During NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang’s keynote speech on June 2, he shared insights on how the AI era is driving the development of a new global industrial revolution.

According to a report from TechNews, he covered various technologies and application areas, including advancements in accelerated computing, microservices, industrial digitalization, and consumer devices, which are expected to become key focus areas in the evolving AI market.

• Accelerated Computing

1. Collaboration between the computer industry and NVIDIA to build AI factories and data centers: NVIDIA and leading computer manufacturers worldwide announced today the launch of a series of systems based on the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture. These systems feature Grace CPUs, NVIDIA networking technologies, and infrastructures to assist enterprises in establishing AI factories and data centers.

2. Foxconn utilizes NVIDIA artificial intelligence and Omniverse technology to train robots and streamline assembly operations: Foxconn operates over 170 plants worldwide, with its latest being a virtual plant driving the latest developments in industrial automation technology.

The latest of Foxconn’s plant is a digital twin model of a new factory in Guadalajara, Mexico, a hub for the electronics industry. Engineers at Foxconn define processes and train robots in this virtual environment to enable physical factories to efficiently produce the next generation of accelerated computing engines, the NVIDIA Blackwell HGX system.

3. NVIDIA significantly strengthens Ethernet networks for generative artificial intelligence: NVIDIA announced widespread adoption of the NVIDIA Spectrum-X Ethernet platform and will accelerate the release of new products. CoreWeave, GMO Internet Group, Lambda, Scaleway, STPX Global, and Yotta are the first batch of AI cloud service providers to adopt NVIDIA Spectrum-X, bringing ultimate network performance to their AI infrastructure.

Additionally, NVIDIA’s partners have also released products utilizing the Spectrum platform, including ASRock Rack, ASUS, GIGABYTE Technology, Ingrasys Inc., Inventec, Quanta Cloud Technology, Wistron and Wiwynn. Moreover, Dell Technologies, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Lenovo, and Super Micro Computer have collaborated with NVIDIA to incorporate the Spectrum platform into their respective products.

• Microservices

NVIDIA NIM has revolutionized deployment model: NVIDIA has announced that its inference microservice, NVIDIA NIM, optimized in container form, is now available for download by 28 million developers worldwide.

This allows deployment to cloud, data centers, or workstations, enabling developers to effortlessly build generative artificial intelligence applications for assisting partners, such as copilots and chatbots, within minutes, a process that previously took several weeks.

• Industrial Digitalization

1. Electronics manufacturers adopt NVIDIA AI and Omniverse to drive robotic factories and accelerate industrial digitization: NVIDIA announced that major Taiwanese electronics manufacturers, including Delta Electronics, Foxconn, Pegatron Corporation, and Wistron Corporation, are using NVIDIA’s technology to transform their factories into more autonomous production facilities through new reference workflows.

This workflow combines NVIDIA Metropolis visual artificial intelligence (AI) technology, NVIDIA Omniverse’ physically accurate rendering and simulation technology, and NVIDIA Isaac’s AI robot development and deployment technology.

2. Industry leaders adopt NVIDIA’s robotic technology to develop tens of millions of AI-supported autonomous machines, including BYD Electronics, Siemens, Teradyne Robotics, and Alphabet’s Intrinsic, among more than ten global leading companies in the robotics industry.

These companies integrate NVIDIA Isaac acceleration libraries, physically principled simulation content, and AI models into their software frameworks and robot models to enhance efficiency in factories, warehouses, and distribution centers. This enables human colleagues to work in safer environments and serves as intelligent assistants in executing repetitive or ultra-precise tasks.

3. NVIDIA introduces NVIDIA IGX with Holoscan support, enabling enterprise software to run medical, industrial, and scientific artificial intelligence applications in real-time at the edge: To meet the growing demand for real-time artificial intelligence computing technology at the industrial edge, NVIDIA announces the comprehensive launch of NVIDIA AI Enterprise-IGX software with Holoscan on the NVIDIA IGX platform.

• Consumer Devices

1. NVIDIA utilizes GeForce RTX AI PC to deliver the real AI assistant experience: NVIDIA announces the launch of the new NVIDIA RTX technology, designed to support AI assistants and digital human platforms running on new GeForce RTX AI laptops.

2. NVIDIA introduces Digital Human Microservices to lay the foundation for future generative AI digital avatars: NVIDIA announces the comprehensive rollout of NVIDIA ACE generative artificial intelligence microservices to accelerate the development of the next wave of digital humans and numerous breakthroughs in generative AI soon to be introduced on the platform.

Companies in customer service, gaming, and healthcare sectors are among the first to adopt ACE technology, making it easier to create, personalize, and interact with realistic digital humans. These microservices have broad applications in customer service, telehealth, gaming, and entertainment.

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(Photo credit: NVIDIA)

Astera Labs, a leading provider of AI server connectivity solutions, has announced that it will gather Taiwanese manufacturers to establish its first Cloud-Scale Interop Lab outside of Silicon Valley in Taiwan. According to a report from Commercial Times, the company will closely collaborate with major Taiwanese ODM clients, while key manufacturers such as Quanta, Inventec, Wistron, Wiwynn, and Foxconn are expected to benefit from this initiative.

