Rachel Kim
Tech & AI Reporter

Semiconductor supply chains, AI infrastructure buildouts, and the cloud arms race. Former engineer at a fabless chip company — still reads earnings calls for fun.

Latest

Alibaba officially open-sources its Qwen3.8 series models, including the 2.4-trillion-parameter Qwen3.8-Max and the 27-billion-parameter Qwen3.8-27B.

Alibaba open-sources Qwen3.8-27B as 2.4-trillion Max weights debut

**Key Takeaways:** Alibaba's open-sourcing of its 2.4-trillion-parameter Qwen3.8-Max marks the first time a Chinese frontier-class model has shipped open weights, with a licensing model that gates commercial scale.

ASE Technology Holding projects 35 percent ATM revenue growth in 2026 driven by LEAP advanced packaging demand from AI infrastructure, raising capex to $10.5 billion.

ASE Technology LEAP demand drives 35% ATM revenue growth in 2026

**ASE Technology's leading-edge packaging business is growing faster than the broader semiconductor market as AI infrastructure spending reshapes the supply chain.**

Apollo's chief economist says the AI buildout needs $2 trillion in debt financing, but Wall Street's bond market may cover less than half through 2030.

AI buildout needs $2 trillion debt as Wall Street may cover half

**The AI infrastructure buildout may require $2 trillion in debt financing, but Wall Street's bond market can absorb less than half of that through 2030.**

Nvidia and AMD both posted blowout quarters but China export restrictions hit each company in opposite ways, with Nvidia losing $4.6 billion per quarter in H20 sales.

Nvidia's $4.6B China loss contrasts with AMD's blowout quarter

**China's export controls erased $4.6 billion per quarter from Nvidia's revenue while AMD's blowout quarter shows the two diverging sharply.**

Huawei's Qiankun autonomous driving platform expands to 25+ brands and 50+ models, forcing partners like Avatr to differentiate beyond the Huawei label.

Huawei Qiankun spans 50+ models as partners race to differentiate

**Huawei's Qiankun autonomous driving platform now spans 25+ brands and 50+ models, pushing the technology below 100,000 yuan and forcing early partners to fight for differentiation.**

SK Hynix has spent over a month scouting US locations for a front-end memory wafer fab, responding to pressure from Nvidia and AMD for localized supply.

SK Hynix scouts US fab sites after $26.5B Nasdaq listing

**Key Takeaways:** - SK Hynix spent over a month scouting US sites for a front-end memory wafer fab. - The move follows a record $26.5 billion Nasdaq ADR listing in July. - Nvidia and AMD pressure drives supply-chain localization as HBM demand surges.

Dan Ives of Yorkville Ives says AI has entered its monetization phase as hyperscaler earnings show steady revenue growth, easing investor concerns over massive capital spending.

AI enters monetization phase as AWS revenue surges 37%

**Artificial intelligence has crossed from capital spending to revenue generation, with hyperscaler earnings confirming the shift.**

Groq will deploy Nvidia systems in its data centers, converting a former AI chip rival into a customer after Nvidia's $20 billion licensing deal.

Nvidia turns Groq into customer after $20 billion deal

**Groq's decision to deploy Nvidia systems in its data centers completes a strategic arc that began with a $20 billion licensing deal.**

Nvidia's Spectrum-X Ethernet Photonics CPO switches enter full mass production, doubling bandwidth to 102.4 Tb/s with 75 percent fewer lasers.

Nvidia CPO switches enter mass production, cutting laser count 75%

**Nvidia's Spectrum-X Ethernet Photonics switches — the first volume-produced 200G/lane co-packaged optics system — are now in full mass production, doubling per-switch bandwidth to 102.4 Tb/s while cutting laser count by 75 percent.**

LG Group and NVIDIA signed a memorandum of understanding to build a humanoid robot, AI factories, and autonomous-driving platforms.

LG to launch NVIDIA-powered humanoid robot in Q1 2027

**LG and NVIDIA signed a pact to build a bipedal humanoid, an 80-megawatt AI factory, and autonomous-driving platforms.**

Financial analysis predicts Taiwan Semiconductor and Broadcom will join Alphabet in the $4 trillion market cap club by 2028 driven by sustained AI infrastructure demand.

