Tesla CEO Elon Musk has revealed intentions to construct an in-house wafer fabrication facility, or TeraFab, to meet soaring AI chip demand that surpasses current industry manufacturing capabilities. In an interview with investor Ron Baron, Musk highlighted the company's expanding AI chip requirements and expressed concerns over reliance on external foundries such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and Samsung Electronics.

Taiwan-based LED manufacturer Ligitek Electronics announced plans to enter the silicon photonics (SiPh) sector, investing tens of millions of New Taiwan dollars in cleanroom equipment and talent expansion by the first quarter of 2026. The company aims to diversify revenue streams by boosting contributions from invisible light, automotive, and engineering sectors while reducing dependence on LED components, projecting 2026 revenue to surpass that of 2025.

Recent reports of former Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) senior vice president Wei-jen Lo returning to Intel amid a 2-nanometer process leak have sparked industry concern.

Kuan-Cheng Hsu, ASML's Taiwan and Southeast Asia customer marketing head, highlighted that AI-driven semiconductor demand is entering its strongest growth cycle ever, accelerating global GDP contribution, advanced process development, and lithography breakthroughs.

Concerns over consumer electronics demand are increasing because of the memory price surge. Analysts warn that this could hurt the profits of downstream foundries. However, Pegatron Chairman T.H. Tung emphasized in an interview that memory price fluctuations have no direct impact on foundry profitability, and that Taiwan's electronics industry is well-experienced in handling such cyclical trends.

After months of negotiations, the US has approved the export of up to 70,000 advanced AI chips to Emirati firm G42 and Saudi Arabia's Humain, marking a major milestone for both Gulf nations as they ramp up their AI capabilities. Each company will receive computing power equivalent to 35,000 Nvidia GB300 processors. These chips are part of Nvidia's Blackwell series and arguably the most advanced AI chips currently available. The exports are contingent on strict security measures and reporting requirements, including provisions designed to prevent diversion to foreign adversaries or Chinese technology.

The appointment of former TSMC SVP of Corporate Strategy and Development Wei-Ren Luo to a senior position at Intel has raised concerns among legislators over potential trade secret leakage. Some lawmakers are advising the government to more strictly guard technologies, as Japanese and US companies are closely eyeing Taiwan's ability to mass-produce 2nm chips. Taiwan's Minister of Economic Affairs (MOEA) Ming-hsin Kung reassured that key technologies will not be leaked.

Samsung Electronics planned a US$1.9 billion investment to upgrade its wafer foundry in Austin, Texas, aiming to produce Apple's next-generation CIS chips starting late 2026. The Austin City Council will vote on extending Samsung's eligibility for local tax incentives by November 20, 2025.

Samsung Electronics posted a sharp rebound at its Austin semiconductor plant in the third quarter of 2025. The results signal renewed momentum for the company's US foundry operations following several loss-making quarters.

Nvidia has announced key partnerships to expand its supply chain and manufacturing capacity in the US, aiming to meet rising global demand for artificial intelligence (AI) computing chips. The company is collaborating with Amkor Technology and Taiwan's SPIL to scale up domestic packaging operations, alongside launching a new testing chip technology with startup Menlo Micro.

Amkor, one of the largest US-based outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) providers, has begun investing over KRW260 billion (approx. US$177 million) in South Korea to expand capacity for rising AI chip demand. The company said it will increase back-end production in Songdo, Incheon, where it already runs a key advanced packaging facility.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stressed that strengthening ASEAN trade and investment, while focusing on digital technology and AI, is essential for national success. He highlighted the need for support from major economies like the US and China to ensure the continued growth of Malaysia's semiconductor and electrical & electronics sectors.

The Netherlands has suspended its ministerial order under the Goods Availability Act concerning Nexperia, signaling a potential easing of tensions with China. The move carries implications for global semiconductor supply chains, particularly for the automotive industry, but key governance and control issues at the company remain unresolved.

Pegatron has announced a strategic three-party collaboration with AI cloud service provider Together AI and AI digital infrastructure supplier 5C Group to jointly deploy a next-generation AI factory. It will be based on Nvidia platforms, including Pegatron-developed Nvidia GB300 and B200 server racks.

Chung Hyun-ho, long regarded as Samsung Electronics' "second-in-command," stepped down from his frontline role on November 7, prompting renewed scrutiny of potential changes within Samsung Group's top decision-making structure.

GlobalFoundries (GF) will host a webcast at 10:00 a.m. ET on December 3, 2025, to outline its strategy for the fast-emerging physical AI market. Executives will detail demand trends, technology roadmaps, and the company's work with MIPS on ultra-low-power compute solutions.

Huawei is accelerating acquisitions, factory builds, and investment across China's semiconductor sector, advancing a multi-year effort to establish a self-reliant supply chain for high-performance chips, including its Ascend AI processors. The effort began after Washington restricted the company's access to US technology in 2019 and has since grown into one of China's largest semiconductor initiatives.

GlobalFoundries (GF) announced it will acquire Singapore-based silicon-photonics foundry Advanced Micro Foundry (AMF), a move that represents a critical step in its push to advance photonics innovation and solidify its leadership in the field. The acquisition underscores GF's growing confidence in photonics as a cornerstone of future semiconductor and AI infrastructure.

The US is intensifying its use of four key non-tariff measures—anti-dumping duties, balancing taxes, antitrust actions, and forced labor bans—creating mounting compliance and operational challenges for Taiwanese manufacturers. These tools have become central to Washington's trade strategy under President Donald Trump and now pose greater business risks than traditional tariff actions, according to insights shared at workshops hosted by Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA).

China's rapid advance in legacy semiconductors presents a geopolitical risk that is "more dangerous than rare earths," warns Chip War author and economic historian Chris Miller. In an interview with Nikkei, Miller said Beijing's heavy subsidies for mature-node chip production are reshaping global supply chains and increasing worldwide dependence on Chinese suppliers.

Taiwanese authorities have launched an investigation into Wei-Jen Lo, a former SVP for corporate development at TSMC, following allegations that he copied advanced process technology data before leaving the company and subsequently joined Intel Corporation. The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) and the High Prosecutors' Office are involved in examining whether Lo's actions violate national security laws.

Samsung Electronics confirmed the first performance results from its upcoming 2nm chip process, signaling a more aggressive push into next-generation foundry manufacturing as it tries to narrow the gap with market leader TSMC.

Silicon Valley venture firm Playground recently showcased seven semiconductor startups at a media event in Taiwan. Beyond the well-known Ayar Labs, d-Matrix, and NextSilicon, two HPC power component startups—PowerLattice and Vertical Semiconductor—stood out.

The 35th Taiwan-Japan Modern Engineering and Technology Symposium opened in Taipei on November 17, with experts highlighting that Taiwan's future economic growth faces challenges from extreme climate events, geopolitical conflicts, US tariff uncertainties, and constraints on critical material supplies. Among these, extreme drought poses the most severe threat to Taiwan's industries, especially the water-intensive semiconductor sector.

Silicon Valley venture firm Playground recently held a media event in Taiwan featuring a fireside chat with Ayar Labs, a silicon photonics startup backed by leading chipmakers including Nvidia and AMD. Founder and CEO Mark Wade and former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger discussed the future of silicon photonics.