper hand in AI supply chain

DIGITIMES — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 08:25:50 GMT

Samsung Electro-Mechanics (Semco) is gaining pricing power as AI server demand extends multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) lead times beyond a year. Shortages now span consumer, automotive and industrial products, prompting customers to secure 2027 supplies.

Lenovo mounts AI comeback with Nvidia Vera Rubin NVL72 deliveries and US plant expansion

Yunnie Cheng — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 08:03:44 GMT

More than 30 years ago, Lenovo set out with a vision to bring personal computers into every household. Today, Chairman and CEO Yuanqing Yang has defined a new mission for the 42-year-old tech giant: bring artificial intelligence to every home and industry, while transforming Lenovo into an AI-native enterprise targeting over US$100 billion in annual revenue within two years.

Chinese luxury carmakers face barriers in Europe's premium market

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 07:35:00 GMT

Chinese luxury carmakers are expanding in Europe but face barriers that differ from those in China. Brand recognition, sales and repair networks, financing, leasing, and used-car values could slow progress, while established German manufacturers retain most of Europe's premium market. The Chinese carmakers' efforts will test whether technology can overcome entrenched expectations.

Japan targets 2nm medical AI chip with IBM design, Rapidus eyed for foundry

Yunnie Cheng — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 07:22:37 GMT

Japan's Leading-edge Semiconductor Technology Center (LSTC), Hokkaido University, Fujifilm Corporation, GE HealthCare Japan, and imec announced a joint initiative in Tokyo on October 20 to develop a next-generation medical imaging system powered by a dedicated 2nm AI inference chip. The initiative aims to dramatically accelerate image processing efficiency and enable real-time computing directly on medical equipment.

Nvidia B300 chips reportedly surface on China Telecom-linked network, raising export-control questions

DIGITIMES — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 07:17:12 GMT

Israeli security firm Lava identified 32 Nvidia Blackwell Ultra B300 GPUs through monitoring endpoints linked to China Telecom, a state-owned carrier. The chips are barred from sale to China under US export controls. The finding adds to questions about whether the restrictions can keep advanced AI processors out of the country, but the network data does not establish where the GPUs are physically located.

First chip-level device on the list: US FCC bans two devices with Huawei HiSilicon chips under new rule

DIGITIMES — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 07:04:04 GMT

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has banned two electronic devices from entering the US market because both contain surveillance chips made by Huawei's HiSilicon. The move marks the first time the FCC has used a new rule targeting devices whose chipmakers are deemed national security risks.

Samsung reportedly orders final tools for first Taylor fab as Texas site nears 2nm output cap

DIGITIMES — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 06:55:14 GMT

Samsung Electronics has ordered additional equipment to fill the remaining space at its first foundry fab in Taylor, Texas, a move that would lift the plant's 2nm capacity to 20,000 wafers per month in the second half of 2027, ZDNet Korea reported on October 23, citing industry sources.

Taiwan's top telecom spins off AI surveillance unit, plans global push with local hardware makers

Rodney Chan — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 06:55:00 GMT

Chunghwa Telecom (CHT) has established a new subsidiary, CHT Intelligent Vision Solutions (IVS), spinning off an internal team focused on smart security and intelligent video analytics. The new company will target enterprise security, public safety, and smart-city applications, while taking Taiwanese hardware partners overseas.

Apple reportedly taps BOE for LCD iMac development, keeps OLED timetable in question

DIGITIMES — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 06:46:50 GMT

Apple has reportedly asked BOE Technology and other panel makers for technical information on LCD panels for a future iMac, raising questions about the pace of its OLED transition. The potential LCD model's launch around 2029 overlaps with industry expectations for the first OLED iMac in 2029-2030.

TSMC advances CoPoS packaging at Taoyuan Longtan site

Charlene Chen — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 06:30:52 GMT

TSMC's Longtan Science Park Phase 3 in Taoyuan is restarting after nearly three years of delays, with Taiwan's National Development Council approving its development plan on September 17, 2026. The 104.65-hectare site is expected to focus first on advanced packaging technologies such as CoPoS, joining TSMC's Chiayi AP7 and Southern Taiwan Science Park AP8 facilities as the company expands capacity to meet surging AI demand.

Rapidus courts US AI customers ahead of planned 2H27 2nm mass production

Levi Li — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 06:21:57 GMT

Rapidus chairman Tetsuro Higashi said the Japanese chipmaker remains broadly on track to begin mass production of 2nm chips in the second half of 2027. Winning customers remains a key challenge, and initial demand is expected to come mainly from the United States, where demand related to artificial intelligence is strong.

Commentary: How long can the humanoid robot bubble last? Unitree's valuation correction puts physical AI to the test

Scarlett Yu — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 06:15:31 GMT

Concerns over a potential AI bubble are intensifying. From large language models (LLMs) and AI data centers to humanoid robots, investors are increasingly questioning when massive capital investments will translate into corresponding revenue and profits.

Chinese phone brands beat Samsung, Apple to high-refresh OLED

DIGITIMES — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 04:29:59 GMT

Chinese smartphone brands have brought high-refresh-rate OLED displays to market ahead of Samsung Electronics and Apple, with Visionox and BOE supplying 185Hz panels for the iQOO Neo 12 and RedMagic 12 Pro+, respectively. The move sets a new standard for smartphone applications, where power consumption remains a major concern, and has drawn market attention.

FCC grants Intel a waiver to foreign robot ban to prevent chip disruptions

DIGITIMES — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 04:00:22 GMT

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted Intel a waiver to its ban on foreign-made mobile robots, which will allow it to update its fleet of autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs). Intel had earlier petitioned the agency for an exemption, saying that not doing so would threaten chip production in the country.

China's weak car market squeezes automakers, suppliers and dealers

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 03:59:00 GMT

China's weakening car market is challenging automakers, parts suppliers, and dealers as exports rise but domestic demand contracts. For global industry watchers, the downturn is a test of electric-vehicle resilience, subsidy dependence, and manufacturing overcapacity. Over time, planned capacity controls and corporate consolidation could reshape competition and supply chains worldwide.

Analysis: Nvidia's Vera CPU takes on Intel and AMD with a platform play

Charlene Chen — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 03:58:39 GMT

Nvidia has won a CPU supply order from AI startup Modal, challenging Intel and AMD in the server CPU market as it expands beyond GPUs into general-purpose computing. Although Modal's annual revenue is below US$1 billion, and neither the order's value nor its deployment scale has been disclosed, the deal underscores a broader shift in AI infrastructure competition toward full-stack system integration.