AI-driven demand is turning storage into one of the hottest segments in enterprise infrastructure, but tightening memory supply and rising component costs are creating growing pressure on customers, according to executives at Hitachi Vantara Taiwan.

The global race in large AI models continues to intensify, with Chinese state-backed capital accelerating its push into the sector. According to foreign media reports, China's "Big Fund" — formally known as the China Integrated Circuit (IC) Industry Investment Fund — is in talks to lead an investment in AI startup DeepSeek, with the company's valuation approaching US$45 billion.