DIGITIMES Asia: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

DIGITIMES analyst discusses Apple's Siri evolution, AI agent trends, and Samsung's 2nm reality

DIGITIMES — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 10:07:22 GMT

In his podcast, DIGITIMES senior analyst Luke Lin discussed Apple's upcoming evolution of Siri. The new version is expected to integrate Google's Gemini and allow users to select their preferred chatbot, including ChatGPT, Claude, or xAI's Grok. While some market analysts suggest Apple may use this approach to control distribution and charge listing fees, Lin is skeptical of that interpretation.

Adata, Team Group post record March sales, expect 40% contract price hike in 2Q26

Eifeh Strom — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 09:29:43 GMT

Memory module giants Adata Technology and Team Group both reported record-high revenue for March 2026. Adata's monthly revenue surpassed NT$10.54 billion (approx. US$330.19 million), a rise of 47.09% from February and 181.48% year over year. Meanwhile, Team Group reported NT$4.92 billion in March revenue, surging 326.68% sequentially and 120.49% from a year earlier, setting new records for both monthly and first-quarter sales.

China intervenes in memory supply; Apple outpaces local smartphone vendors

Levi Li — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 09:29:34 GMT

Memory shortages are pushing prices sharply higher, forcing a reshuffle across the consumer electronics market. Chinese authorities have intervened for a second time, convening domestic memory leaders CXMT and YMTC to provide "strategic support" aimed at stabilizing prices and containing supply chain costs for local brands. Yet with a wide supply-demand gap in DRAM and NAND flash, near-term price stabilization remains unlikely.

Chinese energy storage players flock to growing AI data center market in face of fierce domestic competition

DIGITIMES — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 08:43:58 GMT

Chinese energy storage players are going all in on the AI data center market, as intense domestic competition has caused falling profit margins from traditional storage projects. The booming token economy is changing the role of AI data center energy storage from simply backup power to a core element of computing power.

Europe's battery ambitions shrink as costs and China's dominance loom

DIGITIMES — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 08:20:38 GMT

Driven by the rapid shift toward automotive electronics and electrification, Europe moved earlier than the United States to localize lithium battery production. Yet the region's ambitions have been sharply scaled back. Plans unveiled in 2023 projected battery manufacturing capacity of roughly 2,000 gigawatt-hours by 2030, but current estimates have been revised down to about 1,200 gigawatt-hours, effectively cutting the original blueprint nearly in half.

Memory rally lifts Adata to record quarter, AI demand fuels outlook

DIGITIMES — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 08:04:22 GMT

Adata reported record monthly revenue in March, surpassing NT$10 billion (US$315 million) for the first time and lifting first-quarter revenue to NT$26.11 billion, up 1.6 times year-over-year and marking a new quarterly high.

Taiwan's Zhen Ding projects AI-driven surge as next-gen platforms hit production

DIGITIMES — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 07:49:19 GMT

Looking ahead, Taiwan's printed circuit board giant Zhen Ding Technology expects a strong growth trajectory beginning in the second quarter, as clients ramp up production on next-generation platforms. The company projects that momentum in its server and optical communications businesses will expand quarter by quarter, while its IC substrate segment is set to benefit from robust AI computing demand, driving sequential growth. Zhen Ding anticipates entering a new phase of accelerated expansion in 2026.

AI server cooling demand boosts heat sink makers' growth outlook

Charlene Chen — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 07:44:05 GMT

Heat sink manufacturers continue to benefit from the surge in AI-driven server growth, with Asia Vital Components (AVC), Auras, and Jentech all posting record-high revenues in March 2026. Liquid cooling solutions are the main driver behind this momentum. Industry players note that liquid cooling units command average prices several times higher than air-cooling modules. As 2026 is set to be the inaugural year for widespread liquid cooling adoption, its share will keep rising, ensuring strong growth momentum throughout 2026.

Compal launches Sylux in US to expand automotive infrared safety solutions

Kevin Wang — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 06:42:50 GMT

Compal Electronics has officially registered its Sylux brand in the US, marking a key milestone in accelerating its automotive business, as the company aims to grow non-PC revenue to 40% in 2026, with automotive components forming a major focus in this strategic shift.

