DIGITIMES: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Intel puts CPU-GPU coordination at center of agentic AI strategy

DIGITIMES — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 01:37:47 GMT

Intel is positioning closer coordination between CPUs, GPUs and other computing resources as a key requirement for the next phase of AI, as agentic AI shifts workloads from model inference toward complex task execution.

Trump-Xi pre-summit watch: H20 setbacks and Ascend gains reshape China's Nvidia calculus

DIGITIMES — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:20:38 GMT

Ahead of the Trump-Xi summit, the key semiconductor question is no longer simply how much Nvidia hardware Washington will allow China to buy.

Industrial software giants race to build industry world models

Yunnie Cheng — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:19:11 GMT

While generative AI has surged into mainstream consumer use thanks to ChatGPT, the adoption of AI across industrial sectors has progressed at a much slower pace. Industry analysts point out that the primary culprit is the tendency of current AI architectures to "hallucinate," a fatal vulnerability in manufacturing environments where there is no tolerance for error. As industrial AI development cannot rely on large language models (LLMs) alone, attention is rapidly shifting toward industry world models that anchor AI systems in the laws of physics. Recognizing this pivot, global industrial software giants are already aggressively positioning themselves in this space.

Powertech targets quarterly growth in 2026, eyes record high

Lily Hess — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:18:00 GMT

Powertech Technology expects stronger memory packaging and testing demand, higher average selling prices (ASPs), and ramping high-end through-silicon via (TSV) DDR5 production in the fourth quarter of 2026 to drive sequential growth throughout 2026 and lift revenue to a new record. Its Taiwan fan-out panel-level package (FOPLP) line, already booked by Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), is set to add revenue from 2027 and open another growth chapter for both sales and profit.

AUO unveils EPS 2030 blueprint linking sustainability to business value

Charlene Chen — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:17:09 GMT

AUO has set out its EPS 2030 sustainability goals, expanding beyond factory energy saving and carbon reduction to applications including smart mobility, smart healthcare, smart retail, smart manufacturing, and low-carbon digital transformation. The company outlined 31 sustainability targets in total and said it has already achieved all 10 of its 2025 EPS goals, with a 100% completion rate.

GMI AI compute leasing business sells out in US as big users lock in long contracts

Rodney Chan — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:16:35 GMT

GMI Technology, a Taiwan-based electronics component distributor and application solutions provider, said its AI computing rental business is booming, with strong demand from US technology companies for computing power. The company said large users tend to secure computing capacity through long-term contracts, leaving the market short of supply.

SK Hynix Indiana HBM plant faces lawsuit

DIGITIMES — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:16:08 GMT

SK Hynix's high-bandwidth memory (HBM) production site under construction in Indiana has been drawn into local litigation as the race for AI memory capacity intensifies. Local residents in the US are seeking to overturn a land-use change and halt construction, with a trial scheduled for December 2026 and the case drawing market attention.

Trump-Xi pre-summit watch: China charts a sovereignty-first path for frontier AI

DIGITIMES — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:15:33 GMT

When Donald Trump and Xi Jinping discuss artificial intelligence, the deeper divide may not be over whether AI needs rules, but over what those rules are designed to protect.

OUCC sees semiconductor chemical shipments ramping up in 2027

Sherri Wang — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:15:11 GMT

Oriental Union Chemical Corporation (OUCC) expects shipments of semiconductor chemicals to ramp up in 2027 as more products complete customer qualification, with the Taiwan-based chemical maker targeting electronic chemicals to account for 10% of revenue by 2028.

Microsoft reframes AI ROI calculations, keeps in-house ASICs for internal use

Kevin Wang — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:14:36 GMT

Microsoft is changing how companies evaluate their generative AI investments, as the technology evolves from its beginnings as a productivity tool into deeper uses in core business workflows. In addition to token consumption and model costs, Microsoft Taiwan general manager Sean Pien points out that corporations are also examining how AI actually benefits workflows and innovation, making return-on-investment (ROI) evaluations harder to judge solely on the basis of time or labor savings.

ASRock Industrial's game-streaming win signals longer revenue tail, but supply risks remain

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:14:07 GMT

ASRock Industrial has secured a large North American game-streaming services project that could extend well into 2027, according to chairman James Lee. The industrial PC maker said the deal supports a long-term customer deployment, even as component shortages, rising prices, and staged ordering continue to cloud the near-term revenue picture.

LSTC links with Rapidus to revive Japan's advanced chipmaking

DIGITIMES — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:13:39 GMT

Japan's Leading-edge Semiconductor Technology Center (LSTC) is building a public-private-academic framework around Rapidus, which plans to mass-produce 2-nanometer chips in 2027, to advance next-generation semiconductor research and talent development and give Japan a unique edge in the global race for advanced process technology.