The emerging AI company Astera Labs has surpassed a market value of USD 10 billion and is renowned for providing high-speed transmission interface solutions for AI servers. Founded in 2017, the company celebrated its new public listing on NASDAQ this March.

Per a report from Business Today, the company, headquartered in California, USA, specializes in Retimer chips used for transmission in cloud data centers. These chips mitigate electronic signal attenuation issues, making them widely adopted in the market following PCIe Gen 5.

In response to the rapid expansion of the AI server market, Astera Labs is following in NVIDIA’s footsteps by establishing an R&D center, the Cloud-Scale Interop Lab, in Taiwan.

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(Photo credit: Astera Labs)

Microsoft President Brad Smith announced the investment of USD 3.3 billion to construct an artificial intelligence data center in Wisconsin, aiming to make the state a core driver of the innovation economy. Notably, the site of the facility was originally intended for a LCD panel plant promised by Foxconn six years ago.

According to Microsoft’s press release, the AI data center in Wisconsin is expected to create 2,300 union construction opportunities by 2025 and will provide long-term employment opportunities over the next several years.

Microsoft’s press release highlights that this investment will be utilized for constructing cloud computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure, establishing the first AI co-innovation lab in the United States focused on the manufacturing industry, and promoting AI training programs with the goal of enabling over 100,000 Wisconsin residents to acquire necessary AI skills.

The press release also notes that Microsoft will collaborate with Gateway Technical College to establish a Data Center Academy, aiming to train more than 1,000 students within five years, equipping them to enter roles in data centers or information technology departments.

Microsoft’s new facility in Racine County, Wisconsin, was originally intended to be the site of a LCD panel plant planned by Foxconn, a subsidiary of Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. (Foxconn Group), according to a report by CNA.

In June 2018, then-chairman of Foxconn, Terry Gou, and then-US President Donald Trump attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the panel plant. Foxocnn announced an investment of USD 10 billion, and Trump described the project as the “8th wonder of the world.”

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(Photo credit: iStock)

According to reports from global media outlets like MacRumors and Wccftech on April 23rd, Apple is said to be developing its first in-house AI processor for PCs, the M4 chip, and is also working on a self-developed AI server processor using TSMC’s 3-nanometer process, with plans for mass production expected in the second half of 2025.

As per Wccftech’s report, based on the production schedule, Apple’s AI server processor might utilize TSMC’s “N3E” process. It is rumored that the N3E process is also used for producing products like the A18 Pro, the upcoming Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, and the MediaTek Dimensity 9400, among other major clients’ products.

Regarding this matter, per a report from Economic Daily News citing sources, it has indicated that Apple’s development of AI server processors will bring new momentum to TSMC’s advanced process orders. Subsequently, assembly orders for related AI servers are expected to be undertaken by Foxconn, becoming two major benefactors of Apple’s aggressive push into AI among Taiwan’s manufacturers.

The source referenced previous reports suggesting that Apple has secured the initial capacity for TSMC’s 3-nanometer process for at least a year. According to TSMC’s financial reports, the revenue contribution from its largest customer exceeded NTD 500 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach NTD 546.5 billion in 2023, setting a new record. TSMC’s largest customer is, anticipated by the report from Economic Daily News, to be Apple.

The same report from Economic Daily News continues by quoting industry sources who revealed that Apple has conducted extensive AI functionality testing, which is highly confidential. Apple and Foxconn have reportedly been engaged in many projects and ongoing tests.

With Apple’s full-scale push into the AI field and plans to introduce AI features in this year’s new iPhone models, there are also rumors of Apple possibly launching its own developed AI chip.

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(Photo credit: Apple)

In a bid to reduce dependence on China, Apple significantly expanded its production volume in India, doubling iPhone production last year. Foxconn, which holds the largest share in iPhone assembly, accounted for a substantial 67% of this increased production.

Bloomberg reported on April 10th that Apple’s iPhone production value in India reached USD 14 billion over the last fiscal year, doubling from the previous year’s USD 7 billion. Sources cited by the same report have revealed that approximately 1 in 7 iPhones, or up to 14% of total production, are now manufactured in India. This expansion in Indian production signals Apple’s accelerated efforts to reduce reliance on China amid heightened geopolitical tensions.

Per the sources cited by the same report, nearly 67% of iPhones produced in India last year were assembled by Taiwan’s Foxconn, while Pegatron accounted for about 17%. The remaining share was manufactured at a plant in Karnataka state by Wistron, which sold the facility to Tata Group in 2023.

As per a Reuters report on April 8, contract manufacturer Pegatron was said to be in talks to sell its sole iPhone assembly plant located in Chennai to Tata Group, and discussions were in advanced stages. However, regarding this matter, Pegatron claimed that this report was speculative and lacked evidence, declining to comment further.

Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu in India, stands as the largest industrial and commercial hub in South India. Pegatron’s sole factory in India is located here, employing approximately 10,000 workers and producing around 5 million iPhones annually.

Among the four iPhone 15 series models, only certain models like iPhone15 and iPhone15 plus are produced by Tata Group in India.

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(Photo credit: Foxconn)