Elon Musk is moving ahead with Terafab, as Tesla and SpaceX reportedly negotiate with about 10 South Korean semiconductor materials, components, and equipment suppliers. The discussions cover process materials, piping and valves, wastewater recycling equipment, and semiconductor testing components, raising questions about whether Taiwan's semiconductor supply chain will benefit from the massive expansion.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will finalize a five-year plan by the end of 2026 outlining an investment blueprint for 17 strategic sectors. The plan will prioritize semiconductors and gaming for near-term investment, while physical AI and hydrogen are positioned as the next growth drivers.
BOS Semiconductors is partnering with LG Electronics and HANA Micron to develop and commercialize chiplet-based automotive semiconductors in South Korea, connecting domestic AI chip design with packaging and vehicle testing. ChosunBiz and ZDNet Korea reported the collaboration on October 20.
Intel is accelerating work on its long-delayed US semiconductor manufacturing projects, with equipment installation underway at its Fab 62 facility in Arizona and construction progressing at its Ohio site. The developments come as stronger demand for AI data center processors supports the chipmaker's efforts to expand capacity and strengthen its foundry business.
PCB makers are expanding sustainability efforts as artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) drive demand for higher-performance boards. Still, the industry faces obstacles in securing affordable renewable power, validating low-carbon materials, and measuring emissions across its supply chain. Industry output is expected to exceed NT$1.13 trillion (US$34.63 billion) in 2026, putting pressure on the industry to balance growth with its sustainability goals.
Lam Research is grooming Indian companies to become its suppliers rather than relying only on its global vendor base, a senior executive said, as the US chip equipment maker deepens its presence in a market where the government now ties incentives to local sourcing.
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has announced a new investment by industrial minerals company Sibelco to expand semiconductor-related manufacturing in North Carolina, as the Trump administration pushes to bring more of the chip supply chain onto US soil.
Rapid growth in AI-driven demand is placing new pressure on the printed circuit board (PCB) supply chain, with equipment constraints, shorter product development cycles and overlapping capacity commitments emerging as key challenges, according to Unimicron executive president Timothy Lan.
Nvidia's lead over Huawei in China's AI accelerator market has narrowed by 80% in a year, bringing CEO Jensen Huang's warnings about losing the country's US$50 billion AI chip market closer to reality. According to IDC, Huawei shipped 572,000 Ascend chips in the first half of 2026, securing a 28% market share, just 6pp behind Nvidia, compared with a 31pp gap a year earlier.
Nvidia is positioning the expansion of artificial intelligence as an infrastructure and industrial shift, not simply a software trend. At GTC Berlin, CEO Jensen Huang described an economy spanning energy, computing, AI factories, models, and applications, while urging Europe and telecom operators to build capacity to produce, host, and deploy autonomous AI systems.
Nvidia said on October 21 that it is working with six supply chain partners to expand manufacturing capacity for substrates, advanced packaging, testing, and optical engines to meet growing demand for its accelerated computing and AI factory platforms.
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