Naver is preparing to launch its Nvidia-backed AI factory business after securing an infrastructure agreement with Brookfield worth up to US$9 billion. With OpenAI and Anthropic seen as potential customers for AI computing services in South Korea, the company now faces the challenge of securing contracts that can support its expansion and cover rising operating costs.

Samsung SDS has begun construction of a 60MW AI data center in Gumi, South Korea, to support industrial robots and other AI applications. The project marks the first concrete step under Samsung Group's KRW60 trillion (approx. US$44.7 billion) investment plan for the country's southeastern Yeongnam region.

Ecarx, an automotive technology supplier, reported a 65% year-over-year reduction in profit for the third quarter of 2026 on November 4 as rising memory-chip costs eroded margins despite higher sales.

As switch chips move toward 400G per channel, the gold-finger connectors used in current pluggable modules are approaching their high-frequency limits. The pluggable optics camp introduced two incompatible new form factors in 2026.

Macronix (MXIC) chairman Miin Wu said AI development will not stop because of political party changes after the US midterm elections, with the key question being whether massive investments will generate returns. He also said capital movements and a weaker New Taiwan dollar could reflect early positioning for uncertainty in the Taiwan Strait in 2027, potentially keeping the stock market under pressure through that year.

AMD has signed an agreement with South Korean companies FuriosaAI and MangoBoost to build a heterogeneous AI computing cluster in Seoul by spring 2027, while separately discussing potential cooperation with DEEPX on low-power AI chips for robotics and industrial applications.

Coupang announced on November 5 that it was expanding the operating space at its first warehouse and logistics center in Taoyuan, Taiwan, as the company's local business continued to develop. The expansion is intended to increase storage capacity and delivery efficiency for medium and large products, strengthening the e-commerce company's logistics infrastructure in the market.

As the PC market outlook deteriorates, Acer subsidiary Acer Gadget is expanding its lifestyle accessories business to cushion the impact of a weaker market. General manager Chung I-chun said lifestyle accessories accounted for about 20% of revenue in the first half of 2026 and rose to 30% in the third quarter, with the share set to increase further as new products launch in the fourth quarter.

India is now an important market for Apple in two ways. It is a growth market where the company set an all-time revenue record in the September quarter, even as overall smartphone shipments fell to a decade low. It is also a production base that, according to industry estimates, assembles roughly one in four iPhones.

Chicony Electronics reported unaudited consolidated revenue of NT$5.647 billion (US$172 million) for October 2026, down 9.1% month-over-month and 24% year-over-year. Persistent global PC component cost pressure, cautious purchasing by brand customers, and continued corrections in second-half PC shipments reduced demand, prompting the company to prioritize profitability, premium product shipments, and expansion beyond traditional PCs.

UK-based AI computing infrastructure startup Nscale, backed by Nvidia, is planning a US$35 billion initial public offering (IPO) in 2026. However, Microsoft, one of its major customers, has reportedly decided not to exercise an option to expand its computing capacity lease at a Texas data center.