DIGITIMES Asia: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Commentary: Honor's robot win highlights thermal edge in robotics

Levi Li — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 16:05:00 GMT

The Beijing Humanoid Robot Half Marathon has concluded, but its outcome has ignited a wider industry debate. Rather than a leading robotics specialist, smartphone maker Honor emerged as the unexpected winner — raising questions over whether the company's success reflects genuine technological strength or exposes lower-than-expected barriers in the humanoid robotics sector.

AGI, Inc. advances on-device agentic AI strategy as it targets cross-platform automation

DIGITIMES — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 10:03:50 GMT

AGI, Inc., also known as The AGI Company, is a San Francisco–based applied AI startup developing what it describes as "on-device superintelligence" for smartphones, computers and browsers. In the emerging agentic AI era, the company focuses on systems that go beyond generating responses and instead execute real-world tasks on behalf of users.

Hengs Technology secures NT$7.6B in orders, expands solar EPC into energy storage and EV charging

Emily Kuo — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 10:03:32 GMT

As Taiwan's energy transition enters a critical phase, the stability of power supply and the quality of renewable energy infrastructure have become key industry concerns. While numerous solar engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) providers operate in the market, only a handful offer fully integrated capabilities. Hengs Technology stands out for its comprehensive approach, extending beyond solar EPC to include AI-driven data management, as well as expansion into energy storage EPC and EV charging infrastructure. Chairman Heng-Hao Chou stated that Hengs currently holds more than NT$7.6 billion (US$239.6 million) in orders, which are expected to be gradually recognized as revenue over the next two to three years. The company has set clear targets for 2026, aiming to deploy more than 100MW of solar capacity during the year.

Google's split TPU chips signal shift from universal to specialized AI accelerators

Lily Hess — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 10:03:20 GMT

Google has unveiled its eighth-generation Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) by splitting them into two distinct chips: the training-focused TPU 8t and the inference-optimized TPU 8i. This move goes beyond simply designing two chips; it reflects Google's capability to break down bottlenecks across different stages of the model lifecycle, restructuring chip design, interconnects, memory, scheduling, and software stacks.

Taiwan OSAT Powertech lifts capex to US$1.6bn, targets AI packaging growth

Levi Li — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:32:41 GMT

Memory packaging and testing provider Powertech Technology posted net profit of NT$1.84 billion (US$57 million) for the first quarter of 2026, its second-highest for the same period, and raised its full-year outlook. The company increased its planned 2026 capital expenditure from NT$40 billion to NT$50 billion and expects broad price increases for logic and memory products in the second quarter of 2026, supporting sequential revenue gains and high single-digit to low double-digit annual growth.

SpaceX's IPO gives Musk unchecked control via 'Texas fortress' strategy

DIGITIMES — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:30:14 GMT

As SpaceX prepares for a public debut at a valuation targeting US$1.75 trillion, new regulatory filings have revealed a corporate governance structure that positions Elon Musk as an unassailable leader. According to Reuters, the company's IPO filing includes a provision stating that Musk cannot be removed from his roles as CEO and chairman of the board without his own consent.

ASE Technology sees seasonality fade as AI demand drives steady 2026 growth

Eifeh Strom — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:24:57 GMT

Global outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) leader ASE Technology Holding (ASEH) held an earnings call on April 29, reporting a robust first quarter of 2026 that broke from the traditional seasonal slowdown. Growth was driven primarily by sustained strong demand for leading-edge advanced packaging (LEAP) technologies, alongside a simultaneous rebound in wire bonding orders — together fueling an 87% year-on-year surge in quarterly net profit after tax, the second highest on record for the period.

Korea's 'father of HBM' sees 1,000x AI memory surge as Google's TurboQuant faces real-world tests

Willis Ke — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:12:53 GMT

Alphabet's Google has unveiled its KV cache quantization compression technology, TurboQuant, promising dramatic reductions in memory usage for AI inference. While the innovation has captured global attention, South Korea's academic and industrial sectors remain skeptical about its practical feasibility, even as they firmly expect AI inference to continue driving substantial growth in memory demand.

CIRC pursues dual-track drone strategy targeting domestic tenders and overseas markets

Kevin Wang — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:07:47 GMT

Coretronic Intelligent Robotics Corp. (CIRC), a subsidiary of Coretronic Corp., has long attracted attention for its drone business. Although the company is facing delays with Taiwan's largest-ever drone procurement project, other government agencies — such as the Coast Guard, police, and fire departments — estimate their combined drone demands at around NT$1 billion (US$31.7 million).

MetaX GPU revenue jumps 75%, losses narrow on AI demand

DIGITIMES — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:40:37 GMT

China-based GPU developer MetaX reported a solid start to 2026, underscoring how domestic high-performance GPUs are beginning to translate technical progress into tangible commercial traction.