TSMC and Broadcom Expected to Reach $4 Trillion by 2028

**TSMC and Broadcom are on track to double their valuations and join Alphabet in the $4 trillion market cap club by 2028.**

Morgan Stanley argues a swarm of 2.2 billion robots, not data centers, is SpaceX's fastest route to 1 terawatt of compute by 2040.

Morgan Stanley sees robots as SpaceX's fastest path to 1 terawatt

**Key Takeaways:** - Morgan Stanley says 2.2 billion robots at 500 watts each could deliver 1.1 terawatts of distributed compute to SpaceX by 2040. - Grok 4.6 scored 61 on the Artificial Analysis index, near the frontier high of 63, with Grok 4.7 due in three to four weeks. - CoreWeave raised compute prices about 25 percent, pointing to upside in Morgan Stanley's $31-a-watt 2026 forecast.

Nanya Plastics confirmed cumulative electronic materials price increases exceeded 100% in 2026, sending its shares to the daily limit at NT$207.5 on AI server demand.

Nanya Plastics confirms 100% electronic materials price surge

**Key Takeaways:** - Nanya Plastics confirmed cumulative electronic materials price increases exceeded 100% this year - Fiberglass cloth faces the most severe shortage, followed by copper foil - Stock locked limit-up at NT$207.5, up 9.78%, on AI server demand

China's Cambricon and Moore Threads post record H1 2026 AI chip sales but face margin pressure from rising HBM costs and heavy inventory buildup.

Cambricon, Moore Threads Sales Jump 108% as HBM Costs Bite

**China's two flagship AI chip makers delivered record first-half revenue, but rising memory costs and swelling inventories now test whether the growth is sustainable.**

Apple's first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Ultra, may launch in the US only at first as supply constraints cap 2026 output at 7 million units.

iPhone Ultra may launch US-only as Apple plans 7 million units

**Apple's first foldable iPhone could debut in the US alone this fall, with output capped at 7 million units and pricing unresolved.**

iOS 27 beta 5 battery driver files confirm all six iPhone 18 models, including the $1,999 foldable iPhone Ultra and a split launch pushing base models to spring 2027.

iOS 27 beta confirms six iPhone 18 models, foldable Ultra at $1,999

**Apple's own software has confirmed the entire iPhone 18 lineup before the company's marketing team has said a word.**

Quantinuum and Quanta Computer announced a collaborative development agreement to co-develop hardware infrastructure for large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers.

Quantinuum, Quanta Computer partner to build quantum systems after 28% jump

**Key Takeaways:** - Quantinuum and Quanta Computer agreed to co-develop manufacturing for fault-tolerant quantum systems - Partnership pairs Nasdaq-listed Quantinuum with Fortune Global 500 hardware builder Quanta - Deal follows Oracle partnership that preceded a 28.02 percent 24-hour share move

Global companies including Apple, Ford, and Volkswagen are increasingly integrating Chinese AI, EV battery, and automotive software technology despite US export controls.

Chinese tech holds 70% battery share as Apple, Ford deepen ties

**Chinese technology has shifted from market to source of innovation, with global firms building core products around Chinese AI, battery, and automotive software capabilities.**

Pony.ai and Uber announced an expanded partnership to deploy more than 2,000 robotaxis across five European cities, building on their existing commercial service in Zagreb.

Pony.ai and Uber to deploy 2,000 robotaxis across five European cities

**Pony.ai and Uber will deploy more than 2,000 robotaxis across five European cities, one of the largest autonomous ride-hailing rollouts outside China and the U.S.**

Apple CEO Tim Cook opened a Houston manufacturing facility that will produce Mac Mini desktops and assemble AI servers as part of a $600 billion US manufacturing commitment.

Apple opens Houston factory in $600B US manufacturing push

**Key Takeaways:** Apple's new Houston manufacturing hub anchors a $600 billion US production commitment as Tim Cook hands the CEO role to John Ternus on Sept. 1.

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