Reports have emerged that Apple may have managed to avoid 100% tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, partly by agreeing to partner with Intel to manufacture its chips. While Apple could benefit from expanding its chip suppliers, the episode also shows the power of Intel's government backing as the US seeks to reshore its semiconductor industry.
Trans-Sun Materials Technology posted record revenue for June, the second quarter and the first half of 2026, supported by rising demand for AI servers and high-performance computing (HPC) applications. June consolidated revenue rose 40.83% year on year to NT$163 million (US$5.43 million), second-quarter revenue increased 28.22% to NT$441 million, and first-half revenue climbed 28.43% to NT$820 million, all record highs for their respective periods.
Apple is reshaping its Mac chip roadmap to prioritize AI, accelerating development of future processors as the company seeks to strengthen its position in the AI era.
New figures from Counterpoint Research estimate that the bill of materials (BOM) for the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro Max could rise nearly US$300 compared with the iPhone 17 Pro Max released in September last year. Ballooning memory costs largely account for this increase, although Apple may be better placed than most other smartphone brands to weather such price hikes.
Shipments of smartwatches with edge AI features leaped 70% in the first quarter of 2026, with Apple overwhelmingly leading the charge, according to Counterpoint Research. This market is taking off as health-focused users gain access to deeper insights through AI advancements, and as brands lean on wearables to offset weak smartphone sales.
AI-defined vehicles (AIDVs) are built on software-defined vehicles (SDVs), and Tesla is arguably the world's most representative company at integrating and commercializing these technologies. Yet the market rarely hears Tesla emphasize or explain the AIDV concept.
The 2026 smartphone market is facing a dark outlook as memory prices rise and shortages tighten supply, weighing on low- and mid-range handsets and hitting power amplifier (PA) shipments. Supply-chain companies said weaker gross margins are prompting brand owners to cut production and delay new model launches, while consumer caution is also dragging on demand.
Analog Devices (ADI) announced that it has completed its acquisition of Empower Semiconductor, a move it said is designed to bolster the company's role as a comprehensive power partner spanning the entire AI ecosystem, from grid infrastructure to core computing systems.
AI servers are tightening Taiwan's power component supply chain, lifting demand for MOSFETs, PMICs, cooling motors and power management products even as weak PC demand limits suppliers' ability to pass on higher costs.
Alan Wei Zhaolun, an executive at Aperia Group, pleaded not guilty in a fraud case alleging that he and three others illegally misrepresented themselves to obtain servers containing Nvidia chips before rerouting them to China. He has been accused by Singaporean prosecutors of money laundering and other charges, as Singapore emerges as a hub for illicit AI chip flows to China.
Sercomm reported record June 2026 revenue of NT$7.27 billion, up 12.2% from May and 70.8% from a year earlier, as AI-related network traffic and broadband infrastructure upgrades lifted demand. The telecom broadband equipment maker said the strong performance also pushed second-quarter and first-half revenue to all-time highs.
