U.S. authorities have raised concerns that ASML's most advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment — critical for producing leading-edge chips — may have ended up in China, potentially violating export controls. ASML, the Dutch lithography monopoly, denies the allegation. The company's argument rests on commercial self-interest: risking its export licenses to serve a Chinese customer would be existentially damaging to its global business.
US President Donald Trump announced that Apple plans to partner with Intel to produce chips on American soil. The potential deal is seen as pivotal for Intel's ongoing effort to rebuild its foundry business and regain manufacturing competitiveness. For Apple, domestic chip production with Intel would reduce its deep reliance on Taiwan-based suppliers and hedge against geopolitical supply-chain risks.
Japanese national chipmaker Rapidus has signed memoranda of understanding with semiconductor research institutions in the UK and Italy, aiming to enhance its manufacturing technology and expand its customer base. The move is part of Rapidus's broader strategy to achieve mass production of 2nm chips by 2027. Japanese minister Sanae Takaichi's overseas visit reportedly helped facilitate the partnerships.
Broadcom reported Q2 AI chip revenue of $10.8 billion, up 143% year over year and a new record. The growth was driven by demand for custom chips, with the company forecasting Q3 AI revenue of $16 billion, up more than 200%. Despite the strong AI outlook and the CEO’s commitment to a pure-chip strategy, shares still fell 3% after hours.
Dow presented its DOW™ Cooling Science platform at COMPUTEX TAIPEI 2026, highlighting high-performance silicone-based solutions. The platform targets thermal management challenges in AI data centers and advanced semiconductors as computing density rises. The announcement positions materials science as part of the broader AI infrastructure ecosystem, alongside industry collaboration under the “AI Together” theme.
NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang hosted key Taiwanese supply chain partners, with senior leaders from TSMC, Foxconn, and Quanta attending the high-profile dinner. The report frames the event as a signal of Taiwan’s central role in AI hardware, from advanced chips to manufacturing and servers. Huang also said TSMC leads Huawei by 10 years, underscoring the strategic weight of semiconductor capability.