Nvidia is rushing to meet strong demand for its H200 AI chips from Chinese tech companies and has approached Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) to increase production, according to sources. Chinese firms have reportedly placed orders exceeding 2 million H200 chips for 2026, while Nvidia currently has just 700,000 units in stock. The precise number of additional chips Nvidia plans to order from TSMC is unclear, though production is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2026.

This surge in demand raises concerns about potential tightening in global AI chip supplies, as Nvidia must balance Chinese orders with limited availability elsewhere. Risks also remain because Beijing has not yet approved H200 shipments, though U.S. export restrictions were recently eased. Nvidia has set prices for Chinese clients at roughly $27,000 per chip, with variations depending on volume and arrangements.

The H200, part of Nvidia’s older Hopper architecture and built on TSMC’s 4-nanometer process, includes both standalone H200 chips and GH200 superchips combining the Grace CPU with Hopper GPUs. Initial orders are expected to be fulfilled from existing stock, with deliveries planned before the Lunar New Year.

Most of the Chinese demand comes from major internet companies seeking a significant performance boost over previous chips. Eight-chip modules are priced at around 1.5 million yuan, offering better value than the discontinued H20 module and grey-market alternatives. For example, ByteDance could spend roughly 100 billion yuan on Nvidia chips in 2026 if sales are approved. Regulatory uncertainty remains, as Chinese authorities weigh allowing H200 imports while promoting domestic AI chip development. One potential condition under consideration would require bundling H200 purchases with a portion of domestically produced chips.
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Indian IT services firm Coforge announced on Friday that it will acquire AI company Encora for an enterprise value of $2.35 billion to strengthen its AI capabilities and expand in the U.S. and Latin America. Encora, backed by Advent International and Warburg Pincus, provides AI solutions in product, cloud, and data engineering, with Coforge projecting $2 billion in annual revenue by March 2027.

The combined entity is expected to achieve a pre-tax margin of 14%, with the acquisition projected to be EPS accretive by fiscal 2027. Analysts say the merger could help Coforge surpass Persistent, Mphasis, and Hexaware to become India’s seventh-largest IT firm. Coforge will fund the $1.89 billion equity portion by issuing preference shares at ₹1,815.91 each, representing an 8.5% premium to Friday’s close, while Encora shareholders will get a 20% stake in the merged company. Up to $550 million may be raised to pay off Encora’s debt via a bridge loan or qualified institutional placement.

The deal will bolster Coforge’s presence in the West and Midwest U.S. and provide access to Encora’s 3,100-strong Latin American workforce. Coforge reported FY25 revenues of ₹120.51 billion ($1.34 billion), up 32% from the previous year, while Encora had revenues of $516 million. The acquisition is expected to close within four to six months, with BDA Partners acting as the investment banker.
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Italy’s antitrust authority (AGCM) has ordered Meta Platforms to suspend WhatsApp contractual terms that could block rival AI chatbots, amid an investigation into alleged abuse of a dominant market position. Meta described the decision as “fundamentally flawed,” citing that the influx of AI chatbots strains systems not designed to handle them, and confirmed it will appeal.

The AGCM stated that Meta’s practices could limit output, market access, or technical development in the AI chatbot sector, potentially harming consumers. The investigation, which began in July over WhatsApp’s suspected market dominance, was expanded in November to include updated business platform terms. The watchdog noted that the conditions effectively exclude competitors’ AI chatbots from WhatsApp.

This action aligns with broader EU regulatory efforts to rein in Big Tech’s influence, contrasting with comparatively lenient U.S. oversight. The European Commission is coordinating with the AGCM to ensure Meta’s conduct is addressed effectively. EU regulators also launched a parallel investigation into Meta last month. The move underscores Europe’s increasingly strict approach to tech regulation, which has faced pushback from U.S. companies and criticism from the Trump administration, as regulators aim to balance fostering innovation with preventing anti-competitive practices.
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In a sign of warming ties between Beijing and U.S. tech giants, China's Vice Commerce Minister Li Chenggang sat down with Apple COO Sabih Khan last Friday for talks aimed at deepening the company's footprint in the Chinese market. The meeting, confirmed by the Ministry of Commerce on Monday, comes as China rolls out the red carpet for foreign firms, urging Apple to forge stronger links with local partners and dive deeper into its massive consumer base of over 1.4 billion people.

This engagement highlights Apple's critical reliance on China, where more than 80% of its key suppliers—like Foxconn and Luxshare—handle production of iPhones, AirPods, and other gadgets that drive billions in annual revenue. With U.S.-China trade frictions lingering after President Trump's 2024 reelection, such high-level chats offer reassurance for Apple's factories in Shenzhen and stores in Shanghai, potentially easing concerns over tariffs or export restrictions.

The discussions echo recent visits by Apple executives, including COO Jeff Williams, signaling a steady commitment to these partnerships amid global supply chain shifts. For Apple, it spells opportunities to grow services like Apple Pay as hardware sales slow, while China gains from jobs, innovation, and investment in tech hubs—much like its outreach to Tesla. Investors may view this as bullish for AAPL stock, betting on stable access to one of the world's biggest markets.
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This year, Nanyang Technological University (NTU) flagged three students for academic misconduct, alleging that they relied on generative AI tools in their assignments. What boundaries should govern AI usage, at what point does it become misconduct, and is it time to rethink how assignments are structured and evaluated? Steven Chia and Otelli Edwards discuss these questions with Associate Professor Ben Leong, director of the AI Centre for Educational Technologies at NUS, and Jeremy Soo, co-founder of Nex AI.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

In Made in SG, Melanie Oliveiro interviews Singaporeans working in the artificial intelligence space to explore how they are shaping and mentoring the next generation of AI-driven content creators. Jayce Tham, co-founder of media agency CreativesAtWork and generative AI content studio Dear.AI, shares how professionals in Singapore can use generative AI to enhance storytelling, content marketing, and production processes. Filmmaker, influencer, and Dear.AI Creative Director Jaze Phua discusses how AI fuels creative expression, enabling content creators to blend humour, narrative, and pop culture to produce highly shareable, viral content.

Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

During the daily market analysis segment on Open For Business, hosts Andrea Heng and Genevieve Woo engage in a detailed discussion with Mel Siew, who serves as the Portfolio Manager for Asia Public Credit at Muzinich & Co., covering insights, trends, and key developments impacting financial markets across the region.

Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

Authorities are alerting the public to a new scam that uses fake digital identity cards. Could our tendency to casually share NRIC or passport scans via messages or email be making it easier for scammers? Daniel Martin discusses this with Matthias Yeo, CEO of CyberXCenter, a company dedicated to strengthening cybersecurity in Singapore.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.