DIGITIMES Asia: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Panjit upgrades hot swap tech to drive 2H26 growth

Emily Kuo — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 05:45:00 GMT

AI data centers are driving growth in demand for power management and power semiconductor components. Hot swap products, in particular, require a wide safe operating area (SOA) to prevent excessive surge current when a redundant power supply is inserted and activated, interacting with the system's large capacitors.

Column: Physical AI shifts from feature robots to smart robots

Charlene Chen — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 04:48:16 GMT

Over the past decade, annual venture capital invested in physical AI and robotics startups has surged from a few hundred million US dollars to nearly US$25 billion, more than a 10x increase concentrated in recent years.

China opens STAR Market pathway for AI model firms amid funding race

Scarlett Yu — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 04:25:31 GMT

China's artificial intelligence (AI) industry has received another major policy boost. At the 2026 Lujiazui Forum in Shanghai, China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) Chairman Wu Qing announced that the STAR Market's fifth listing standard will be formally expanded to cover large language model (LLM) companies.

Global suppliers race accelerates: TSMC's first CoPoS demo tools enter validation

Charlene Chen — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 04:13:22 GMT

TSMC is accelerating its CoPoS rollout, replacing traditional round wafers with larger rectangular glass panels to support packaging demand for AI GPUs and HPC chips over the next several years. Supply chain sources said the first wave of demo equipment has already been installed at VisEra, a TSMC subsidiary.

Memory costs push Samsung Galaxy A37 pricier as S26 holds steady

Lily Hess — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 04:06:25 GMT

AI-driven memory price spikes are presenting a challenge for Samsung's smartphone business, with rising component prices eroding the affordability of its budget phones. At the same time, Samsung is seeking to use its new AI features to encourage new device purchases as memory prices dampen smartphone sales globally.

Toto reportedly bets bigger on semiconductor materials as AI pushes industry toward 1nm era

DIGITIMES — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 04:03:41 GMT

Japanese bathroom fixture maker Toto is deepening its commitment to the semiconductor industry, unveiling plans to invest JPY80 billion (approx. US$495.3 million) over the next five years to expand production of advanced ceramic materials used in chip manufacturing. According to a Nikkei Asia report, the company aims to support future-generation semiconductor processes in the 1nm range, extending a business that has become a major profit driver amid the AI boom.

The car that changes color: Behind BMW's five-year journey from prototype to production

Emily Kuo — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 03:52:07 GMT

Among the highlights of COMPUTEX 2026 was a color-changing e-paper concept car jointly developed by BMW and E Ink Holdings. With its surreal, sci-fi appearance, the vehicle drew the attention of tech enthusiasts in droves.

China bars govt purchases of products from 46 US firms

DIGITIMES — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 03:29:10 GMT

China has announced restrictions on government procurement of products made by 46 US companies, a move that could affect cross-border business ties and supply chains, with implications beyond China and the United States. The measure applies to public purchasing activities and excludes US-invested firms operating in China, according to the notice.

YMTC NAND share rises to 13%, alarming South Korean rivals

Lily Hess — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 03:25:26 GMT

China's memory makers are moving from technology catch-up to capital-market expansion, with ChangXin Memory Technologies' (CXMT) parent and Yangtze Memory Technology (YMTC) both preparing initial public offerings (IPOs) to fund future capacity growth and technology upgrades. South Korean industry players are paying particularly close attention to YMTC, which focuses on NAND Flash and is closing in on Korean suppliers across market share, 3D NAND layer stacking, output expansion, and building channels in consumer solid-state drives (SSD).

Intel-Nvidia co-developed PC processor to reportedly debut at CES 2028

Emily Kuo — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 03:23:11 GMT

According to an exclusive report by VideoCardz, Intel's first x86 system-on-chip (SoC) integrating an Nvidia RTX GPU has been added to its internal product roadmap and is expected to launch in the first quarter of 2028, potentially making its public debut at CES 2028.

Intel and AMD unveil ACE in x86 counteroffensive against Arm

DIGITIMES — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 03:16:28 GMT

Intel and AMD have jointly introduced AI Compute Extensions (ACE), a new x86 instruction set specification designed to accelerate AI workloads on CPUs, marking one of the clearest signs yet that the x86 ecosystem is mounting a coordinated response to the rise of Arm-based processors in AI computing.

Samsung sees ongoing SoC losses drag down System LSI's 2026 performance

Eifeh Strom — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 02:45:28 GMT

In a rare public admission during an internal briefing, Park Yong-In, president of the System LSI Business of the Device Solutions (DS) Division at Samsung Electronics, expressed concern over losses in the company's system-on-chip (SoC) business. As a result, the overall system LSI business is also expected to post a loss in 2026.

