DIGITIMES: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

AerosoarX skips the mega-factory to take on global drone makers

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 01:55:00 GMT

AerosoarX founder Max Lo has returned to Taiwan's drone industry with a distributed manufacturing strategy to link local suppliers with democratic allies. As global orders grow, the company plans to challenge expanding US defense firms while avoiding the excess capacity associated with large-scale factories and volatile drone demand.

KT turns AI tokens into a telecom utility with 500-model enterprise platform

DIGITIMES — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 01:44:48 GMT

As AI spreads across industries and everyday life, the experience of using it is becoming increasingly measurable, routable, and billable. The rapid proliferation of models is turning AI consumption itself into a metered business, with enterprises paying not only for access to models but for the tokens generated, processed, and managed around them.

Samsung's AI memory boom drives record profit as device division stays in loss

DIGITIMES — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 01:41:31 GMT

Samsung Electronics' latest results show AI infrastructure demand increasingly determining the group's earnings, with soaring semiconductor profit offsetting continued losses in its consumer-device division. The company said a sharp expansion in high-bandwidth memory (HBM) sales and rising memory prices drove another record quarter, while its outlook pointed to supply pressure further as customers expand AI investment.

SpaceX's AI spending surge opens doors to direct orders for Taiwan ODMs

Lily Hess — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 01:39:26 GMT

SpaceX is expanding its AI computing infrastructure to meet rising demand for AI applications, securing US$40 billion in financing commitments for GPUs and equipment. The surge in neocloud orders is reshaping the order landscape for Taiwan original design manufacturers (ODMs), including Foxconn, Quanta, and Wistron, and could accelerate a move from traditional original equipment manufacturer (OEM) sales to direct ODM supply and, eventually, to the delivery of complete AI data-center systems.

Chief Telecom's 3Q26 gross margin tops 50%

DIGITIMES — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 01:35:10 GMT

IDC and cloud service provider Chief Telecom Inc. reported revenue of NT$1.077 billion (US$33.18 million) for the third quarter of 2026, up 14.9% year on year, while net income rose 22.4% to NT$332 million. Earnings per share reached NT$4.31 as gross margin climbed to 51.5%, putting revenue and profit ahead of the year-earlier period.

AerosoarX seeks to reshape Taiwan's drone industry through allied defense networks

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 01:35:00 GMT

Max Lo, founder of GEOSAT Aerospace & Technology, has launched AerosoarX to shift Taiwan's drone sector from standalone manufacturing toward international defense-system integration. The company is pursuing partnerships with democratic allies, supplying drones to the US and the Middle East, and preparing a Taiwan listing as it builds supply-chain resilience.

Apple ends its touchscreen holdout with OLED MacBook Pro, with Samsung Display reported as sole panel supplier

DIGITIMES — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 01:34:58 GMT

Apple's first touchscreen Mac reverses a design stance the company defended for more than a decade and is a premium-priced test of whether touch and tandem OLED can lift Mac demand in a shrinking PC market, with Samsung Display reportedly supplying all the panels.

Google's cloud expansion strengthens AI business but strains cash generation

DIGITIMES — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 01:27:26 GMT

Google's parent, Alphabet, is turning demand for artificial intelligence into a larger cloud business. Still, its latest quarter shows that stronger operating performance does not yet remove the financial burden of building the infrastructure behind it. Cloud revenue more than doubled, while spending on property and equipment exceeded the cash generated by operations.

Samsung's Harman expands China plant for ADAS, automotive computing

DIGITIMES — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 01:21:18 GMT

Samsung Electronics subsidiary Harman International has expanded its manufacturing operations in Suzhou, China, to produce automotive computing platforms and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), with production scheduled to begin in 2027.

Google's Gemini 4 Carbon takes top spot on independent AI index, but most users must wait

DIGITIMES — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 01:21:12 GMT

Google has retaken first place on a closely watched independent ranking of AI models with Gemini 4 Carbon, its second flagship release in a month. The lead is narrow, though; the model remains out of reach for most developers, and independent testers have flagged trade-offs that qualify the company's claims.

Anduril, Qualcomm team up on domestic computing to rebuild the hardware supply chain

DIGITIMES — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 01:21:10 GMT

In an effort to reduce national security vulnerabilities tied to foreign electronics supply chains, defense technology startup Anduril Industries and chipmaker Qualcomm Technologies have partnered to launch BlueChip, a new line of American-built computing hardware.

ASM's earlier growth target puts supply chain execution in focus

DIGITIMES — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 01:10:58 GMT

ASM International's stronger outlook suggests that investment in advanced chipmaking is accelerating demand for its deposition equipment faster than the company had previously planned. Its next challenge is to secure enough components to support that expansion as customers move toward more complex logic and memory manufacturing.