Meta's 1Q26 earnings redraw the AI hardware map

DIGITIMES — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:38:43 GMT

Meta Platforms' first-quarter 2026 earnings delivered one of the most consequential procurement signals in recent memory for Asia's technology supply chain.

Microsoft's capex plans draw scrutiny as Azure demand outstrips capacity

DIGITIMES — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:33:37 GMT

Microsoft executives defended the company's rising capital spending after reporting stronger-than-expected fiscal third-quarter results, saying demand for Azure, Copilot, and AI infrastructure continues to exceed available capacity.

Memory crunch squeezes smartphone SoC market as Samsung gains share

DIGITIMES — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:25:23 GMT

Global smartphone system-on-chip (SoC) shipments fell 8% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2026, as a prolonged memory shortage weighed on handset makers and chipset vendors, according to Counterpoint Research.

Samsung memory buyers lock in longer deals as 2027 demand comes early

DIGITIMES — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:16:37 GMT

Samsung Electronics executives said major memory customers are seeking longer-term supply commitments and pulling forward demand for 2027, underscoring how tight supply is reshaping negotiations across DRAM, HBM, and server storage.

Taiwan wafer maker Episil triples capex to scale silicon photonics for AI

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:14:27 GMT

Episil Precision will reallocate production toward larger-diameter silicon epitaxy and silicon photonics to improve profitability and meet AI supply chain demand, the company announced. The move includes cutting lower-margin small-wafer lines and expanding capex to scale capacity for 2027 and 2028.

Alphabet's AI surge, by the numbers: Cloud, search and subscriptions rewire growth

DIGITIMES — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:11:12 GMT

Alphabet's first-quarter 2026 results point to a company increasingly defined by AI-driven momentum across search, cloud, and subscriptions—with CEO Sundar Pichai framing the quarter as evidence that its "full-stack" AI strategy is beginning to translate into measurable business performance.

Quanta eyes strong 2026 server demand as general-purpose orders surge

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:10:33 GMT

Quanta Cloud Technology's expected 2026 server momentum could reshape global data center supply chains, as rising demand for both AI and general-purpose servers — highlighted by surging orders from Alphabet's Google — may tighten processor supplies, alter ODM margins, and influence procurement strategies across cloud, enterprise, and edge markets worldwide.

Intel kills three projects in two months as Kechichian launches multi-year reset

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:06:58 GMT

Intel's reorganization under Kevork Kechichian, backed by CEO Lip‑Bu Tan, aims to reposition amid Nvidia's AI dominance and Arm's rise, signaling a shift to CPU-centric orchestration alongside GPUs and ASICs—an opportunity with major worldwide implications for data-center economics, AI deployment strategies, and competition in the next two to three years.

Automotive architecture innovation raises chip barriers, boosting semiconductor content amid vehicle sales slump

Charlene Chen — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:06:20 GMT

Recent financial reports from leading European and American IDM companies, Texas Instruments (TI) and NXP Semiconductors, reveal that although growth in automotive chips remains modest, the continued increase is notable given the overall global automotive market downturn. Industry insiders note that the rising semiconductor content in vehicles is accelerating fast enough to offset weak vehicle sales, supporting a positive outlook for automotive chips.

Chunghwa Precision Test raises capex as HPC probe card orders hit 30% of sales

DIGITIMES — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:05:05 GMT

Chunghwa Precision Test Tech reported that strong demand from high-performance computing chip customers drove first-quarter 2026 revenue to NT$1.357 billion (US$43 million) and operating profit to NT$342 million, with earnings per share reaching 10.43 despite seasonal headwinds. The firm said probe card sales tied to HPC workloads surged, lifting full probe card revenue to NT$405 million and accounting for nearly 30% of total sales in the quarter.

Unisplendour, H3C gain from AI buildout, monetization in focus

DIGITIMES — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:04:15 GMT

China's AI infrastructure race is entering a phase where scale alone is no longer enough. As large models move from training to real-world deployment, the focus is shifting toward cost efficiency, system integration and application delivery. Against this backdrop, Unisplendour is emerging as a key beneficiary of the buildout, though its long-term trajectory will depend on how effectively it converts infrastructure strength into sustainable commercial value.

Delta Electronics posts 34% revenue growth in 1Q26, invests NT$12.1B to expand Taoyuan plants

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:02:11 GMT

Delta Electronics reported strong first-quarter results and approved NT$12.1 billion (US$380 million) in plant investments, moves that signal expanded production capacity for AI servers and data center infrastructure worldwide. Global customers and suppliers may face shifts in supply chains and competition as the company ramps up local manufacturing and overseas funding for growth.

South Korea's OLED share rebounds to 68.7% in 2025

Charlene Chen — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 06:58:23 GMT

South Korea's global OLED market share increased by 1.5pp to 68.7% in 2025, marking its first rise in a decade and drawing widespread attention. According to Chosun Biz, the Korea Display Industry Association (KDIA) cited Omdia data showing South Korean companies regained ground in the OLED sector after years of decline.