Microsoft considers DeepSeek as OpenAI costs mount

Eifeh Strom — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 02:38:51 GMT

Microsoft is reportedly considering introducing a fine-tuned version of the Chinese open-source model DeepSeek V4 into its enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) tool Copilot Cowork, as a lower-cost alternative to models from OpenAI and Anthropic. According to a report by Axios, the company is expected to finalize and announce its decision in the coming weeks.

Apple's foldable iPhone supply chain reportedly gears up for 2026 launch

DIGITIMES — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 02:28:35 GMT

Apple's long-rumored foldable iPhone appears to be moving closer to reality, with reports from multiple Chinese media outlets suggesting that parts of the supply chain have already begun small-volume shipments ahead of a planned launch next year later this year.

China's InP export relief falls short, suppliers race to secure 2027 supply

Sherri Wang — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 02:23:19 GMT

China began approving a new batch of indium phosphide (InP) substrate exports in late May 2026, but optical communications supply chain sources said the relief remains limited and is unlikely to fully resolve material shortages in the near term.

Weekly news roundup: Micron CEO turns visa rejection into US$1 trillion milestone; Taiwan LED makers look beyond lighting

DIGITIMES — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 02:18:52 GMT

Below are the most-read DIGITIMES Asia stories from the week of June 15-21, 2026:

Huawei expands Vietnam footprint through energy, AI, and 5G partnerships

DIGITIMES — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 02:05:37 GMT

China's Huawei Technologies is deepening its presence in Vietnam through a series of partnerships spanning digital energy, artificial intelligence (AI), telecommunications infrastructure, and industrial digitalization, highlighting the company's growing role in the country's modernization efforts.

China places 10 US entities on export control list, restricts dual-use exports

DIGITIMES — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 01:58:43 GMT

According to an announcement published by China's Ministry of Commerce on June 22, China has added 10 US entities to its export control list, prohibiting the export of dual-use items to these companies and banning any organization or individual from transferring China-origin dual-use items to them.

Analysis: BYD's robotics ambitions ignite new battleground with startups

Scarlett Yu — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 01:56:19 GMT

As competition intensifies and profitability declines in China's new-energy vehicle (NEV) market, automakers are increasingly turning to humanoid robots in search of a new growth engine. Over the past two years, however, many of these companies have also been key customers of humanoid robotics startups. As automakers begin developing robots of their own, the competition that has defined the NEV market may increasingly spill over into the humanoid robotics sector.

India roundup: Apple's India manufacturing bet faces reminder of operational risks after Tata probe closure

DIGITIMES — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 23:45:43 GMT

India is accelerating its electronics manufacturing ambitions through AI infrastructure, semiconductor packaging, rare earth development, and foreign investment, even as regulatory compliance, traceability, and supply chain resilience remain key challenges.

Interview: MetaComp on its KYA framework and the agentic future of finance

DIGITIMES — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 23:45:03 GMT

Agentic AI is entering the financial sector, and a future where agents make purchases and manage wealth on people's behalf is appearing on the horizon – but is the financial system ready for this?

MSScorps expands Taiwan investment again for silicon photonics

Lily Hess — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 23:44:38 GMT

Taiwan's investment office, InvesTaiwan, under the Ministry of Economic Affairs, has approved expanded Taiwan investment plans from four companies, led by MSScorps, which will invest NT$1.5 billion (US$47.4 million) and is filing for the third time. The company plans to add production lines and adopt AI technology at its Hsinchu, Tai Yuen Hi-Tech Industrial Park, and Southern Taiwan Science Park (STSP) facilities.

Qatari LNG could reach Taiwan by September — if the Strait of Hormuz reopens in time

Sherri Wang — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 23:44:21 GMT

Taiwan's CPC Corporation said Qatari liquefied natural gas shipments could begin arriving in Taiwan from early September 2026, as the US and Iran move toward an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, though key details of the arrangement remain unclear.

Ma-tek ramps silicon photonics testing investment with first system due in August

Scarlett Yu — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 23:44:08 GMT

Semiconductor testing and analysis service provider Ma-tek held its annual shareholders' meeting on June 18. Chairperson Yong-Fen Hsieh said the company has begun investing in a silicon photonics wafer-and-chip optoelectronic analysis platform in anticipation of growing demand for silicon photonics. The first system is expected to be installed before August 2026, followed by a second and third system by the end of 2026 and early 2027, respectively.