LG's business diversification supports earnings as consumer demand stays weak

DIGITIMES — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 00:00:49 GMT

LG Electronics' latest quarter shows how appliances, vehicle components, and an improving television business are supporting earnings while the company builds new positions in data center cooling and robotics. The results also show the limits of that protection: profit improved from a year earlier but fell sharply from the preceding quarter, and management expects consumer demand to remain difficult.

KLA's stronger outlook puts process control capacity in focus

DIGITIMES — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 23:58:58 GMT

KLA's latest results suggest that the expansion of AI chip manufacturing is increasing demand for inspection and measurement equipment, with its ability to deliver complex systems becoming a central constraint on growth. A stronger outlook for the December quarter points to continued momentum, while optical-component availability and higher memory costs complicate the expansion.

Samsung Electro-Mechanics says AI customers are locking up 2027 MLCC and substrate supply

DIGITIMES — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 23:57:48 GMT

Samsung Electro-Mechanics (SEMCO) told investors on October 28 that long-term agreements are expected to account for more than 60% of its multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) revenue next year, showing how far ahead AI data center builders are reserving components. It said demand was growing faster than expected despite capacity additions and that supply of both MLCCs and flip-chip ball grid array (FCBGA) substrates would tighten further in the fourth quarter.

Microsoft's cloud growth outpaces infrastructure spending delays

DIGITIMES — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 23:56:13 GMT

Microsoft's latest results suggest that enterprise demand for cloud computing and artificial intelligence is supporting stronger operating earnings even as some infrastructure capacity arrives later than planned. The distinction matters: management said spending below the company's forecast reflected delivery delays, not a retreat from its expansion plans.

Japan reportedly moves to hand H3 rocket launches to Mitsubishi Heavy as early as 2027

DIGITIMES — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 23:55:09 GMT

Japan is preparing to shift operations of its flagship H3 rocket from the state space agency to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), a move aimed at cutting launch costs and making the country's main launcher a more credible rival to SpaceX in the commercial market.

Lenovo previews CES 2027 lineup focused on AI agents, hybrid AI

Eifeh Strom — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 23:54:23 GMT

Lenovo Group announced that its annual global innovation event, Tech World, will return to CES 2027 in Las Vegas, taking place at Sphere as part of the keynote program. The event will feature a lineup of prominent speakers and showcase the latest technological innovations and achievements, while combining technology and music to deliver a unique, immersive experience.

Onsemi reportedly in talks to buy AI power-chip startup Ferric for close to US$1 billion

DIGITIMES — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 23:53:42 GMT

Onsemi has been discussing an acquisition of Ferric, a New York-based maker of integrated voltage regulators for AI chips, for close to US$1 billion, The Information reported on October 27, citing people familiar with the matter.

Powertech shifts to advanced packaging as AI demand drives growth

Charlene Chen — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 23:53:14 GMT

Rising demand for high-end AI chips is accelerating Powertech's transformation into an advanced packaging strategic partner. Powertech said its utilization rate exceeded 90% in the third quarter of 2026 and is expected to rise further in the fourth quarter as revenue grows, putting the company on track for record annual revenue.

Rokid launches full-color AI glasses with microLED display

Lily Hess — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 23:52:49 GMT

Chinese smart-glasses maker Rokid unveiled its full-color AI glasses, Rokid Color, in Hangzhou on October 27, alongside the second-generation Rokid Glasses 2 and the Rokid Ring smart interaction wearable. The Rokid Color features a full-color microLED optical engine and is available starting at CNY4,999 (US$750).

Advantech opens Tustin HQ to strengthen North American R&D

Charlene Chen — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 23:52:20 GMT

Industrial PC maker Advantech has opened its new North American headquarters in Tustin, California, expanding local R&D, manufacturing and system integration capabilities. The company subsequently held the Advantech Technology Summit (ATS) in Newport Beach with technology partners including AMD, Intel, Nvidia and Qualcomm to discuss edge computing and edge AI applications.

Research Insight: Kinsus Tech identifies three challenges for larger AI chip packages

Yunnie Cheng — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 23:51:56 GMT

Surging demand for AI computing is driving advanced packaging toward larger form factors, according to Ting-Hao Lin, R&D vice president at Kinsus Interconnect Technology, speaking at the 2026 TPCA Show. To support this trend, substrate materials must deliver low warpage and exceptional dimensional stability while overcoming challenges in thermal expansion mismatches and structural stress.

iPhone Duo sales beat expectations as first batch sells out

DIGITIMES — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 23:51:06 GMT

Apple's first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, saw strong demand despite a typhoon disrupting its launch day. Telecom operators said sales have remained robust since the launch, with limited initial shipments creating a supply shortage.

Google launches Genie 4 world model for select game, film teams

DIGITIMES — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 23:50:49 GMT

Google DeepMind has released Genie 4, its latest world model, as a research preview available only to a limited group of testers. The model generates real-time interactive environments rather than videos alone, allowing users to issue directions like directors and alter scenes and storylines as they unfold.

