2025 was a year of semiconductor extremes. Breakthroughs like diamond-integrated cooling and 6,000-device 2D chips emerged, while political turmoil killed key R&D hubs. The path from lab to fab has never been more dramatic.
ASUS is gearing up for a major CES 2026 reveal. The company will show off refined dual-screen Zenbooks, a rugged new creator laptop with GoPro, and a broader push into AI-powered computers.
Meta has acquired Singapore-based AI agent developer Manus, continuing its massive AI spending spree. The startup claims an astonishing revenue run rate, but its rapid pivot from China adds complexity to the deal.
Framework has announced another significant price increase for its DDR5 RAM modules, citing the ongoing global memory shortage fueled by AI demand. The company warns that prices will likely continue to rise into early 2026, with the industry impact lasting until 2027.
SoftBank is making a huge move into digital infrastructure, agreeing to buy investment firm DigitalBridge for about $3 billion in cash. The deal, worth $4 billion including debt, is a direct play to capitalize on the AI boom’s insatiable need for data centers.
A major 2025 survey reveals generative AI is now deeply embedded in business, with budgets soaring and ROI being measured. The hard part? Managing the people and skills side of the equation as the tech accelerates.
OpenAI is trying to hire a new Head of Preparedness, a role CEO Sam Altman admits will be “stressful.” The job pays $555,000 a year plus equity, but experts argue it’s “close to an impossible job” that requires telling Altman to slow down.
Mizuho Financial Group is taking a different path than its Japanese rivals. Instead of buying banks, it’s using boutique acquisitions and AI to fuel a global corporate banking expansion and a domestic retail push.
Microsoft is testing a major fix for Windows 11 File Explorer’s resource-hogging search. The update, in Insider Build 26220.7523, consolidates duplicate indexing to cut RAM and CPU use. It could make searches twice as fast when it rolls out to everyone by late January or February 2026.
We’re at an inflection point where robots are leaving labs for everyday life. But to succeed, they need to move beyond just humanoid forms and learn to navigate the unspoken social constructs of our world. The design challenge is now cultural, not just technical.