Anthropic launches Project Glasswing to fend cyber threats with new Mythos model

DIGITIMES — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 06:00:00 GMT

Anthropic has launched a new cybersecurity initiative, Project Glasswing, giving select technology partners early access to a powerful yet-to-be-released AI model as concerns grow over AI-driven cyberattacks. According to Bloomberg, the program is designed to help companies prepare for potential risks before the model is made more widely available.

SK Hynix reportedly in talks with Microsoft and Google on long-term AI memory deals

DIGITIMES — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 05:04:30 GMT

After Samsung Electronics moved to secure long-term memory supply agreements with major technology companies, rival SK Hynix is now pursuing similar deals with leading artificial intelligence firms, including Microsoft and Google.

US-China tech clash over chips intensifies ahead of summit, with global supply-chain implications

Jingyue Hsiao — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 05:02:58 GMT

As US and Chinese leaders prepared for a mid-May summit, proposed US export controls on semiconductor equipment under the MATCH Act and China's sharp state-media rebuttal signaled heightened tech tensions with far-reaching global supply-chain implications. Analysts have characterized the moves as pre-summit leverage that could reshape chip manufacturing and trade flows.

China's AI and cloud firms step up use of domestic chips

Jingyue Hsiao — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 05:01:10 GMT

China's leading AI and cloud companies are shifting toward domestically produced AI chips, a move with global implications for supply chains, technology competition, and cloud services. The trend could reduce demand for foreign semiconductors while accelerating China's practical deployment of AI on homegrown platforms, affecting international vendors and developers alike.

Innolux's CarUX debuts next-gen smart cockpit at Touch Taiwan 2026 after Pioneer merger

Willis Ke — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 04:58:17 GMT

Innolux subsidiary CarUX completed its merger with Pioneer on December 1, 2025, combining their visual and acoustic expertise to accelerate next-generation in-car innovation. The combined entity has unveiled a deeply integrated smart cockpit simulation system at Touch Taiwan 2026 (April 8-10, Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center), positioning it as a blueprint for future in-car user experiences.

Taiwan warns of Beijing's covert push to poach AI and chip talent

Elaine Chen — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 04:50:35 GMT

According to the latest report submitted by Taiwan's National Security Bureau to the Legislative Yuan, China is increasingly targeting Taiwan in an effort to circumvent international technological restrictions. Beijing has set its sights on Taiwan's high-tech sectors—particularly artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and precision machinery—seeking to lure companies to establish operations or maintain a presence in China under the framework of its 15th Five-Year Plan.

Chinese SSD maker DapuStor sees rising QLC demand as AI drives storage growth

Charlene Chen — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 04:41:08 GMT

Chinese enterprise SSD (eSSD) maker DapuStor entered its IPO subscription phase in early April 2026, driven by rapid expansion in AI infrastructure. The company recently observed multiple downstream customers significantly revising their order forecasts upwards after the Lunar New Year holidays. DapuStor highlighted that QLC SSDs are becoming a key trend for North American and Chinese cloud service providers (CSPs) to ease cost and capacity pressures. Its 245TB product has officially reached customer sampling stages.

Uber deploys AWS custom chips to scale AI and cut compute costs

Levi Li — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 04:27:58 GMT

US ride-hailing platform Uber has announced a partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to deploy its in-house custom chips, aiming to improve the speed and efficiency of artificial intelligence (AI) model training and inference. The move is expected to strengthen Uber's real-time computing capabilities across ride-hailing and delivery services, while highlighting a broader push by cloud providers to capture AI infrastructure demand through proprietary silicon.

Analysis: China's humanoid robot market forms three-player structure at scaling inflection point

Levi Li — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 04:23:46 GMT

China's AgiBot Innovation (Shanghai) Technology has shipped its 10,000th humanoid robot, the Agibot Expedition A3, signalling early mass production at scale. Output doubled from 5,000 units at the end of 2025 within three months. While Tesla's Optimus timeline remains under scrutiny, China's humanoid robot push is already scaling, led by AgiBot, Unitree Robotics, and Ubtech Robotics in an emerging three-player structure.

