CHIP

Dutch semiconductor equipment maker ASML says it is not selling its chipmaking machines in Europe, warning that the region risks falling behind the US, China and India in the semiconductor race. The remarks have drawn attention among industry watchers, who see them as a challenge to Europe's ambitions to build domestic chip manufacturing capacity and stay competitive globally.

Dutch chip equipment maker ASML said it is not selling its chipmaking machines in Europe, warning the region risks falling behind the US, China and India in semiconductors. The comments have drawn attention in business and tech circles, with debate over whether Europe can build a competitive domestic chip industry without access to the company's advanced lithography systems.

Samsung plans to more than double production of its HBM4 and HBM4E high-bandwidth memory DRAM next year, according to industry sources cited by South Korean outlet Sedaily. The expansion targets booming demand from AI chip makers, as Samsung races rivals like SK hynix to supply next-generation memory for processors from Nvidia and other customers.

Taiwan's dominance in semiconductor manufacturing, led by TSMC, is being described as a 'silicon shield' that deters Chinese aggression while making the island indispensable to the United States in the AI era. As artificial intelligence drives global demand for advanced chips, control over Taiwan's chip industry has become central to both its security and US strategic interests, intensifying debate over cross-strait tensions.

Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten is pressing Washington to avoid another round of export restrictions on ASML's China business. The appeal comes as US lawmakers pursue legislation that could tighten controls on the chip-equipment maker's immersion lithography systems and its servicing activities in China. The dispute puts the Netherlands between American security concerns and the interests of its most valuable technology company, and observers are watching whether the new US Congress moves ahead with the measures.

US semiconductor export restrictions were notably absent from the agenda when President Donald Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping at their summit. Analysts say both leaders prioritised broader trade and geopolitical issues, leaving the tough technology controls largely untouched. Commentators are debating whether the omission signals a softening of Washington's chip policy toward Beijing or merely a temporary deferral of a festering dispute.

Reporting from Taipei frames Taiwan as the potential deciding factor in the escalating technology rivalry between the United States and China. Taiwan's tech industry produces more than 90 percent of the world's most advanced semiconductors, the chips that power AI servers, giving the island outsized strategic importance as both superpowers compete for dominance in artificial intelligence.

US export controls on semiconductors did not feature as a key topic when Donald Trump and Xi Jinping met at their summit, according to the South China Morning Post. The omission is notable given that technology restrictions have been one of the most contentious issues in US-China relations, with Washington limiting Chinese access to advanced chips and Beijing pressing for relief. Observers are weighing what the quiet treatment signals about future trade and tech negotiations.

An ASML executive says the Dutch chipmaking equipment giant currently sells no machines within Europe, despite being the world's leading supplier of lithography systems used to make advanced chips. The remark highlights how little semiconductor manufacturing takes place on the continent, with most customers concentrated in Asia and the United States.

AT&S, the Austrian substrate manufacturer, is featured in a new report on the growing competition to produce advanced IC substrates, the critical layer that connects AI chips to circuit boards. The technology is becoming a bottleneck as demand for AI accelerators surges, and companies and governments are racing to expand capacity and secure supply of these components.

The Trump administration is moving to repurpose unallocated CHIPS Act funds, favoring tariff pressure over direct subsidies to force chipmakers to build in the United States. TSMC retained its $6.6 billion award, but tariff threats have led it to raise its planned US investment from $65 billion to more than $165 billion. Critics note tariffs build manufacturing capacity far more slowly than subsidies and shift reshoring costs onto private capital.

Data centers, power plants and chip facilities for artificial intelligence are being built across the United States at a pace that could surpass any previous infrastructure boom in the country's history. Analysts point to massive capital commitments from tech companies racing to secure computing power, raising questions about electricity demand, grid strain and whether the investment will pay off.

The United States and China have struck a trade agreement reportedly worth $30 billion, covering American purchases of Chinese chips and toys alongside tariff adjustments. The deal also establishes an AI safety hotline between the two governments, a step aimed at reducing risks around advanced artificial intelligence. The accord signals a partial easing of tensions in the ongoing trade conflict between Washington and Beijing.

