SpaceX's acquisition of xAI has been presented as a response to the growing power and cooling demands of artificial intelligence. At the same time, the transaction reshapes Elon Musk's group of companies by combining launch services, satellite networks, data platforms, and AI development, with potential implications for how investors evaluate SpaceX's long-term prospects.

D-Wave has begun 2026 with a series of strategic initiatives to further solidify its position in the race to commercialize quantum computing. The company, which has long focused on quantum annealing technology for optimization problems, recently completed its acquisition of Quantum Circuits Inc. (QCI), a leading developer of gate-model quantum computing systems. This acquisition marks a significant shift as D-Wave expands beyond its core technological pathway to compete more directly with IBM and Google in the broader quantum computing arena.

Oracle announced plans to raise US$45-50 billion in 2026 to expand its cloud infrastructure, aiming to meet demand from major customers including OpenAI, AMD, Meta, Nvidia, TikTok, and xAI. However, investment banks warn of rising financing pressures, with reports indicating Oracle is evaluating workforce reductions and the sale of its healthcare technology unit, Cerner, to ease financial strain.

China's large language model sector is reaching a decisive inflection point. As requirements for computing resources, capital, and specialized talent continue to climb, the industry is moving from dozens of competing models toward consolidation dominated by three major players.

AI data centers are undergoing an unprecedented thermodynamic power shift. From the semiconductor supply chain's perspective, Nvidia has quietly initiated a "cooling reform," transitioning from traditional separated cooling architectures toward highly integrated, actively managed motherboard designs.

TSMC leads the global semiconductor race with advanced processes and a market value of NT$46.5 trillion (US$1.47 trillion), placing itself at the core of what is commonly described as Taiwan's "silicon shield." Inspired by this success, Taiwan's top talent is now turning to the medical field, aiming to replicate TSMC's path by developing a biotech- and healthcare-centered "shield" that could become another national pillar.

Jensen Huang, the CEO of the world's most valuable chipmaker, departed Taiwan for Houston tonight on Monday with a clear message for the tech world: The AI race is accelerating, and NVIDIA intends to keep its lead by "running as fast as we can".

Microsoft reported better-than-expected revenue and profit for its fiscal second quarter 2026, but concerns linger over slowing cloud growth. Despite expanding capital expenditure (capex), Azure's core business showed a decline in growth, raising questions about Microsoft's competitive edge in the AI race.

Human information intake relies heavily on vision. With the accelerated development of AI, augmented reality (AR), and spatial computing technologies, smart glasses are evolving beyond wearable gadgets to become a core interface for the next generation of human-machine interaction. These interactions can naturally integrate information, AI assistant functions, sensing, and interaction into the user's field of view, eliminating reliance on handheld devices or touch controls.

AR glasses are no longer newcomers to the tech industry, but their development remains constrained by high costs. On January 30, 2026, Kinko Optical held the opening ceremony for its AR/VR/MR R&D center at the Tai Yuen Hi-Tech Industrial Park in Zhubei City. Chairman Ching-Chi Chen stated that the center's equipment investment totals roughly NT$400–500 million (US$12.7–15.8 million), with an initial NT$300 million focusing on AR waveguide and optical engine technologies. The company secured R&D projects with US clients in 2025 and plans to start mass production in 2027, then shifting** large-scale manufacturing to its Taichung facility.

ByteDance has formally laid out its internal strategic focus for the next phase. At an internal meeting at the start of 2026, ByteDance CEO Liang Rubo stated that AI is hitting a new peak. The most critical short-term objective is the AI assistant ecosystem centered on Doubao and its overseas version, Dola.