Mastodawn

Japan’s industry ministry is set to nearly quadruple its budgeted support for cutting-edge semiconductors and AI development to about ¥1.23 trillion for the next fiscal year. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/12/26/economy/ai-budget-support/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #economy #ai #japaneseeconomy #chipmakers #meti #cabinet #us #china #sanaetakaichi #tech #budgets

Japan to quadruple spending support for chips and AI in budget

The jump in chips and AI spending comes at as Japan is trying to strengthen its capacities in frontier technology, and the U.S. and China race ahead.

The Japan Times

The Japan Times 1d ago

While the local economy has been boosted by the full-scale launch of operations at TSMC's first Japan plant a year ago, residents remain concerned about its impact on groundwater. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/12/26/companies/tsmc-kumamoto-plant-groundwater-concerns/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #companies #tsmc #taiwan #kumamoto #water #chipmakers #manufacturing

TSMC Kumamoto plant leaves concerns over water impact

About 75% of up to 30,000 metric tons of water used at the plant per day is recycled water, according to the company.

The Japan Times

The Japan Times 2d ago

The U.S. has accused China of engaging in unfair trade practices in the semiconductor sector, but is holding off on imposing additional tariffs on chip imports until at least mid-2027. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/12/24/tech/us-hold-off-china-chip-tariffs/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #tech #uschinarelations #us #china #tech #chipmakers #tariffs #trade

U.S. holds off on new Chinese chip tariffs amid Trump-Xi truce

The U.S. government has floated the possibility of future ones.

The Japan Times

The Japan Times 5d ago

Chinese chipmakers are rushing to the IPO market, raising funds that are key to the nation’s goal of technological self-reliance and winning the global race on artificial intelligence. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/12/22/tech/china-chipmakers-ipo-rush/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #tech #china #chipmakers #ipo #ai

Chinese chipmakers race to IPO market after back-to-back listings surge

The surge in listings is coming on the back of two blockbuster trading debuts in Shanghai.

The Japan Times

Hacker News Dec 18

How China built its ‘Manhattan Project’ to rival the West in AI chips
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/12/18/tech/china-west-ai-chips/
#ycombinator #China #chipmakers #Huawei #ASML #U_S #U_S_CHINA_RELATIONS

How China built its ‘Manhattan Project’ to rival the West in AI chips

Ex-engineers from ASML reverse-engineered its extreme ultraviolet lithography machines and built a prototype using parts from older ASML machines on the secondary market.

The Japan Times

The Japan Times Dec 18

Rapidus is betting on artificial intelligence-enhanced design tools to give it an edge over its competitors. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/12/18/tech/rapidus-ai-design-tools/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #tech #rapidus #chipmakers #tech #ai #investments

Rapidus announces new artificial intelligence design tools

The chipmaker, which already uses artificial intelligence in certain aspects of its business, expects its integration to enable it to cut design time and cost.

The Japan Times

The Japan Times Dec 18

A team of former engineers from Dutch semiconductor giant ASML have reverse-engineered its extreme ultraviolet lithography machines and built a prototype for China using parts from older ASML machines. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/12/18/tech/china-west-ai-chips/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #tech #china #ai #chipmakers #huawei #asml #us

How China built its ‘Manhattan Project’ to rival the West in AI chips

Ex-engineers from ASML reverse-engineered its extreme ultraviolet lithography machines and built a prototype using parts from older ASML machines on the secondary market.

The Japan Times

The Japan Times Dec 18

Honda Motor will halt production at plants in Japan and China in coming weeks, highlighting the lingering fallout of the global chip shortage. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/12/18/companies/honda-halt-china-chip-shortage/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #companies #honda #china #carmakers #chipmakers #nexperia

Honda to halt production at plants in Japan and China due to chip shortage

The Japanese carmaker has been hit hard after China blocked Nexperia — owned by Chinese company Wingtech Technology — from exporting products made at its local plants.

The Japan Times

The Japan Times Dec 17

Semiconductor materials linchpin Resonac Holdings is eyeing solid growth from Beijing’s ambition to build its own chip industry, leaving the door open for further investment in China in the years ahead. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/12/17/companies/resonac-china-chip-industry/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #companies #resonac #chipmakers #china

The Japan Times Dec 16

Three years after ChatGPT made OpenAI the leader in artificial intelligence and a household name, rivals have closed the gap and some investors are wondering if the sensation has the wherewithal to stay dominant. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/12/16/tech/open-ai-future/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #tech #openai #microsoft #google #samaltman #chatgpt #ai #computers #tech #chipmakers

Despite soaring valuation, uncertainty clouds the outlook for OpenAI

'Big Short' investor Michael Burry has likened OpenAI to Netscape, which ruled the browser market in the 1990s only to lose to Microsoft's Internet Explorer.

The Japan Times