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 Key Takeaways Alibaba secures China Unicom as client  for its  T-Head AI accelerators , marking early adoption of its in-house chips. Data center deployment:  Chips will power Unicom’s new facility in Qinghai, alongside rivals MetaX and Biren. Competitive edge:  Alibaba’s chip reportedly offers  better memory specs than Huawei’s Ascend 910B , though Huawei is readying an upgraded 910C. Strategic investment:  Alibaba committing  ¥380B (US$53.5B)  over three years into AI infrastructure, aiming to reduce reliance on Nvidia. Deal Significance The deployment at China Unicom’s Sanjiangyuan data center highlights Alibaba’s progress in the domestic semiconductor race. While the scale of adoption remains unclear, state media coverage signals government support and growing recognition of Alibaba’s T-Head unit as a credible player in China’s AI ecosystem. Competitive Landscape Huawei Technologies:  Dominates with Ascend series but faces intensify...

Covert Monitoring of High-Risk Shipments US authorities have been secretly placing location-tracking devices in certain shipments of advanced AI chips deemed at high risk of illegal diversion to China, Reuters reported, citing sources with direct knowledge. The trackers, concealed in packaging or even inside servers, aim to detect chips being rerouted to destinations under US export restrictions. These measures target select shipments already under investigation and are intended to build enforcement cases against individuals or companies violating export controls. Application Across the AI Supply Chain The practice has been observed in shipments from server makers such as Dell and Super Micro that include Nvidia and AMD chips. In some 2024 cases, both large smartphone-sized trackers and smaller hidden devices were reportedly used. Sources say the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) — which enforces export controls — often leads the effort, with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) ...

Samsung Faces a Reset Moment as AI Chip Race Heats Up Samsung Electronics reported a  56% YoY drop in operating profit  for the June quarter — its steepest decline since 2023 — highlighting deepening challenges in the global memory chip war and the rising cost of lagging behind in AI innovation. Key Numbers: Operating profit : 4.6 trillion won (~US$3.3 billion), below market estimates Revenue : 74 trillion won (flat YoY) Stock action : Volatile, but supported by a  3.9 trillion won buyback  announcement The sharp earnings drop came after  inventory write-downs  on unsold AI chips, particularly those meant for China — a market now constrained by US export curbs. Samsung's  foundry division , which includes contract manufacturing of semiconductors, remained in the red for the third straight quarter. Despite the dismal Q2 showing, analysts believe  this may mark the bottom . “Looking beyond the disappointing results… we expect a sequential recovery,”...

A new proposal involving Oracle and Blackstone to take over TikTok’s US operations is under review. With a potential ban on the line, political and regulatory uncertainty could reshape TikTok’s future and influence broader US-China tech dynamics. The Situation President Trump is set to review a proposal this Wednesday to force a  divestment of TikTok’s US operations  from its Chinese parent ByteDance Ltd. The plan reportedly involves a  joint venture led by Oracle Corp. and Blackstone Inc. , with Oracle offering to manage US data security. A key point of contention:  TikTok’s algorithm may remain under Chinese control , a potential loophole in the eyes of US lawmakers. Why This Matters Deadline Pressure : ByteDance must finalize a sale by  April 5 , or face a US ban. Trump has indicated he may  extend the deadline , but no formal decision has been made. Security Risk Debate : While Oracle would secure US data, critics say  leaving the algorithm with Ch...