Inside Taiwan

From the world’s factory to the architect of the world’s AI infrastructure


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Below is today’s snapshot of the Foxconn and Nvidia story redefining the boundaries of the AI economy.

Q1. Why is Foxconn moving from assembly to architecture in the AI era

Foxconn is positioning itself as a full stack AI infrastructure builder. At its latest Tech Day, the company announced a Taiwan based AI data center that will deploy Nvidia’s GB300 NVL72 platform, described by Focus Taiwan as one of the most powerful AI systems globally. The 27 megawatt facility is expected in 2026 and is framed as a foundation for sovereign AI, enabling Taiwan’s 1.6 million small and medium sized businesses to access domestic compute capacity.
Foxconn’s partnerships with OpenAI and Alphabet’s Intrinsic extend this shift beyond Taiwan. Sam Altman noted that demand for critical AI infrastructure components is already far outpacing supply, underscoring Foxconn’s role in relieving bottlenecks.
Takeaway: This is a deliberate pivot into long term value creation. The strategy reframes Foxconn from a contract manufacturer into a global AI infrastructure architect.

Q2. What does Nvidia’s deeper presence in Taiwan signal about the global supply chain

Nvidia has secured approval from Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs to establish a formal subsidiary, supported by a 32 million US dollar investment. Taipei’s mayor confirmed that Nvidia plans to build a new Taiwan headquarters in the Beitou Shilin Technology Park.
Until now, Nvidia operated through Hong Kong based units. A local subsidiary enables direct asset ownership, streamlined R&D funding, and tighter integration with suppliers.
Takeaway: Nvidia’s move locks in long term proximity to the world’s most advanced semiconductor ecosystem, reinforcing Taiwan’s central role in the global AI hardware cycle.

Q3. Are current AI investments pushing the market toward a correction

Semiconductor stocks dropped sharply across Asia, with Taiwan’s Taiex down 3.4 percent and TSMC and Foxconn both falling more than 4 percent. In Korea, Samsung and SK Hynix slid as much as 6 and 10 percent. Dow Jones Newswires noted renewed concerns about an AI bubble. A Bank of America survey shows that 53 percent of institutional investors already view AI valuations as bubble territory.
Meanwhile, resource constraints add pressure. A Verge investigation highlights water and power challenges in Arizona, where TSMC’s first fab is projected to consume 4.75 million gallons of water per day, with up to 16 million gallons across three fabs. TSMC aims to recycle 90 percent of its water by 2028, but shortages remain a structural risk.
Takeaway: Markets are signaling caution as financial and environmental constraints collide with aggressive AI infrastructure expansion.

Listen to the full episode for the complete breakdown.

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Inside TaiwanBy KimFion Lab