Semiconductor News 20260112

Main News

1. U.S. President-Elect Trump Strengthens Ties with Nvidia CEO Fan, Shifts Strategy on China and Energy
   U.S. President-elect Trump is reportedly changing his strategy on China and energy policy with Nvidia CEO Jensen Fan as his new “partner.” In order to maintain AI hegemony, he aims to keep pace with industry by expanding power supply and deregulation. Nvidia is aiming to keep pace with industry by expanding power supply and deregulation in order to maintain its AI hegemony. CEO Fan also stated at CES that “memory supply is secured, but AI demand requires more factories,” and infrastructure investment and semiconductor support are expected to accelerate under the next administration.
2. China’s Iluvatar CoreX to Announce GPU Roadmap to Compete with Nvidia’s “H200”
   Chinese GPU manufacturer Iluvatar CoreX (天数智芯) is reportedly planning to announce a new product roadmap for the period 2026-2028. It includes the development of high-performance AI chips targeting Nvidia’s H200 and B200, which are subject to U.S. restrictions, and highlights the fact that Chinese companies have not given up and are steadily developing alternatives and building ecosystems with their own technologies amid ongoing U.S. export restrictions.
3. Honda Meditates on Departing from Dependence on China for Semiconductor Procurement, Achieving Diversification
   Honda has reportedly meditated on a system to diversify its semiconductor procurement sources and reduce its dependence on Chinese suppliers. This move is based on the lessons learned from the rising geopolitical risks and past supply chain disruptions. In the automotive industry, semiconductors are becoming increasingly important as “smartphones that run,” and Japanese manufacturers are beginning to see concrete results from their efforts to restructure their supply chains to avoid the risk of dependence on specific countries and to ensure a stable production system.
4. South Korea’s GDP per capita falls below Taiwan’s for the first time in 22 years
   South Korea’s GDP per capita has fallen below Taiwan’s for the first time in 22 years, and the gap is expected to widen further.Taiwan, with its TSMC, is reaping the full benefits of the AI and semiconductor boom, while South Korea is experiencing a slump, including Samsung Electronics and The South Korean industry has been hit hard by the sluggish performance of Samsung Electronics and other companies, as well as by challenges to its industrial structure. The reality is that the competitiveness of the semiconductor industry directly affects the economic strength of a nation, and there are growing calls within South Korea for a rethinking of its economic growth strategy.
5. Japan’s “Rapidus” Time to Win, Chairman Tetsuro Higashi “Last Chance”
   Regarding Japan’s Rapidus, Chairman Tetsuro Higashi recognized that it is “the last chance for Japan’s semiconductor revival. While Mr. Gokami, former president of the University of Tokyo, expressed his frustration with the current situation, he also expressed his hope that Japan will overcome the hurdles to mass production by 2027. The future of Japan’s industry as a whole is at a critical juncture.
6. Nvidia Gaming GPU, modified to “Blower Fan” for AI and distributed
   Nvidia’s next generation gaming GPU “Blackwell” series (RTX 5090, etc.) has been modified to “Blower Fan” type suitable for use in AI data centers, reportedly distributed in China, etc. It was reported. This is an example of how the thirst for AI computing resources is distorting even the market supply of consumer products.
7. Physical AI” is the theme of 2026, with robotics companies in the spotlight.
   Physical AI, which moves out of the digital space and into the real world, is emerging as a theme for the stock market and industry in 2026. The evolution of AI has begun to strongly support the growth of the robotics industry, which has not only brains (software) but also bodies (hardware).
8. From “Talking AI” to “Working AI,” Agent-type AI Becomes Mainstream
   It has been reported that the trend in AI is shifting from chatbots that merely interact to “working AI (agent-type)” that completes complex tasks on behalf of users. With the emergence of AI that can make decisions and act autonomously, corporate productivity reforms are entering a new phase. The South Korean government has also indicated a policy of increasing AI competitiveness through public-private partnerships, and the speed of implementation of AI directly related to practical operations will determine the competitive advantage of companies and nations in the future.
9. India’s Semiconductor Design Ecosystem Growing Rapidly
   It has been reported that the local semiconductor design (chip design) ecosystem is rapidly developing and beginning to show initial results, backed by the Indian government’s incentive policies. While the focus has been on attracting manufacturing (back-end process) companies, India is also increasing its presence in the higher value-added design field. Armed with an abundance of IT talent, India is becoming more than just a market, but an important player in the global semiconductor value chain.
10. U.S. Department of Commerce Lifts Crackdown on DJI and Other Chinese Drones
    The U.S. Department of Commerce has reportedly lifted its planned strict controls on Chinese drones, including DJI. Although there had been a move to eliminate them due to security concerns, it is possible that a political decision was made due to the impact on industry and conflicts with the incoming Trump administration. Even as the decoupling between the U.S. and China progresses, a complex game of regulation and deregulation continues to be played in some sectors.

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