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Technology notes

News and notes on AI, chips, and IT.

All posts

All posts
Semiconductors & infrastructure

SoftBank Begins Issuing $10 Billion and 1 Billion Euro Bonds Ahead of Third Investment in OpenAI

SoftBank Group has launched a large-scale global bond offering to raise funds for a follow-on investment in OpenAI. The offering consists of $10 billion in dollar-denominated senior unsecured bonds and 1 billion euros in euro-denominated bonds. Although different currencies cannot simply be added together, the amount raised is well over $10 billion when converted to U.S. dollars. ​ The primary use of the proceeds is the third installment of $10 billion for the follow-on investment in OpenAI, which is scheduled to be completed by October 1, 2026. It's dollars.

Semiconductors & infrastructure

Taiwan Breaks Ground on Baipu Advanced Packaging Industrial Park in Kaohsiung… TSMC Facility Aims to Begin Operations in 2029

Taiwan has begun developing the Baipu Industrial Park in Kaohsiung, in southern Taiwan, targeting the semiconductor supply chain for AI and high-performance computing. At the heart of this project are a technology verification laboratory and a talent training center to be established by TSMC. The goal is for both facilities to begin operations in the fourth quarter of 2029. ​ This complex differs in nature from projects that simply increase the number of factories directly mass-producing semiconductors. Equipment and materials companies will conduct research on technologies to be applied to TSMC’s cutting-edge packaging processes, and Bringing together all the spaces for testing and verification in one place is

Industry & policy

IMF Warns of AI's Productivity Benefits in Europe, Along with Risks to Power Grids, Employment, and Technology Dependency

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has analyzed that while artificial intelligence could boost productivity in Europe by about 1% over a period of approximately five years, it could also widen labor market disparities, strain power grids, and increase dependence on U.S. and Chinese technology. This information was included in background materials prepared for the informal meeting of European Union finance ministers held in Dublin, Ireland, on September 18–19, 2026. ​ The IMF estimates that about 60% of workers in advanced European economies are in occupations with high exposure to AI, It was estimated that they were employed there. Also, European data centers

Robotics & emerging technology

Faraday Future Begins Sales of 9 AI Robots Based on 5 Models

At its “919” event held on September 19, 2026, Faraday Future announced that it would unveil a lineup of nine AI robots based on five models and begin sales and deliveries. The compact humanoid, Master Mini, starts at $9,990, and the lineup also includes a large humanoid and an industrial quadruped robot. ​ The nine models announced by the company are not nine completely different models, but rather nine specific configurations based on five models. The two categories—humanoids and quadrupeds— consisted of shapes, and

Industry & policy

U.S. and China Announce Plans to Discuss AI Guardrails… to Address Risks of Open and Closed Models

The United States and China have agreed to formally include artificial intelligence guardrails on the agenda for their high-level economic and trade talks. Reuters reported that U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng are scheduled to meet in New York on September 20, 2026, to discuss AI, tariffs, and critical minerals. ​ In the field of AI, key agenda items will include the risks posed by open-weight and closed models, as well as measures to prevent powerful models from falling into the hands of malicious non-state actors. It was proposed. However, at the time of the report, the meeting had not yet taken place.

Industry & policy

Trump Announces New AI Advisor and an 'AI Force'… Organizational Structure Still Undecided

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to appoint a new artificial intelligence advisor—the so-called “AI czar”—and to establish an “AI force.” The announcement was made via a social media post on September 19, 2026, but details regarding the nominee, the organization’s authority, staffing, budget, and launch schedule were not disclosed. ​ Therefore, at this stage, the only confirmed details are the President’s plan to create a new policy coordination role and organization. Actual appointments, executive orders, or government organizational structure It's not accurate to say that the launch has been completed.