1. **NOVOSENSE Launches ASIL D Isolated Driver Chip** NOVOSENSE has released its first ASIL D certified isolated gate driver chip, the NSI6911F. The product offers a peak drive capability of up to 19A and achieves a common-mode transient immunity of 150kV/μs. It is suitable for 800V and higher high-voltage platform applications and integrates over 30 safety mechanisms, meeting the fault diagnostic coverage requirements for ASIL D level.
2. **Semiconductor Industry Experiences Widespread Cost Increases and Profit Divergence** Since 2026, rising costs for upstream materials, wafer fabrication, and packaging in the semiconductor industry have driven up overall industry expenses, gradually forming a trend of price increases across the entire supply chain. The impact of this price surge is already reflected in first-quarter reports. The memory sector has emerged as a "profit leader" benefiting from the price hikes, while sub-sectors like power semiconductors show divergent performance trends. Furthermore, operating costs increased year-over-year for over 80% of listed companies in the industry. Overall, in the first quarter of 2026, more than half of the listed semiconductor companies saw year-over-year growth in net profit attributable to shareholders, and the industry's overall gross profit margin increased by 2.49 percentage points quarter-over-quarter.
3. **DeepSeek's Post-Money Valuation Reportedly Could Reach $45 Billion?** Sources indicate that the National Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund is in discussions with DeepSeek to lead its first round of financing, with a potential final valuation of around $45 billion. A source confirmed, "Discussions are indeed underway between the parties, but the valuation has not been finalized yet." The same source also revealed, "There are many other potential investors involved in the financing negotiations, including several internet giants and other state-owned funds."
4. **Shenzhen Mtc Co.,Ltd. Establishes Vertical Integration Layout for Optical Chips, Devices, and Modules** Shenzhen Mtc Co.,Ltd. stated on an interactive platform that the company has successfully established a vertically integrated layout covering optical chips, optical devices, and optical modules. The coordinated development across these segments continues to enhance the company's core competitiveness.
**Overseas Highlights:**
1. **TikTok Approved for $25 Billion Data Center Expansion Plan in Thailand** On May 6th local time, the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) announced the approval of six major projects with a total investment value of 958 billion Thai Baht (approximately $29 billion), as Thailand intensifies efforts to enhance power supply capacity, clean energy integration, and accelerate strategic investments. TikTok System (Thailand) Co., Ltd., as a leading project, received approval for an investment of approximately 842 billion Thai Baht (about $25 billion). The project will deploy additional servers and expand data storage and processing infrastructure in Bangkok, Samut Prakan, and Chachoengsao provinces to support growing digital service demands and further strengthen Thailand's position in regional digital infrastructure.
2. **Upstage Reaches Agreement with Kakao to Acquire South Korea's Second-Largest Search Engine, Daum** South Korean AI startup Upstage announced on Thursday that it has formally signed an agreement with internet giant Kakao to acquire South Korea's second-largest search engine, Daum. According to the agreement, Upstage will acquire all shares of Daum's operator, AXZ Corp., held by Kakao, and Kakao will receive new shares in Upstage. Neither party disclosed the specific financial terms of the agreement.
3. **Citic Securities: Computing Power Drives Power Restructuring, U.S. Self-Supply Opens Trillion-Dollar New Sector** A Citic Securities research report points out that computing power is driving a restructuring of the power sector, with U.S. self-supply initiatives opening a new trillion-dollar market. The explosion in AI computing power is causing a disruptive reshuffle in global power supply and demand dynamics. The United States, as a core hub for global AI data center construction, faces an unprecedented power shortage crisis. A severe mismatch between grid construction cycles (3-8 years) and AI server deployment cycles (6-12 months), combined with the inherent structural weaknesses of the U.S. grid—its fragmented nature and insufficient inter-regional transmission capacity—is pushing AI data center self-supply from an "optional solution" to a "rigid necessity." In March 2026, seven major U.S. AI companies signed the "Ratepayer Protection Pledge," explicitly committing to "self-supply all new electricity needs and bear all associated costs," officially marking the start of the industrialization era for AI data center self-supply.
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