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.
Samsung’s Device Solutions division is rewarding employees with a bonus equal to their full annual salary. The massive payout is driven by a surge in DRAM prices and supplying HBM3E memory to NVIDIA, marking a dramatic recovery for the chip unit.
Samsung’s upcoming Exynos 2600 chip boasts huge performance gains but pairs with an external modem. This design choice could negate its efficiency advantages from a new 2nm manufacturing process. The chip is slated for the Galaxy S26 and Z Flip 8.
Samsung has hired John Rayfield, a former VP at both AMD and Intel, to lead GPU development for its Exynos chips. This is a major talent grab aimed at fixing the performance issues that have plagued Samsung’s in-house processors for years.
