DIGITIMES Asia: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Qisda accelerates pivot into AI solutions provider

Kevin Wang — Sat, 6 Jun 2026 02:44:13 GMT

Qisda is accelerating its transformation into an AI solutions provider amid the intensifying AI race. President Cally Ko has highlighted changes to the company's AI roadmap since taking the helm, aiming to build a full AI ecosystem spanning data centers, edge computing, and vertical applications by integrating hardware and software resources across the group.

Taiwan’s Altek sees growth in the emerging market for physical AI

Elaine Chen — Sat, 6 Jun 2026 02:44:01 GMT

After years of supplying camera modules for consumer electronics, Taiwanese imaging company Altek is betting its future on a different vision: helping robots, drones, and autonomous machines understand the physical world.

Advantech pushes ecosystem strategy as edge AI gains momentum

Elaine Chen — Sat, 6 Jun 2026 02:43:53 GMT

As artificial intelligence moves beyond cloud-based chatbots and into factories, hospitals and warehouses, industrial computing company Advantech is positioning itself at the center of what it sees as the next phase of the AI revolution: the rise of edge and physical AI.

AI smart glasses brand breaks Japan crowdfunding record, adds Gemini Flash 3.5 and enters Australia

DIGITIMES — Sat, 6 Jun 2026 02:43:42 GMT

China-based AI smart eyewear brand Rokid has accelerated its global expansion and technological roadmap, supported by a wave of momentum across its hardware and open AI ecosystem. From major software upgrades to record-breaking market demand and new regional territory launches, the company is solidifying its position at the forefront of spatial computing.

Phison shifts to system AI solutions with 2027 memory crunch looming

Levi Li — Sat, 6 Jun 2026 02:43:33 GMT

Phison Electronics CEO K.S. Pua said the company is moving beyond its roots as an IC component supplier and repositioning itself as a system solutions provider, warning that AI-driven memory shortages could become more severe in 2027 than in the second half of 2026.

AI demand squeezes mainstream DRAM supply as DDR5, DDR4 prices rise

DIGITIMES — Sat, 6 Jun 2026 02:43:24 GMT

DRAM prices are climbing as Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron Technology prioritize high-bandwidth memory, or HBM, for AI applications, tightening supply of mainstream DDR5 and DDR4 products used in PCs, servers, and other electronics, according to Nikkei.

Nvidia built its empire on gamers. Jensen Huang just reminded the world why that still matters

Joseph(C) Chen — Sat, 6 Jun 2026 02:43:05 GMT

Jensen Huang arrived in Seoul on June 5 for what looked like a replay of his Taiwan trip — meetings with Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, LG Group and Hyundai Motor Group, all companies whose strengths in HBM, advanced packaging, autonomous driving, robotics and smart factories are increasingly tied to Nvidia's future. But his first stop was none of them.

Jensen Huang shouts 'Everyone loves HBM' at Seoul barbecue as Nvidia announces Korea R&D center and previews four new products

Joseph(C) Chen — Sat, 6 Jun 2026 02:20:13 GMT

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang dined with the heads of South Korea's largest technology conglomerates in Hongdae on June 5, turning a barbecue dinner into one of the most theatrical corporate appearances of his Korea trip.

From Taiwan's supply chain to South Korea's Faker: how Jensen Huang reads different markets

Joseph(C) Chen — Sat, 6 Jun 2026 02:05:38 GMT

Jensen Huang wrapped up his Taiwan run at GTC Taipei and Computex 2026 and flew to South Korea on June 5. His first stop was not Samsung or SK Hynix. It was Hongdae, where he met T1 star Faker — Lee Sang-hyeok — co-signed an RTX 5090 graphics card, and immediately set the internet on fire.

OECD data show China-based semiconductor makers receive outsized industrial support

DIGITIMES — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 09:42:42 GMT

Industrial subsidies reached their highest level since the global financial crisis in 2023 and 2024, according to a June 2026 OECD release based on its new MAGIC database of industrial subsidies. The database tracks support received by 525 of the world's largest manufacturing groups across 15 industrial sectors from 2005 to 2024.

