Global pioneer in ultra-low-power AI semiconductors, DeepX, has recently become one of Samsung Electronics' foundry clients utilizing its 2nm semiconductor manufacturing process. DeepX plans to apply Samsung's 2nm technology to develop its next-generation generative AI (GenAI) chip, the "DX-M2."

China is entering the second half of 2025 by reviewing its "14th Five-Year Plan" technology milestones and mapping priorities for the upcoming "15th Five-Year Plan." Liu Liehong, administrator and director of the National Data Administration (NDA), said on August 14 that by June 2025, China's total computing power ranked second worldwide and the country held 60% of global AI patents, underscoring its rising weight in AI R&D.

The number of chipmaking projects in India that qualify for the country’s incentive policy has increased to ten, following the approval of four new initiatives. Concurrently, India and China appear to be reducing tensions against the backdrop of a recently imposed 50% tariff by the United States on Indian goods.

Daxin Materials reported solid operational performance in the first half of 2025, with expectations for continued growth in the semiconductor and display materials sectors in the second half. The company is expanding production capacity and developing new products to meet rising demand driven by AI and high-performance computing (HPC).

Rising AI startups, including OpenAI and Perplexity, have shown interest in acquiring the Google Chrome browser, with Perplexity offering US$34.5 billion. Yahoo has also expressed acquisition intentions. However, Google has not indicated any willingness to sell Chrome, despite ongoing antitrust pressures.

Kdan Mobile Software (KDAN) has formed a strategic partnership with Japanese AI search engine startup Felo, with integrated technologies expected to debut in the fourth quarter of 2025. The companies will also collaborate on a joint sales plan targeting the AI agent market.

The quantum research team at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) has set a new world record. Academic administrator Jianwei Pan and Professor Chao-Yang Lu from USTC collaborated with the Shanghai Research Center for Quantum Sciences and researcher Han-Sen Zhong's team from Shanghai AI Laboratory. Using artificial intelligence (AI) technology, they successfully constructed defect-free two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) atomic arrays consisting of 2024 atoms within 60 milliseconds, breaking the global record for neutral atom quantum systems.

Taiwan's trade negotiation representatives with the US have highlighted that Washington's expectations for artificial intelligence (AI) policies are evolving at a rapid pace. This makes it increasingly difficult for Taiwan to make binding commitments. With America's AI Action Plan positioning the country as a global hub for AI development, an era of stringent regulation is expected—focused on comprehensive supply chain oversight and efforts to curb China's AI progress.

Nan Juen International (Repon), a Taiwanese server rail manufacturer, expects shipments to keep rising in the second half of 2025, with AI servers, particularly Nvidia's GB series and ASIC-based models, driving growth on two fronts. Server rails made up 52% of Repon's second quarter 2025 revenue, and the company believes that share will increase in the coming months.

Trans-Sun Materials Technology posted second-quarter 2025 revenue of NT$344 million (approx. US$11.5 million), up 16.7% from the prior quarter but 5.2% lower year-over-year. Operating profit surged 68% to NT$32 million on a stronger product mix, process improvements, and higher demand for premium applications, while currency appreciation trimmed net profit to NT$20 million.