NB plans plan to cut NRE and tooling fees, Chinese ODMs expand manufacturing footprint

Emily Kuo — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 06:50:08 GMT

Sources from the notebook (NB) supply chain stated that Taiwanese ODM manufacturers that once stood at the forefront of the market are gradually stepping back, with Chinese ODM manufacturers beginning to take over. This shift is built on three conditions: first, shortages and rising prices of key components have pushed brand vendors to take aggressive measures to protect profits; second, the capabilities of Chinese manufacturers have improved; and third, Taiwanese ODMs are redirecting resources toward higher-growth AI opportunities such as servers.

China Electric manufacturing bets on AI to revive growth

Elaine Chen — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 06:49:17 GMT

More than 70 years after its founding, China Electric Manufacturing Corporation has built a steady market position under its "TOA" lighting brand. Now, the company is turning to artificial intelligence in an effort to revive growth.

Commentary: Taiwan’s optics industry finds a new role in the AI imaging boom

Elaine Chen — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 06:48:30 GMT

For more than a decade, the global imaging market has been defined by a clear divide: on one side, rugged, lightweight action cameras built for stability and portability; on the other, professional DSLR and mirrorless systems designed to push the limits of optical physics and image quality. In 2026, that boundary is beginning to collapse.

AU Optronics posts slight first-quarter loss and warns of softer consumer electronics orders

DIGITIMES — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 06:41:29 GMT

AU Optronics reported first-quarter 2026 consolidated revenue of NT$69.03 billion (US$2.19 billion) and a net loss attributable to parent shareholders of NT$1.14 billion, the firm announced at an investor briefing on April 30. Revenue fell 1.6% sequentially from the fourth quarter of 2025 and declined 4.3% year-on-year, while basic earnings per share were a loss of NT$0.15.

UMC stresses disciplined price hike, Intel deal, and memory foundry rumors draw attention

Charlene Chen — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 06:39:06 GMT

United Microelectronics (UMC) held its earnings call, where market focus centered on its recent price increases, progress in silicon photonics (SiPh) and advanced packaging, and speculation about entering memory foundry services.

Wingtech losses widen on Nexperia dispute, triggering delisting risk

DIGITIMES — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 05:59:40 GMT

China's Wingtech Technology is entering a critical phase marked by a sharp deterioration in financial performance, regulatory scrutiny, and operational disruption tied to its contested control of Nexperia. The convergence of these pressures is not merely a balance sheet issue — it reflects how geopolitical intervention and corporate restructuring are reshaping China-linked semiconductor groups with overseas operations.

Corning reports first-quarter 2026 growth and advances portfolio restructuring under Springboard plan

DIGITIMES — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 04:55:43 GMT

Corning Incorporated reported higher first-quarter 2026 core sales and earnings while outlining continued restructuring efforts across its operating model, including expanded platform-based businesses, segment realignment, and upgrades to its long-term growth plan.

Taiwan's AI push awaits legislative green light

Lily Hess — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 04:52:54 GMT

Given Taiwan's crucial role in the AI supply chain, Cheng-wen Wu, chairman of the country's National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), called on Taiwan's legislature to pass the central government's budget proposal, which remains under review. He emphasized that Taiwan must not only lead in AI hardware production, but also advance AI applications.

Microsoft sales beat estimates as Azure growth eases spending concerns

DIGITIMES — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 04:41:56 GMT

Microsoft reported stronger-than-expected fiscal third-quarter results, as Azure growth, Microsoft Cloud demand, and rising Copilot adoption helped ease investor concerns over the company's heavy spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Cambricon earnings surge on AI compute demand

DIGITIMES — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 04:04:39 GMT

China's Cambricon Technologies reported a sharp rise in first-quarter 2026 earnings, driven by surging AI compute demand, while intensifying competition and shifting investor positioning reshape the domestic AI chip market.

SK Group chairman urges Korea-Japan integration to boost bargaining power amid US-China tech rivalry

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 03:52:04 GMT

SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won urged South Korea to pursue deep economic integration with Japan to gain strategic influence amid US-China tech tensions, arguing that a larger Korea-Japan bloc could reshape global bargaining power in energy, semiconductors, and AI infrastructure, with implications for markets and diplomacy worldwide.

Chang Wah Technology forecasts double-digit growth in the second quarter on EMC LED strength

DIGITIMES — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 03:39:45 GMT

Packaging leadframe maker Chang Wah Technology Co., Ltd. reported that it achieved NT$3.672 billion (US$116 million) in revenue in the first quarter of 2026, its fourth-highest quarterly result, and set a monthly record with NT$1.327 billion in March. The firm said customers maintained steady demand, and it was targeting a challenging double-digit percentage growth for the second quarter, driven by strong shipments of EMC LED leadframes.