Apple has officially confirmed a strategic collaboration with Google to use the Gemini AI model to enhance Siri and other Apple Intelligence features. The two tech giants have revealed limited details about the arrangement, with internal sources shedding light on key aspects of the cooperation that carry broad implications for Apple's AI development and competitive positioning.

Humanoid robots and embodied intelligence were huge at CES 2026. Dexterous hands are a key component that determines the upper limits of a robot's manipulation capabilities. Despite significant progress in recent years in terms of degrees of freedom and control performance, several challenges remain to be addressed.

Meta Green Cooling (MGC) is making a comprehensive push into the AI liquid cooling sector, leveraging its unique full-spectrum capabilities. MGC chairman James Chen noted that, unlike competitors, MGC integrates mechanical design, electromechanical systems, thermal management, monitoring, data center design, and maintenance services under one roof. The company posted a remarkable 215% revenue growth in 2025 and expects similar expansion in 2026 as it capitalizes on rising liquid cooling demand.

AMD introduced its Helios system platform at CES 2026, marking a significant move in cloud AI computing competition from traditional single-chip performance to full rack-scale solutions. This development follows Nvidia's GB200 NVL series release and Google's TPU-based rack product plans disclosed by Broadcom, underscoring an industry trend toward delivering computing power through integrated system platforms rather than isolated chips.

Render Network forecasts that 2026 will see brands adopting fully autonomous AI systems that reflect their identity across customer interactions, while consumer GPUs will enable creators and studios to run advanced AI models locally, expanding access to powerful AI workflows beyond large enterprises.

The US Department of Commerce recently revoked restrictions imposed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in late December 2025 that banned imports of new drones and components from Chinese manufacturers, including DJI and Autel Robotics, due to national security concerns. This reversal complicates earlier assumptions that Taiwanese suppliers would gain significantly from displaced orders. However, industry experts suggest the impact on Taiwan's industrial PC (IPC) sector may be limited.

Tight memory supply has driven market prices sharply higher, prompting industry expectations that 2026 PC and smartphone end-demand will face downward pressure. However, TSMC stated that fluctuations in component costs like memory have a limited impact and remains optimistic about product lines such as high-end smartphones and PCs.

The petrochemical industry has been stuck in an intensely competitive red ocean market. The Chinese government has begun promoting measures to curb excessive internal competition, and the cycle of low-price competition is expected to ease in 2026. Formosa Chemicals & Fibre Corporation (FCFC) launched a streamlining plan in the second half of 2025 and is actively shifting toward the compound plastics market. To enter higher-end markets, FCFC plans to complete 5N hydrogen purification equipment by 2027 to secure a foothold in the electronics industry supply chain, while continuing research and development in silicon carbide to align with advanced chip thermal management technologies.

Following the National Science and Technology Council's (NSTC) announcement of the quantum computing mainframe construction project, attention has focused on whether Taiwan will use a quantum computer developed by Academia Sinica or procure one from abroad. Sources reveal that the National Center for High-Performance Computing (NCHC) under the National Applied Research Laboratories (NIAR) has launched an international tender. If IBM Quantum bids and wins, the deal hinges on whether the US government permits export, as commercial quantum computers are currently banned from overseas sales.