Marvell reported strong fiscal third-quarter results with a 6.87% revenue increase, driven by record data center revenue, primarily from custom AI silicon. The company forecasts continued growth in the fourth quarter, with revenue expected to increase by 19% quarterly and 26% year-over-year. Analysts predict that AI sales will exceed expectations, potentially reaching US$1.6 billion.
The US Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) released a new regulation on December 2, adding 140 Chinese companies to the Entity List. This regulation targets 24 types of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, three categories of electronic design automation (EDA) tools, and high bandwidth memory (HBM).
China has expressed strong dissatisfaction in response to the new round of sanctions from the US. China's Ministry of Commerce issued a statement stating that the new measures further strengthen export controls on semiconductor manufacturing equipment and memory chips, adding 136 Chinese entities to the Entity List and expanding jurisdictional reach to obstruct trade between China and third countries, characterizing it as typical economic coercion and non-market practices.
Megvii Technology, one of China's original "AI Elite Four" which specializes in computer vision and deep learning, announced its application for an initial public offering (IPO) on the Shanghai Stock Exchange Science and Technology Innovation Board (STAR) has been withdrawn.
The potential of AI in advancing smart manufacturing has been widely recognized, but deaths and injuries involving robots at factories have called attention to functional safety, of which semiconductor chips play a crucial part, according to industry sources.
Arm CEO Rene Haas has openly expressed his aspirations for AI, envisioning that all future AI applications will run on Arm technology in some form. This strategic shift suggests that Arm, known as the king of mobile chips, is following its Windows on Arm success by pushing toward "AI on Arm."
The abrupt retirement of Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger has sent shockwaves through the industry, raising questions about a potential spin-off of Intel Foundry. DIGITIMES Research indicates that even if such a spin-off materializes, Intel would need to maintain majority control of the foundry business to comply with US subsidy requirements.
Intel's announcement of CEO Pat Gelsinger's unexpected retirement following the Thanksgiving holiday has sent shockwaves through the semiconductor industry. The departure of Gelsinger, who implemented the transformative IDM 2.0 strategy after taking the helm four years ago, has sparked intense speculation about the underlying reasons.
Intel's CEO Pat Gelsinger has announced his retirement, effective December 1, amid the company's struggles with design and manufacturing separation and ongoing financial losses. In the interim, CFO David Zinsner and EVP of the Client Computing Group Michelle Johnston Holthaus will jointly serve as acting co-CEOs while the board seeks a permanent successor.
The development of AI robots spans multiple sectors, from smart factories to smart homes and specialized applications. However, for semiconductor giants like Nvidia and Qualcomm, penetrating the industrial sector presents challenges reminiscent of the autonomous vehicle market.
Egis Technology's subsidiary iCatch Technology has announced its strategic transformation, with Chairman S.C. Lo highlighting the company's solid foundation in image signal processor (ISP) technology. The firm is pivoting from consumer electronics to automotive applications while expanding its design services business in alignment with Egis Technology's vision for future growth.
According to Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs, MediaTek subsidiary Airoha has secured NT$140 million (US$4.3 million) in R&D subsidies through the ministry's A+ Industrial Innovative R&D Program. The funding will support the development of a high-efficiency wireless audio mixed computing platform.
Both Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang consider humanoid robots to be the ultimate chapter in AI development. According to a Goldman Sachs research forecast for the first half of 2024, humanoid robot shipments are expected to exceed 250,000 units by 2030, with nearly all deployments in industrial sectors.
Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger has retired from the company following a distinguished 40-plus-year career and has resigned from the board of directors, effective December 1, 2024.
South Korean AI chip startup DeepX is in the final stages of preparation for its first mass-produced chips. Through Samsung Electronics' foundry division, the company has achieved an 88% yield rate using advanced 5nm process technology, with expectations to surpass 90% in mass production—a promising indicator for this cutting-edge AI hardware initiative.
Amid mounting pressures on talent and resources, Taiwan is looking to widen its horizons abroad, exploring the possibility of establishing science parks beyond its borders as part of its strategy to sustain industrial growth.
Qualcomm is unlikely to pursue any transactions with Intel, a decision that aligns with industry expectations. Sources close to the semiconductor supply chain suggest Qualcomm never seriously considered the move, doubting the potential for mutual benefit.
As inventory stockpiling of midrange and entry-level smartphone panels increases, the demand outlook for LCD TDDI chips shows promise, according to industry sources.
Amid global economic uncertainty and shifting geopolitics, multinational corporations face tough strategic decisions. STMicroelectronics has made a striking move, announcing plans to collaborate with Hua Hong Semiconductor, China's second-largest foundry, to produce 40nm microcontroller units (MCUs) locally by 2025. Hua Hong confirmed the partnership, as reported by China Electronics News.
Micron has intensified its recruitment efforts in South Korea, targeting university campuses with "on-the-spot hiring" initiatives. Previously focused on hiring experienced engineers from companies like Samsung Electronics, the company is now pivoting to fresh graduates amid a growing global talent shortage.
India's Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) has launched the ChipIN Centre as a central hub for semiconductor design, providing comprehensive tools and resources to support the country's chip design community.
US President-elect Donald Trump's latest announcement of a 10% tariff on Chinese imports has created waves in international markets. While the relationship between this new tariff and his previous statements about imposing a 60% tariff on all Chinese goods remains unclear, analysts view this move as an opening gambit, marking the administration's first concrete trade action since his election victory.
When the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) announced the Qi2 wireless charging standard in 2023, attention was on its integration progress into smartphones. Supply chain members, however, believe the real growth lies in its application to wearables like earphones. Unlike the saturated smartphone market, the wearables segment shows significant momentum for expansion, which would boost demand for related chips.