Singapore's first robotaxi enters public service, signaling a new phase for autonomous mobility

DIGITIMES — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 04:09:48 GMT

Ai.R, a robotaxi service jointly launched by Chinese autonomous driving firm WeRide and Southeast Asian super-app Grab, has began public operations in Punggol, Singapore. The launch offers global observers an example of urban autonomous mobility scaling from trials to community service, with implications for regulation, workforce transition, and regional deployment strategies.

AI server boom lifts Taiwan's ACES Electronics into the high-speed interconnect race

DIGITIMES — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 04:09:37 GMT

As AI servers grow more complex and bandwidth demands surge, components once considered peripheral—connectors and high-speed cables—are emerging as critical determinants of system performance.

Apple leverages supply chain advantage to boost market share despite AI lag

Charlene Chen — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 04:08:48 GMT

As the industry enters the second quarter of 2026, Apple plans to significantly shift its shipment schedule for iPhones and other consumer electronics, with a base iPhone model possibly debuting early in the quarter. Despite varying views on Apple's AI progress, the company's core strategy for 2026 remains consistent with 2025: aggressively pursuing market share by attracting new users through strong price-performance ratios across smartphones and PCs.

Kioxia considers first dividend as long-term contracts shape global memory strategy

DIGITIMES — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 03:59:25 GMT

Kioxia Holdings, Japan's NAND flash memory producer, is exploring the possibility of paying its first dividend since listing in December 2024, reflecting confidence in its growing earnings amid rising memory prices, Nikkei reported. VP Yoshihiko Kawamura told Nikkei that the company is leaning toward a stable dividend rather than share buybacks, though the timing remains undecided. Kioxia plans to present its medium- to long-term capital allocation strategy — including growth investments and shareholder returns — at an investor briefing scheduled for June.

Hygon revenue jumps 68% on AI compute demand, expands CPU–GPGPU platform

DIGITIMES — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 03:58:51 GMT

China's domestic compute chipmaker Hygon Information Technology reported strong earnings growth, underscoring its rising role in China's AI and data center infrastructure buildout.

Commentary: US MATCH Act tightens chip tool controls as China builds local supply chain

Levi Li — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 03:57:27 GMT

At SEMICON China 2026, Applied Materials and ASML kept a low profile under tightening US export controls, while domestic Chinese suppliers dominated visibility and floor presence.

Apple's foldable iPhone reportedly still on track for September launch despite engineering hurdles

DIGITIMES — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 03:56:38 GMT

Apple's first foldable iPhone is reportedly facing a more complex-than-expected engineering testing phase, raising concerns about potential delays to mass production and initial shipments. According to Nikkei Asia, some component suppliers have been informed that production schedules may be pushed back, though sources stressed the issue stems from technical challenges rather than material or component shortages. The period from April to early May is seen as "critically important" for resolving these issues.

Corning to showcase breakthrough tech at Touch Taiwan 2026

DIGITIMES — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 03:39:47 GMT

Corning will present materials and connectivity innovations at Touch Taiwan 2026 in support of global AI infrastructure, semiconductor packaging, and consumer electronics supply chains, signaling potential shifts in how data centers, displays, and automotive interiors are designed and manufactured in the years ahead.

Chicony Power eyes 2x growth in 2H26 communication power supply on notebook orders, satellite demand

Eifeh Strom — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 03:38:53 GMT

Power supply manufacturer Chicony Power Technology reported on April 7 that its unaudited consolidated revenue for March 2026 reached NT$882 million (approx. US$27.6 million), up 35.92% sequentially, with first-quarter 2026 performance also meeting expectations.

Samsung Display secures exclusive Apple foldable OLED orders, partners poised to benefit

Eifeh Strom — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 03:37:28 GMT

Samsung Display (SDC) has taken the lead in the industry by initiating mass production of 8.6-generation OLED panels for IT applications, as well as OLED panels for Apple's foldable devices. This move is expected to significantly benefit partner manufacturers supplying materials, equipment, and components.

India reportedly bars Chinese CCTV cameras, turns to Taiwan and Western suppliers

DIGITIMES — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 02:51:21 GMT

India is moving to phase out Chinese-made internet-connected CCTV cameras and high-speed tollway cameras, citing national security risks, even as it cautiously opens other sectors to Chinese investment. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has shortlisted American, German, and Taiwanese suppliers to replace existing equipment at around 1,150 toll collection sites, according to Bloomberg.