SK hynix is considering producing memory chips in the United States, according to the Korea Herald. The South Korean chipmaker, a leading supplier of HBM and DRAM to companies like Nvidia, has so far concentrated manufacturing in Korea and China. A US move would align with Washington's push to bring advanced semiconductor production onshore through incentives and tariffs, though the company has reportedly not made a final decision.

Micron Technology's plan to invest roughly $100 billion in a chip factory complex near Syracuse, New York is drawing renewed attention, with coverage focusing on just how large the memory-making project will be. The bet is being framed as one of the biggest US semiconductor investments, with discussion centered on its scale, jobs, and impact on the region.

ASML, the Dutch maker of chipmaking equipment, says it sold 'absolutely nothing' in Europe in 2026 and is calling on the EU to help create demand for semiconductor manufacturing. The remark highlights how little chip production capacity Europe has despite its ambitions, with virtually all of ASML's sales going to Asia and the United States. Commenters are weighing what this says about Europe's competitiveness in advanced chipmaking.

Wall Street analysts are divided over whether AMD or Broadcom will come out ahead in the next phase of the AI chip market. The debate centers on how each company is positioned to capture growth as demand for artificial intelligence hardware broadens beyond the current generation of accelerators, with investors weighing their differing strategies and customer bases.

Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang has dismissed predictions that artificial intelligence could destroy humanity within the decade, saying there is a '0% chance' of such an outcome by 2030. His comments push back against warnings from AI safety advocates, including Anthropic, who have cautioned about catastrophic risks from increasingly powerful systems. The remarks are drawing attention given Nvidia's central role in supplying the chips powering the AI boom.

Major technology companies are increasingly using guarantees to support debt raised for AI data centres and chips, issuing up to $300 billion in commitments within a year. Analysts note that much of this exposure is not recorded on their balance sheets, raising questions about transparency and hidden financial risk as AI infrastructure spending accelerates.

Huawei's Ascend chips have reportedly overtaken Nvidia in China's artificial intelligence chip market. The development reflects the impact of US export restrictions that have limited Nvidia's access to Chinese customers, allowing domestic alternatives like Huawei's Ascend processors to gain ground among Chinese companies building AI infrastructure. It marks a significant shift in the competitive balance of the AI hardware market.

Morningstar argues that the popular claim that artificial intelligence spending is driving inflation deserves a more nuanced look. The piece pushes back on the simple narrative that data center buildouts and AI investment are broadly pushing up consumer prices, suggesting the picture is more complicated than headlines suggest. It comes amid ongoing debate over how much AI infrastructure spending is affecting energy demand, chip costs and the wider economy.

A Brookings Institution researcher argues that the current AI buildout will amount to the largest infrastructure investment bet in United States history, surpassing previous eras of massive spending on railroads, highways, and telecommunications. The claim underscores the enormous scale of capital flowing into data centers, chips, and energy capacity to support artificial intelligence development.

ASML, the Dutch chipmaking equipment giant, says it sold 'absolutely nothing' in Europe and is calling on the European Union to help create demand for its technology. The comments highlight how Europe, despite hosting one of the semiconductor industry's most critical suppliers, has little domestic chip manufacturing capacity to buy its machines, with production concentrated in Asia and the United States.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said India must be self-reliant in defence, 'from chips to ships', speaking at an NDTV summit. He argued the country should reduce dependence on foreign suppliers by building domestic capacity in semiconductors, shipbuilding and other critical defence technologies as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat push.

India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the country must become self-reliant in defence, from semiconductors to warships, in an interview with NDTV. He argued that India cannot depend on foreign suppliers for critical military technology and needs domestic capability across the board. The remarks underline New Delhi's ongoing push to build its own defence manufacturing base.

New data from South Korea shows that nearly four out of ten reported leaks of industrial technology involve semiconductor-related know-how. The figures underline growing concern in Seoul over the theft of critical chip technology, a sector central to the country's economy and to intensifying global competition over semiconductor supply chains.