AMD pushes ROCm for agentic workloads while Intel holds on to OpenVINO

Lily Hess — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:13:14 GMT

Starting in the second half of 2025, as AI agent programs such as OpenClaw, Hermes, Claude, and DeepSeek Harness were launched one after another, a wave of "keeping lobsters" began to emerge around on-device AI models paired with AI agents.

US, China diverge on AI guardrails ahead of Trump-Xi summit

DIGITIMES — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 09:26:07 GMT

The US and China are moving toward different models for governing increasingly capable artificial intelligence, even as the US proposes a limited safety mechanism with China ahead of President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping's September 24 summit in Washington. AI is expected to be among the issues discussed at the meeting.

SKC raises Absolics stake to 82% as glass substrates remain in testing

DIGITIMES — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 09:07:57 GMT

SKC is increasing its investment in its US glass substrate subsidiary Absolics, raising its stake to more than 82%, as the South Korean materials group commits more capital to a business that remains in customer evaluation and testing ahead of volume production.

Engineering over panic: Jensen Huang's pragmatic vision for the future of AI

Yunnie Cheng — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 08:53:10 GMT

In a 46-minute interview on CBS, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang pushed back against apocalyptic warnings regarding artificial intelligence (AI). He urged the industry to focus on rigorous engineering and safe product delivery rather than apocalyptic fearmongering.

Vivo launches camera monitor accessory, stoking panel demand

Charlene Chen — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 08:46:43 GMT

Vivo officially unveiled its new flagship X500 series smartphones in Shanghai on September 21, along with wearable accessories including smartwatches and earphones. The X500 series is positioned around a broader push to extend image capture from still photography into video recording and content creation. Vivo has further integrated its hardware and software imaging functions, and is now testing whether the camera monitor can become a standard accessory for high-end imaging phones.

Foxtron maps overseas expansion as customers seek full EV line-up

Lily Hess — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 08:10:11 GMT

Foxtron Vehicle Technologies said its overseas expansion is taking shape as exports to New Zealand and Australia enter their final countdown, with a planned Poland factory with ElectroMobility Poland also drawing attention. On September 22, Foxtron Chairman Andy Lee said Europe's strict emissions rules and strong environmental awareness make it a key electric vehicle (EV) market, while localization and shared platforms are central to the company's strategy.

With Xi's Washington visit incoming, trade data show how the tariff war has reshaped US-China tech flows

DIGITIMES — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 08:04:00 GMT

When Chinese President Xi Jinping meets US President Donald Trump at the White House on September 24, trade will be the most measurable front of their rivalry. Since the first Section 301 tariffs took effect in July 2018, US imports of Chinese technology hardware have fallen sharply. Rare earth magnets are the exception: Washington cannot easily replace them, which gives Beijing leverage as the one-year Busan truce nears its November 10 expiry.

YMTC wins German injunctions against Micron in latest round of NAND patent battle

Charlene Chen — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 07:59:18 GMT

Micron is facing fresh pressure on multiple fronts after Germany's Munich I Regional Court sided with Chinese memory maker YMTC and issued two injunctions over alleged infringement. Industry sources said enforcement of the injunctions could restrict Micron's supply in Germany and reshape the European automotive and industrial-control NAND market.

Automotive display growth shifts to HUDs, passenger screens

Lily Hess — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 07:33:44 GMT

The global automotive display market is entering a new phase of growth, with demand shifting away from central consoles and instrument clusters toward niche applications such as head-up displays (HUDs) and front-passenger entertainment panels. DIGITIMES Intelligence analyst Jason Yang said the global automotive display shipment compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is expected to reach only about 2.4% from 2026 to 2031, but HUDs and entertainment panels will grow 14.4% and 17.9%, respectively.

LG Electronics, Microsoft enter partnership on AI data centers, physical AI

DIGITIMES — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 07:24:46 GMT

LG Electronics entered a partnership with Microsoft to cooperate on a range of AI initiatives. The two firms agreed to work together on AI data centers, LG Electronics' AI data transformation, and physical AI as the company known for appliances taps into growing AI-related industries.

Samsung Display explores halftone black PDL tech to cut OLED production costs

DIGITIMES — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 07:17:32 GMT

Samsung Display is evaluating a new manufacturing process known as halftone black pixel definition layer (PDL) that could streamline the production of its OLED panels, industry sources disclosed to The ELEC on September 22. By integrating two separate manufacturing steps into a single photolithography process, the display maker aims to reduce costs and boost efficiency for upcoming flagship devices.