China's first dedicated supply chain security law raises the compliance stakes

Jingyue Hsiao — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 02:49:26 GMT

On March 31, Chinese Premier Li Qiang signed Order No. 834 issued by the State Council, which was officially released on April 7 as the Regulations of the State Council on Industrial Chain and Supply Chain Security (hereinafter referred to as the Regulations). The Ministry of Justice released detailed explanations publicly, and the Regulations took immediate effect upon release.

SK Hynix begins supply of 321-layer QLC cSSD for the AI PC era

DIGITIMES — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 02:42:50 GMT

SK Hynix has started global shipments of a next-generation compact SSD designed for AI-driven personal computers, a move that could reshape storage choices for device makers and end users worldwide. The cSSD promises higher capacity and improved efficiency to meet growing demand for AI PC storage.

Rising gallium costs force price increases across GaAs chip supply chain

DIGITIMES — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 02:25:53 GMT

Prices for gallium arsenide (GaA) substrates — a key material used in power amplifiers for wireless communications — are rising, driven by surging costs for gallium, a critical upstream metal. After months of sustained increases in raw material prices, industry executives say a reversal appears unlikely.

Analysis: ASML earnings preview; SK Hynix and TeraFab already facing EUV capacity difficulties

DIGITIMES — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 02:11:49 GMT

Compared to short-term geopolitical turbulence, the AI megatrend represents a once-in-a-generation business opportunity. In the past, TSMC often took the lead during earnings season in releasing industry outlooks. This time, ASML will hold its earnings call for the first quarter of 2026 a day earlier on April 15, and is expected to outline how memory manufacturers and new large-scale logic foundries will reshape the semiconductor manufacturing landscape.

Broadcom, Google, and Anthropic alliance faces MediaTek competition

DIGITIMES — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 01:42:49 GMT

Broadcom recently announced two major partnership developments. The first is with Google on its Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), with the collaboration set to extend through 2031. This means that Broadcom will continue to generate related revenue from multiple future generations of Google's TPU products.

Claude Code leak rattles industry, legal risks mount

DIGITIMES — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 00:09:25 GMT

A major internal code leak has recently struck Anthropic, with approximately 510,000 lines of core source code from its AI coding tool, Claude Code, being unintentionally exposed and spreading rapidly across developer communities. The incident originated from an npm package publishing error in which source map files were not properly excluded, allowing access to the complete TypeScript code. As a result, nearly 1,900 source files could be reconstructed, effectively revealing unobfuscated, production-level code.

Middle East conflict disrupts supply chain; polarizer prices set to rise 10% from 2Q26

Lily Hess — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 00:09:09 GMT

Industry sources reveal that polarizer manufacturers are preparing a price hike starting in the second quarter of 2026, with increases beginning at 10%, though final approval remains pending. This is because the escalating conflict in Iran has heightened risks to the Middle East energy supply chain, driving up crude oil prices and pushing costs higher for upstream polarizer materials such as PET, adhesives, and plastics.

Samsung's Roh Tae-moon visits Tokyo, targets Japan Android leadership

Lily Hess — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 00:08:56 GMT

Samsung Electronics's Device eXperience (DX) head Roh Tae-moon personally visited Tokyo on April 1, marking his first trip to Japan this year. Although Apple has long dominated Japan's smartphone market, Samsung has recently seen a resurgence driven by its Galaxy series. Roh's visit signals a strategic push to expand Samsung's market share in Japan.

In the race to autonomy, Level 2+ emerges as the winner

Elaine Chen — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 00:08:37 GMT

The global adoption of advanced driver-assistance systems, or ADAS, and autonomous vehicles is expected to rise from 66 percent in 2025 to 94 percent by 2035. Within that growth, Level 2 systems are projected to reach a 65 percent penetration rate. But the technological path toward higher levels of autonomy is beginning to diverge.

Intel and Musk's Terafab revive IDM collaboration as chipmaker pushes turnaround

DIGITIMES — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 00:07:38 GMT

Intel's industrial ecosystem is converging on a vertically integrated chip model, as Intel joins the Terafab project led by SpaceX, xAI, and Tesla—marking both a revival of the IDM approach and a potential turning point in Intel's turnaround strategy.

