Taiwan Tech Focused Senior Analyst

Patrick Liao

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nvidia-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5891:1" rel="noopener">NVIDIA Corp (NVDA US)</a> surprised the market with its announcement of a $5 billion investment in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/intel-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16764:1" rel="noopener">Intel Corp (INTC US)</a>.</li>
<li>The market seems to read this as the beginning of a deeper Intel–NVIDIA partnership in AI chips.</li>
<li>We also note that Japan’s push to establish its own foundry industry through Rapidus deserves continued attention, as it could reshape the competitive map in the years ahead.</li>
</ul>



NVIDIA Corp (NVDA US) surprised the market with its announcement of a $5 billion investment in Intel Corp (INTC US).
The market seems to read this as the beginning of a deeper Intel–NVIDIA partnership in AI chips.
We also note that Japan’s push to establish its own foundry industry through Rapidus deserves continued attention, as it could reshape the competitive map in the years ahead.


Intel (INTC.US): NVIDIA’s $5B Intel Stake — A Shift in Tech’s Competitive Landscape?

Asian Hedge Fund Manager, Long Short Equity, Macro

David Mudd

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>DeepSeek has permanently changed the future of AI.  With its R1 model the company democratized AI much the same as Google did for search more than 20 years ago.</li>
<li>China's platform companies like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group-holding-ltd-d7b798e2-202d-4e01-9a1e-799e2ae8f0c7" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28434:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group Holding (9988 HK)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent (700 HK)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/baidu-inc-a55ca720-5968-48f0-8194-ac94390d065c" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:32212:1" rel="noopener">Baidu (9888 HK)</a> , and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kuaishou-technology" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29725:1" rel="noopener">Kuaishou Technology (1024 HK)</a> have released their own AI models.</li>
<li>As China's AI industry is benefiting from DeepSeek's cost-effective innovations, the US hyperscalers are being questioned on their ability to justify their enormous AI investments, historical and projected investments.</li>
</ul>


DeepSeek has permanently changed the future of AI.  With its R1 model the company democratized AI much the same as Google did for search more than 20 years ago.
China's platform companies like Alibaba Group Holding (9988 HK) , Tencent (700 HK) , Baidu (9888 HK) , and Kuaishou Technology (1024 HK) have released their own AI models.
As China's AI industry is benefiting from DeepSeek's cost-effective innovations, the US hyperscalers are being questioned on their ability to justify their enormous AI investments, historical and projected investments.


DeepSeek Reveals AI's Trillion Dollar Folly: Winners and Losers

Podcast On the Business of Semiconductors, The Circuit

The Circuit

Podcast On the Business of Semiconductors

A Podcast On the Business of Semiconductors. With Jay Goldberg and Ben Bajarin

<ul><li>Apple launched new AirPods, new watch, and new iPhone lineup with expected upgrades</li><li>New neural cores in the GPU for AI workloads and vapor chamber in the Pro for higher sustained throughput</li><li>Apple's fundamental architecture change to bring neural accelerators to the GPU for on-device processing, hinting at future developments in chip design and performance.</li></ul><p><em>This content is sourced through publicly available sources and has been machine generated. Information displayed is for general informational purposes only.</em></p>

Apple launched new AirPods, new watch, and new iPhone lineup with expected upgradesNew neural cores in the GPU for AI workloads and vapor chamber in the Pro for higher sustained throughputApple's fundamental architecture change to bring neural accelerators to the GPU for on-device processing, hinting at future developments in chip design and performance.This content is sourced through publicly available sources and has been machine generated. Information displayed is for general informational purposes only.

EP 134: Apple iPhones and Tensor Cores, Synopsis Earnings, Hock's Comments at Goldman

<ul>
<li>Why does <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/intel-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16764:1" rel="noopener">Intel Corp (INTC US)</a>’s current CFO state “Intel will use TSMC basically forever”? </li>
<li>From <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taiwan-semiconductor-sp-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8587:1" rel="noopener">Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) - ADR (TSM US)</a>’s perspective, they have always maintained a “no competition with customers” principle.  </li>
<li>Another question remains: who will adopt Intel’s 14A technology in 2027-28?  </li>
</ul>


Why does Intel Corp (INTC US)’s current CFO state “Intel will use TSMC basically forever”? 
From Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) - ADR (TSM US)’s perspective, they have always maintained a “no competition with customers” principle.  
Another question remains: who will adopt Intel’s 14A technology in 2027-28?  