Metalenses move from lab concept to robotics opportunity

Elaine Chen — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 09:21:10 GMT

As artificial intelligence (AI) drives demand for more powerful computing systems and smarter machines, Taiwanese optics manufacturer Ability Opto-Electronics Technology is positioning itself at the intersection of two emerging technology frontiers: metalenses and optical interconnects.

Samsung's biggest union loses majority status after bonus talks

Charlene Chen — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 09:12:54 GMT

Samsung Electronics is facing a new shift in labor relations after the Samsung Electronics branch of the Samsung Group Super-Enterprise Union reportedly lost its status as a majority union following a sharp drop in membership after bonus negotiations. The move weakens the union's representation and could further fragment future labor talks and union power at Samsung Electronics.

Tata's Chery tie-up shows how Indian automakers are reshaping EV plans

DIGITIMES — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 09:01:51 GMT

Reuters reported on June 3 that Tata Motors plans to use an automaking platform from Chery to locally build electric cars under its premium Avinya brand, a move that highlights how Indian carmakers are increasingly relying on Chinese technology to accelerate their electric vehicle ambitions.

Hiwin and Qualcomm bring edge AI to PLP equipment with Load Port tie-up at Computex

DIGITIMES — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 08:59:31 GMT

Hiwin Technologies and Qualcomm Inc. announced a partnership at Computex 2026 to integrate Qualcomm Dragonwing Q6 series processors into Hiwin's Load Port products, delivering edge AI capabilities for semiconductor panel-level packaging (PLP) equipment. The collaboration positions Hiwin's Load Port as the smart edge node in front-end modules, aiming to improve real-time image processing, status sensing, and anomaly detection on the equipment side.

Foxconn posts record May revenue as AI rack demand fuels growth

DIGITIMES — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 08:51:19 GMT

Computex 2026 closed on June 5 with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang reaffirming the scale of AI infrastructure demand in his keynote — and Foxconn, as the world's largest electronics contract manufacturer, is among the most direct beneficiaries of that buildout.

NXP chief says factories will lead robot adoption globally

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 08:50:34 GMT

Industrial factories are likely to become the first major market for robots at scale, according to Rafael Sotomayor, NXP President and CEO, who said manufacturers want stable systems, dependable performance, and clear financial returns. This view suggests that the earliest gains from robotics may come in places where efficiency improvements are easiest to measure.

US officials explore an AI dividend for American households

DIGITIMES — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 08:45:02 GMT

Senior US officials have begun exploring a highly unconventional idea: taking equity stakes in leading artificial intelligence companies and using the proceeds to share the gains of the AI boom with the American public.

Sambanova challenges GPU dominance in AI inference at Computex

DIGITIMES — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 08:40:48 GMT

SambaNova used a Computex 2026 session on June 4 to make its most public case yet that the GPU-only approach to AI inference is hitting a fundamental wall — and to demonstrate, live on stage, an alternative architecture it calls disaggregated inference running in a production data center.

FADU wins new contracts as AI workloads reshape data storage

Elaine Chen — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 08:38:48 GMT

As artificial intelligence (AI) workloads place unprecedented demands on data storage systems, South Korean SSD controller designer FADU is betting that next-generation storage architecture will become a critical battleground in the AI infrastructure race.

From 10kW to 1MW per rack in five years: Flex CTO says the hardest leap is still ahead

DIGITIMES — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 08:36:34 GMT

AI rack power density has increased 50 times in five years — and the next jump may be the hardest yet.

Analysis: How Jensen Huang pays top-dollar talent to keep Nvidia on top

Elaine Chen — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 08:29:22 GMT

When Jensen Huang was asked in Taipei about Samsung Electronics' recent labor dispute, the Nvidia chief executive offered a characteristically direct response.

Global top-3 memory maker status, 2Q 2026: Surging prices and AI demand lock in a strong memory seller's market

DIGITIMES — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 08:06:52 GMT

Memory makers' revenues are estimated to hit another record high in the second quarter of 2026; The US, Japan, and South Korea launch new product competitions, while Taiwanese players continue to pursue niche market momentum.

Anthropic calls for AI research slowdown as model capabilities accelerate

DIGITIMES — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 08:03:04 GMT

Anthropic has warned about the deepening capabilities of AI and called for the world to slow down research in frontier models. The startup said that the quickening pace of AI development may make models difficult to control in the coming years.

