AI is already driving cars, writing papers, and coding computers. Society has now upgraded to humanoids and is on track to potentially become the norm.

China plans to build at least 39 data centers in the desert regions of Xinjiang and Qinghai, outfitted with over 115,000 Nvidia H100 and H200 GPUs. These advanced chips have been under a US export ban since 2022, prompting concerns that they are being smuggled into the country, an issue now drawing heightened scrutiny from US officials.

xMEMS, a US-based supplier specializing in monocrystalline silicon microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) air pumps, has announced plans to expand its μCooling micro air-cooled active cooling chip into the extended reality (XR) smart glasses market. The company aims to start mass production of this technology in the first quarter of 2026.

National Taiwan University has joined forces with six of Taiwan's top tech companies to launch an AI and Electrical Engineering Alliance, seeking to secure the island's competitiveness in AI and next-generation electronics amid intensifying global demand for advanced talent.

Southeast Asia's reciprocal tariff framework has prompted major IC substrate manufacturers to pause southbound investment evaluations. Meanwhile, Taiwanese and Chinese PCB producers expanding in Thailand face production challenges that are limiting order flows to suppliers including drill bit maker Topoint Technology and prepreg manufacturer Aurona Industries.

Despite a generally negative outlook for the second half of the year, Largan, a key market indicator, stressed during its earnings call that the demand momentum for new flagship smartphones remains largely unchanged compared to previous years.

The biotechnology sector is hailing a major milestone as Isomorphic Labs, a startup incubated by Google DeepMind, prepares to enter human trials with a drug candidate designed using artificial intelligence (AI). Industry experts see this breakthrough as a potential game-changer in biomedical research and development.

With AI promising to massively transform research and development in the biomedical industry, Bionet Corp. has launched its AI foundry platform for human and animal pharmaceutical research, emulating TSMC's foundry model in the semiconductor industry to reduce the time and cost of research, according to corporate group chairman Cheng-hsien Tsai.

The advent of the personal computer (PC) provided an opportunity for Taiwan's manufacturing services to further evolve.

Sun Yad Group operates across construction, biotechnology, materials, healthcare and drones in a diversified conglomerate worth NT$17 billion (US$583 million). Chairman Yu-ming Chang transformed the company from a traditional synthetic leather producer into Taiwan's multi-industry player through strategic acquisitions and vertical integration.

Under President Donald Trump's trade policies, US tariff revenue has soared, driven by sweeping duties on steel, aluminum, autos, and goods from China. A recent spike in dutiable import values and effective tax rates underscores the growing impact of protectionism on global supply chains and domestic price pressures.