Intel (INTC.US): Who Will Adopt Intel’s 14A Technology?

United Microelectron Sp Adr / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/united-microelectron-sp-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11540:1" rel="noopener">United Microelectron Sp Adr (UMC US)</a> – 2025 Full-Year and 4Q Outlook.   </li>
<li>The impact of U.S. recent restrictions on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/united-microelectron-sp-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11540:1" rel="noopener">United Microelectron Sp Adr (UMC US)</a> appears negligible.</li>
<li>Customer demand trends are diverging in 2H25, and overall demand is expected to soften in 4Q25.</li>
</ul>



United Microelectron Sp Adr (UMC US) – 2025 Full-Year and 4Q Outlook.   
The impact of U.S. recent restrictions on United Microelectron Sp Adr (UMC US) appears negligible.
Customer demand trends are diverging in 2H25, and overall demand is expected to soften in 4Q25.


UMC (2303.TT; UMC.US): 4Q25 Revenue Is Projected to Decline 5–10% QoQ.

United States

Apple Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets smartphones, personal computers, tablets, wearables and accessories, and sells a variety of related accessories. The Company also offers payment, digital content, cloud and advertising services. Apple Inc.'s customers are primarily in consumer, small & mid-sized business, education, enterprise and government markets worldwide.

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Apple (AAPL US)

Intel (INTC.US): NVIDIA’s $5B Intel Stake — A Shift in Tech’s Competitive Landscape?

NVIDIA surprises market with $5 billion investment in Intel, sparking speculation of deeper partnership in AI chips. Japan's Rapidus initiative...

Patrick Liao

DeepSeek Reveals AI's Trillion Dollar Folly: Winners and Losers

China's large tech firms made announcements about their AI chip advancements igniting a market rally. This shows China's efforts to develop...

David Mudd

EP 134: Apple iPhones and Tensor Cores, Synopsis Earnings, Hock's Comments at Goldman

Apple's recent product launches feature new AirPods, a watch, and an iPhone lineup with advanced features, including neural cores added to the GPU...

The Circuit

Intel (INTC.US): Who Will Adopt Intel’s 14A Technology?

Intel's CFO plans to use TSMC long-term, as TSMC avoids competition with customers. The future adoption of Intel's 14A technology is uncertain.

Patrick Liao

UMC (2303.TT; UMC.US): 4Q25 Revenue Is Projected to Decline 5–10% QoQ.

United Microelectron Sp Adr (UMC US) outlook for 2025 remains steady despite U.S. restrictions, with softening demand expected in 4Q25.

Patrick Liao

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52-week Range

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Intel (INTC.US): NVIDIA’s $5B Intel Stake — A Shift in Tech’s Competitive Landscape?

​NVIDIA surprises market with $5 billion investment in Intel, sparking speculation of deeper partnership in AI chips. Japan's Rapidus initiative...

Patrick Liao

DeepSeek Reveals AI's Trillion Dollar Folly: Winners and Losers

China's large tech firms made announcements about their AI chip advancements igniting a market rally. This shows China's efforts to develop...

David Mudd

EP 134: Apple iPhones and Tensor Cores, Synopsis Earnings, Hock's Comments at Goldman

Apple's recent product launches feature new AirPods, a watch, and an iPhone lineup with advanced features, including neural cores added to the GPU...

The Circuit

Intel (INTC.US): Who Will Adopt Intel’s 14A Technology?

​Intel's CFO plans to use TSMC long-term, as TSMC avoids competition with customers. The future adoption of Intel's 14A technology is uncertain.

Patrick Liao

UMC (2303.TT; UMC.US): 4Q25 Revenue Is Projected to Decline 5–10% QoQ.

​United Microelectron Sp Adr (UMC US) outlook for 2025 remains steady despite U.S. restrictions, with softening demand expected in 4Q25.

Patrick Liao

NVIDIA surprises market with $5 billion investment in Intel, sparking speculation of deeper partnership in AI chips. Japan's Rapidus initiative...

Intel's CFO plans to use TSMC long-term, as TSMC avoids competition with customers. The future adoption of Intel's 14A technology is uncertain.

United Microelectron Sp Adr (UMC US) outlook for 2025 remains steady despite U.S. restrictions, with softening demand expected in 4Q25.