Taiwan AI delegation pivots to end-to-end solutions at VivaTech to tap European demand

DIGITIMES — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 23:43:40 GMT

The National Science Council organized a Taiwan Tech Arena delegation of 95 companies to attend the VivaTech conference in France, presenting an "AI Taiwan" showcase to promote Taiwan’s AI technologies and applications to European buyers and partners. The delegation departed this year to align with VivaTech’s 10th anniversary and its theme "A New Dimension for a New Decade," aiming to highlight how AI can be integrated into daily life and industry settings.

Robot batteries diverge from EVs as A-PRO backs swap systems

Lily Hess — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 23:43:18 GMT

South Korean battery equipment maker A-PRO says robot battery design differs sharply from electric vehicles (EVs), with hot-swap battery replacement, dual-battery setups, and autonomous energy management emerging as key solutions for keeping machines running longer and reducing downtime. The company outlined its strategy at the Korean Institute of Electric Vehicles (KIEV) 2026 summer seminar.

Tongtai expands aerospace, AI and semiconductor push under new board

Willis Ke — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 23:42:55 GMT

Taiwan-based Tongtai Machine & Tool is accelerating its transformation toward high-value manufacturing, leveraging growing opportunities in AI servers, semiconductors and aerospace. At its annual general meeting on June 17, shareholders approved all proposals and elected a new board that includes several aerospace industry veterans, underscoring the company's commitment to expanding into advanced manufacturing sectors despite a challenging operating environment.

FineMat pivots beyond metal masks with AI cooling, semiconductor, and drone push

Scarlett Yu — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 23:42:29 GMT

Amid growing localization efforts across China's supply chain, FineMat Applied Materials has seen its metal mask business continue to shrink and is accelerating its transition into AI cooling, semiconductors, and drones. The company's liquid-cooling cold plates for AI applications have already been sampled by end customers and are expected to begin shipping in the second half of 2026. Once volume production ramps in 2027, cooling products could account for more than 50% of total revenue, becoming a key growth driver.

Google co-founder says AGI's missing piece is the physical world, not language

Emily Kuo — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 23:42:12 GMT

Two years after returning to Google, co-founder Sergey Brin recently made his first public appearance and participated in an open Q&A session at the AGI House event in Silicon Valley. During the discussion, Brin addressed Google's current development status, explained the company's technological direction, and revealed that a debate over the definition of artificial general intelligence (AGI) is beginning to emerge. The outcome of this debate could directly influence the future development path of AGI.

ASMedia launches second transformation plan, targets revenue doubling, AI server market expansion

Eifeh Strom — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 23:41:51 GMT

High-speed transmission IC design company ASMedia Technology held its annual shareholders meeting on June 17, completing a full board reshuffle. ASMedia president Che-Wei Lin stated that 2025 revenue surpassed NT$10 billion (approx. US$316.5 million) for the first time, while earnings per share (EPS) reached NT$72.7. However, amid structural changes in the industry driven by the continued expansion in artificial intelligence (AI) server demand, the PC and motherboard sectors have faced severe crowding-out effects.

Taiwan memory chip designers set for 245% revenue jump on AI storage demand

Sherri Wang — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 23:51:56 GMT

Taiwan's memory chip designers are heading into a sharply stronger 2026 as rising memory prices and a wave of AI-driven demand push the industry away from consumer electronics and toward higher-value data center and AI applications.

US raises alarm over possible EUV machine in China, putting ASML on the defensive

DIGITIMES — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 02:41:13 GMT

The Trump administration has confronted ASML with concerns that one of the Dutch company's most advanced chip-making machines may have made its way into China in violation of US-led export restrictions, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

Samsung weighs Boston Dynamics stake as humanoid AI race heats up

Scarlett Yu — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 02:18:27 GMT

Samsung Electronics is reportedly reviewing the possibility of investing in Boston Dynamics, the US robotics company controlled by Hyundai Motor Group.

Google DeepMind maps four paths from AGI to ASI

Scarlett Yu — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 02:18:17 GMT

Over the past decade, advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have repeatedly exceeded market expectations. Artificial general intelligence (AGI), once largely confined to the realms of science fiction, has become an explicit long-term objective for many leading AI organizations.

Taiwan LED makers look beyond lighting to AI optical communication

Levi Li — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 02:18:08 GMT

Taiwan's LED industry is moving beyond lighting components into AI optical communication, Micro LED, sensing, and high-end optoelectronic semiconductor applications. After years of oversupply, price wars, and restructuring, local LED makers are seeking a new role in the global supply chain as AI data centers accelerate demand for high-speed optical transmission.