Taiwan’s economy rode the AI wave to a massive export record in 2025. The island shipped $640.75 billion in goods, with sales to the U.S. skyrocketing over 125%. The momentum is expected to continue, but risks loom.
Samsung Electronics is warning customers to brace for a major memory chip shortage in 2026. The company says the shift to producing high-bandwidth memory for AI is gutting supply for traditional DRAM, which will drive up costs across the tech industry.
In a major shift, Qualcomm is discussing using Samsung’s 2nm process for its upcoming high-end chip. This move could reshape the semiconductor foundry battle, especially against TSMC.
Intel has officially launched its Core Ultra Series 300 mobile processors, codenamed Panther Lake. Built on the Intel 18A process, they promise major performance leaps and are Intel’s first AI PC platform on this advanced node. Systems go on sale in January 2026.
ByteDance is planning a huge $14 billion investment in Nvidia’s AI chips for 2026. Meanwhile, industry observers are skeptical about Meta’s AI strategy, noting its history of acquiring and shutting down promising tech.
Intel’s year was defined by seismic shifts. A new CEO took charge, Nvidia invested billions, and the U.S. government bought a stake, all while the company sold off a major division at a loss. The chip giant is trying anything to turn things around.
According to a Reuters poll, South Korea’s exports likely grew for the seventh straight month in December. The 9% rise is powered almost entirely by booming semiconductor demand linked to AI. However, the rest of the export picture looks pretty weak.
Taiwan was hit by a powerful 7.0 magnitude earthquake, triggering evacuations at TSMC’s key fabs. The chipmaker recovered rapidly, with no structural damage reported and most equipment operational again within ten hours.
A startup from Waseda University is developing diamond-based power semiconductors. They’ve shown a working packaged device and are partnering with Japan’s space agency for testing.
Nvidia is targeting mid-February to start shipping its H200 AI chips to China, according to a CNBC report. However, the entire plan hinges on approval from the Chinese government, which is still reviewing the matter and considering conditions like bundling domestic chips.