Samsung LPDDR6 validated by Qualcomm for next-gen Snapdragon platform

DIGITIMES — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 07:13:37 GMT

AI workloads are pushing cloud, edge, and mobile devices toward tighter power budgets and heavier data traffic, making memory efficiency a growing global issue. Samsung is positioning its new LPDDR6 as a response, with higher bandwidth, lower power use, and improved reliability for next-generation on-device AI.

Qualcomm and Google eye Agentic AI, expand partnership to GoogleBook, automotives

Yunnie Cheng — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 07:06:20 GMT

During his keynote at Snapdragon Summit 2026, Qualcomm President and CEO Cristiano Amon invited Rick Osterloh, Senior Vice President of Platforms and Devices at Google, on stage to discuss the past year's developments in agentic AI and the strategic direction of their ongoing partnership. Amon emphasized that Google remains an indispensable partner to Qualcomm, noting that the relationship—built on co-developing the industry's first Android smartphone—has grown even stronger amid the broader AI transformation.

Biwin Storage commits US$672M to double down on 2.5D packaging, compute-memory integration

DIGITIMES — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 07:02:24 GMT

Biwin Storage Technology plans to invest CNY4.5 billion (approx. US$672 million) in the third phase of its wafer-level advanced packaging and testing project, expanding 2.5D integration and compute-memory co-packaging capacity as AI and high-performance computing lift demand for advanced packaging.

China's BeiDou eyes US$150 billion industry scale with AI, services at the core

Levi Li — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 06:47:29 GMT

China's BeiDou satellite navigation industry continues to expand rapidly, with applications spreading from chips and modules to end devices. Emerging technologies including artificial intelligence are increasingly being integrated with BeiDou, while the industry is shifting from hardware sales towards data, platforms, and services. Overseas markets are also emerging as a key source of future growth.

ZDT prices US$800M ECB to expand AI server PCB push

DIGITIMES — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 06:40:31 GMT

Printed circuit board (PCB) maker Zhen Ding Technology (ZDT) Group completed pricing of its sixth overseas convertible bond issue on September 22, raising a total of US$800 million (about NT$25.224 billion). The company plans to issue the bonds on September 29 and list them on the Singapore Exchange, with proceeds to be used entirely to replenish working capital and support technology development for high-end products.

Hotai expands MaaS push with FunNow stake

DIGITIMES — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 06:33:09 GMT

Hotai Motor said it will invest in lifestyle and entertainment booking platform FunNow to deepen its mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) ecosystem. The company plans to inject US$10 million (about NT$318 million) for an approximately 10% stake, while also launching a deep strategic partnership between its ChicTrip travel platform and FunNow.

Taiwan's Master Bus scales 450 kW direct-drive motor for the intercity EV market

Levi Li — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 06:27:53 GMT

Master Transportation Bus Manufacturing (Master Bus) is deepening its electric-bus strategy around proprietary motors and chassis.

Taiwan tire maker Cheng Shin turns 'virtual tires' into an EV development weapon

Levi Li — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 06:24:33 GMT

Taiwanese tire maker Cheng Shin Rubber, best known for its Maxxis brand, is nearing its 60th anniversary and using AI and digital twins to compete in a faster-moving automotive market.

Hermes-Epitek eyes CPO test revenue in 2027

Charlene Chen — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 06:14:58 GMT

Archie Hwang, the founder and chairman of Hermes-Epitek, appeared before the media alongside Hermes Testing Solutions Inc. (HTSI) executives. The company outlined a major push into silicon photonics (SiPh) co-packaged optics (CPO) testing and said related revenue is expected to begin contributing in 2027.

LG Energy enters Nvidia's ecosystem as it pivots batteries to data centers

DIGITIMES — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 05:57:52 GMT

LG Energy's battery energy storage system (BESS) has entered Nvidia's AI Factory ecosystem. Its qualification by the chipmaker comes as LG Energy is reorienting its North American battery plants toward data centers and appears poised to capture fresh demand after the US imposed restrictions on Chinese battery imports.

DeepSeek, Moonshot, the hidden cost of routing China's AI through Claude

DIGITIMES — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 05:53:20 GMT

China's internet regulator is reportedly investigating DeepSeek and Moonshot AI over allegations that the two companies routed millions of user interactions, including potentially sensitive government and corporate information, to Anthropic's Claude models without customers' knowledge.

Hygon takes China's CPU ambitions beyond servers, into physical AI

DIGITIMES — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 05:48:11 GMT

China's Hygon Information Technology is extending its processor ambitions beyond servers and data centers with the launch of its first embedded industrial CPU family, targeting robotics, machine vision, smart manufacturing, and other edge AI workloads.