Analysis: SpaceX–Tesla merger could reshape AI industry integration, capital allocation, US-China tech rivalry

Scarlett Yu — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 23:50:33 GMT

Elon Musk recently confirmed the possibility of a merger between SpaceX and Tesla, signaling an ambition to redefine competition in the AI era beyond individual products and technological advantages toward integration across the entire industrial value chain, encompassing semiconductors, energy, computing, communications, and autonomous systems.

Kinsus explores AlN ceramics beyond glass for AI advanced packaging

Lily Hess — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 23:50:04 GMT

Kinsus Interconnect Technology is exploring aluminum nitride (AlN) ceramics as a core material for substrates used in large-scale advanced packaging, seeking an alternative to glass amid ongoing brittleness and reliability challenges, according to R&D vice president Ting-hao Lin at the 2026 TPCA Show.

Taiwan plans carbon fee-ETS dual approach to tackle emissions

Rodney Chan — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 23:49:17 GMT

Taiwan's carbon pricing system is entering a new phase after collecting its first carbon fees in 2026 from 240 companies and 461 factories, generating approximately NT$4.97 billion (US$153.1 million). At the current rates, the carbon fees that Taiwan collects will not be enough to fund carbon removal.

Anthropic's IPO filing highlights China AI rivalry as model distillation, chip export controls emerge as key risks

Scarlett Yu — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 23:48:16 GMT

US AI startup Anthropic has formally filed for an initial public offering (IPO) with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), identifying competitive pressure from Chinese AI companies, model distillation, and cross-border technology restrictions among its operational risks.

Satellite industry faces major shake-up as data connectivity set to capture 68% of service revenue by 2035

Scarlett Yu — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 23:47:56 GMT

Global satellite service revenue is projected to grow 44% over the next decade, reaching US$145 billion by 2035, according to the 33rd edition of Novaspace's Satellite Connectivity and Video Market report, released in October 2026.

PHP2Shell vulnerabilities expose global websites to severe cybersecurity risks

Jingyue Hsiao — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 23:47:31 GMT

Two critical vulnerabilities in PHP are testing organizations' ability to identify exposed web infrastructure and deploy security updates, while prompting cloud, network, and endpoint security suppliers to introduce interim protections. The flaws can allow unauthenticated remote code execution, but researchers' observations of attack attempts do not establish widespread successful compromise or an imminent internet-wide outage.

Kentec sees strong AI data center orders despite financing concerns

Jingyue Hsiao — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 23:47:08 GMT

Kentec, a subsidiary of Kenmec Group and an engineering integrator providing complete AI data center infrastructure solutions, continues to see strong order visibility for its containerized AI data center systems despite concerns that financing for AI projects is becoming more difficult. Kenmec Group and Kentec chairman Kevin Hsieh said the company has secured demand from specific customers and has not felt any impact from the financing concerns, with projects backed by contracts.

Samsung SDI wins 1GWh US battery storage deal

Sherri Wang — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 23:44:59 GMT

Samsung SDI has signed a follow-on 1GWh contract to supply energy storage systems (ESS) to US power developer Alpha Omega Power (AOP). The batteries will be made in Indiana and delivered by the end of 2026, the latest sign that South Korean battery makers are winning US business by manufacturing locally.

LG Innotek revenue tops KRW6T in 3Q26, profit halves

DIGITIMES — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 23:44:23 GMT

LG Innotek’s 2026 third-quarter revenue topped KRW6 trillion (approximately US$4.52 billion) for the first time, driven by new mobile-device launches and technology adoption. However, a sharp decline in the Korean won against the US dollar and weaker-than-expected overall performance cut operating profit by more than half.

Taiwan's growth surge nears end; electronics, machinery stay resilient in 2027

DIGITIMES — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 23:43:49 GMT

2026 will be a breakout year for Taiwan's economic growth, with GDP expanding at a double-digit rate—more than twice China's growth rate, according to a consensus among economic research institutions. Over the next six months, the electronics and machinery sector is expected to remain resilient, while securities, textiles, chemicals, and petrochemical raw materials could weaken.

Asus sees commercial PC prices rising nearly 10% in 2H26

DIGITIMES — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 23:43:15 GMT

Asus expects commercial PC prices in Taiwan to rise nearly 10% in the second half of 2026 after surging almost 30% in the first half, as higher memory and processor costs continue to pressure the PC supply chain. The company forecasts that enterprise PC demand, AI edge-computing applications, and replacement cycles will drive simultaneous growth in commercial PC volumes and prices in 2027.

SK Hynix says customers want more than twice the HBM it can supply

DIGITIMES — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 15:18:23 GMT

SK Hynix said customers are seeking more than twice the high-bandwidth memory (HBM) volume it can currently supply, as moves toward shorter memory stacks reflect supply shortages rather than weakening demand.