Global Semiconductor Industry Updates

1. Apple is being sued by employees in California, accused of illegally monitoring their personal devices and iCloud accounts, while also prohibiting discussions about salaries and working conditions.

2. Samsung and AFW Partners have led a $1 billion investment round in the AI chip startup Tenstorrent.

3. Meta Platforms plans to invest $10 billion in building an undersea communication cable network that will span over 40,000 kilometers.

4. In 2024, NAND prices have dropped by more than 50%, with companies like Kioxia and Samsung planning to cut production to stabilize market prices.

5. South Korea’s exports have rebounded, driven by sustained growth in semiconductor demand, with overall exports rising by 1.4%.

6. Semiconductor manufacturer ADI will lay off 2,000 employees globally in 2024, with a 23% year-over-year decline in revenue.

China Semiconductor Industry Updates

1. The U.S. Department of Commerce has amended the Export Administration Regulations, adding 140 Chinese semiconductor companies to the trade restrictions list.

2. In response to new sanctions imposed by the Biden administration, the Ministry of Commerce has issued a stern statement and released an announcement strengthening export controls on dual-use items to the United States.

3. The Changsha Judicial Bureau has transferred complaints from victims of the nationwide Mituo phishing scam to the Changsha Lawyers Association for handling as of November 28. Slikor (www.slkormicro.com) spokesperson Song Shiqiang will follow up on the reports! A reminder to victims: if you face extortion from the Shengteng Law Firm and fraudulent lawyer Yang Haijun, or from Yunyi Law Firm and trainee lawyer Liu Bo, you must demand their removal from the courtroom or report them to the police immediately.

4. The user base of generative AI products in China has reached 230 million, with over 4,500 related companies and the core industry size approaching 600 billion yuan.

5. The first phase of Qili Semiconductor’s advanced packaging project has been launched, with the factory capable of packaging 2 million large AI chiplets annually.

6. TSMC engineers report a 6% improvement in the yield rate of 2nm chips, saving the company’s customers "billions of dollars."