Huawei's Tau Law stirs debate over China's post-Moore's Law chip path

Levi Li — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 07:54:04 GMT

Huawei has formally introduced its "Tau Law," proposing a shift from traditional process-node scaling to "time scaling," a model aimed at improving chip performance through optimisation across components, circuits, chips, and systems, even under mature process technologies.

Alibaba opens Qwen to KFC, Luckin Coffee, and airlines in AI agent battle

DIGITIMES — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 07:47:45 GMT

Alibaba is opening its Qwen AI assistant to external brands and third-party agents, turning the consumer app from a chatbot into a transactional platform for food orders, travel planning, and other everyday services.

Infineon India moves up the value chain as AI data centers boost power-chip demand

DIGITIMES — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 07:39:40 GMT

Infineon Technologies' India operations are moving beyond traditional engineering support into global ownership roles, as rising demand from AI data centers reshapes the power semiconductor market, according to Vinay Shenoy, managing director of Infineon Technologies India.

Nexchip carves out BGBM assets to back Wuhu wafer project, refocuses on 12-inch foundry business

DIGITIMES — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 07:35:46 GMT

Nexchip Semiconductor plans to carve out its BGBM business by contributing specialised equipment assets to Anhui Ruijing Semiconductor, a newly established power device wafer-processing venture in Wuhu, Anhui Province, as the Chinese foundry seeks to focus capital and management resources on its core 12-inch wafer foundry platforms.

AI servers and MLCC recovery drive growth at Ample Electronic

Elaine Chen — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 07:04:44 GMT

As artificial intelligence fuels demand across the electronics supply chain, Taiwanese conductive paste supplier Ample Electronic is seeing a rebound in one of the industry's most overlooked segments: passive components.

GoldKey Technology sees memory crunch lasting into 2028 as AI demand lifts prices

Sherri Wang — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 06:50:49 GMT

GoldKey Technology expects memory shortages to persist into 2028, with AI demand and structural supply constraints set to keep prices rising through the second half of 2026 and into 2027.

AI demand strains PCB supply chains, lead times stretch past 20 weeks

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 06:21:20 GMT

Explosive demand for artificial intelligence is widening supply chain bottlenecks for global electronics makers, with shortages now reaching from advanced chips and packaging into printed circuit boards, memory, and passive components. Longer lead times and rising prices are adding uncertainty for data center, optical module, and equipment buyers worldwide.

US targets China's PCB grip as AI and defense supply risks mount

Levi Li — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 05:52:26 GMT

As demand for artificial intelligence (AI) computing expands rapidly, market attention has long centered on GPUs, high-bandwidth memory (HBM), and advanced packaging. However, printed circuit boards (PCBs), which sit beneath chips and connect critical electronics, are increasingly being viewed by the US government and defense sector as a supply chain risk.

Global semiconductor market to hit US$1.5 trillion in 2026 as memory surges 250%, WSTS forecasts

DIGITIMES — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 04:53:03 GMT

The global semiconductor market is on track to nearly double in 2026, reaching US$1.51 trillion — a 90% year-over-year increase — driven overwhelmingly by an extraordinary surge in memory chip demand, according to the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) Spring 2026 forecast released on June 2.

Nvidia's Jensen Huang to meet South Korean business leaders beyond HBM sector

DIGITIMES — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 04:49:58 GMT

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is visiting South Korea on June 5 for meetings with major Korean business leaders, as the company's cooperation with local companies broadens beyond high-bandwidth memory into robotics, automobiles, gaming, and cloud infrastructure.

Infineon sees early quantum computing gains as finance leads adoption

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 04:34:44 GMT

Infineon Technologies said its long-running work in quantum computing is beginning to pay off, with early demand strongest in finance, chemistry, and life sciences. For global readers, the company's comments signal that quantum systems are moving closer to commercial relevance, even as the market remains early, crowded, and dependent on wider industry cooperation.

Meta's delayed Muse Spark API raises questions over AI monetization strategy

DIGITIMES — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 04:20:05 GMT

Meta has postponed the public release of the application programming interface (API) for its latest AI model, Muse Spark, multiple times since its April debut, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The delay comes as Meta seeks to turn massive AI investments into sustainable revenue streams and compete more directly with OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google.