Commentary: How Taiwan is becoming a strategic partner in America's auto reindustrialization

DIGITIMES — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 00:06:58 GMT

Recently, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) has made a series of unusually high-profile appearances at promotional events for US automakers such as Jeep and Ford. The rare visibility has drawn intense attention from both industry insiders and market observers alike — and for good reason. With the first quarter of 2026 marking the official conclusion of automotive tariff negotiations under the Taiwan–US trade agreement, these diplomatic gestures now carry significance far beyond simple brand endorsement. They signal a new era of "structural transformation" in Taiwan–US automotive cooperation.

Nvidia moves to build US$10B AI empire, one acquisition at a time

Charlene Chen — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 00:06:40 GMT

Since the generative AI (GenAI) boom, Nvidia has leveraged its near-monopoly on AI GPUs to drive explosive profits, with free cash flow reaching US$96.5 billion in fiscal 2026. Coupled with two prior cryptocurrency mining surges in 2017 and 2019, Nvidia's decade-long cash hoard has fueled aggressive acquisitions and investments. Starting with a US$20 billion deal announced in late 2025 to acquire AI chip startup Groq, followed by a recent US$2 billion investment in Marvell, Nvidia is rapidly expanding its moat built on CUDA and GPU technology.

Commentary: China's AI chip dilemma revisits a familiar semiconductor fork in the road

Lily Hess — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 00:05:49 GMT

The global AI race is no longer just about who builds the fastest chip. Increasingly, it is about who writes the rules.

With SpaceBridge, BWant anchors Taiwan's satellite ambitions

Elaine Chen — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 00:05:26 GMT

As global demand for satellite communications accelerates, Taiwan's role in the supply chain is beginning to shift. On April 2, BWant announced a new partnership with National Taipei University of Technology and Pyras Technology, alongside Canada-based SpaceBridge, to build a localized testing ecosystem aimed at connecting Taiwanese manufacturers more directly with global satellite operators.

China export controls spark global InP supply concerns for AI high-speed transmission

Charlene Chen — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 00:05:12 GMT

Indium phosphide (InP), a critical material for long-distance optical communication, has become essential for AI-driven high-speed data transmission. However, China's export restrictions have triggered a shortage of InP substrates, creating a bottleneck in manufacturers' capacity expansion worldwide. The supply chain acknowledges that due to China's export curbs and the technical challenges of producing InP substrates, major international players remain cautious about increasing investments. The timeline for resolving this shortage remains uncertain.

Arm reportedly plans to sell AGI CPUs in China despite core licensing ban

Charlene Chen — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 00:04:56 GMT

Arm recently unveiled its first self-developed AGI CPU, marking a significant milestone as the company shifts from a pure technology IP licensor to a standard CPU supplier competing directly with Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Ampere, and Intel.

SpaceX's Starlink Mobile faces a slow climb to scale

DIGITIMES — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 00:04:41 GMT

Space-based cellphone service has long been pitched as the next frontier in connectivity. Now, SpaceX is testing that promise with Starlink Mobile — a bet that could reshape the wireless industry, even as early revenues remain modest.

OpenAI faces leadership shakeup ahead of IPO and Musk lawsuit

DIGITIMES — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 00:04:25 GMT

As OpenAI prepares for a potential IPO this year, the company's leadership is undergoing a shake-up. Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Kate Rouch and OpenAI's head of AGI development, Fidji Simo, are both taking medical leave. The changes come at a pivotal time for the company as it tries to consolidate its operations to boost profitability and contends with a lawsuit by xAI CEO Elon Musk.

Humanoid robots drive tactile sensor development as Taiwan firms vie for differentiation

Lily Hess — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 00:04:03 GMT

Labor shortages in the service sector are more severe than in manufacturing. This, coupled with its largely unstructured environments, makes it a market urgently keen on adopting AI robots. However, current AI robots still face limitations, including insufficient physical data and the ability to perceive real-world environments—key factors determining whether robots can effectively solve on-site problems.

Interview: Agentic AI is creating a new frontier of cybersecurity risks

DIGITIMES — Tue, 7 Apr 2026 08:57:56 GMT

AI agents and their high-powered capabilities are creating a new category of cybersecurity threats among enterprises using them, from accidental data breaches to bad actors breaking into company systems.