Taiwan has competitive edge in potentially polarizing AI world: Tech...
Taipei, Sept. 27 - In the artificial intelligence (AI) era, enterprises and countries already at the top might get stronger, but Taiwan still has plenty of advantage with its excellence in hardware manufacturing, a tech company head told a forum in Taipei.
"AI will be immersed in people's daily life as the internet has become in the past 30 years," said Pegatron Co. Chairman Tung Tzu-hsien at the 2024 Taiwan AI Academy Annual Conference.
Strength in Hardware Manufacturing
Tung emphasized that in the AI age, the development of AI requires massive amounts of electricity and computing power, giving an advantage to those who are already strong in these areas. He mentioned that AI would likely only make those who are already strong stronger, be they enterprises or countries.
For instance, developing a large language model such as Open AI's GPT-4 requires substantial financial investment. Tung stated that the huge use of computational power and electricity has led to strategic investments by companies like Open AI's Sam Altman in nuclear companies and Microsoft's deal to restart a reactor at the Three Mile Island plant in Pennsylvania.
Taiwan's Advantage in Semiconductor and Hardware Manufacturing
Tung highlighted that Taiwan's semiconductor and hardware manufacturing sectors are in a favorable position in the AI-dominant world. He mentioned that as AI becomes more prevalent in various industries, Taiwan is expected to benefit not only in cloud equipment but also in edge devices like personal computers and phones.
The overall output value of Taiwan's semiconductor industry is expected to reach NT$5.3 trillion (US$167.2 billion) this year. This growth is attributed to the AI boom and the country's expertise in hardware manufacturing.
Tung also pointed out the role of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. in enabling technological advancements, emphasizing the importance of Taiwan's contributions in various industries like electric vehicles due to its strength in making electronic parts and components.
As technologies evolve and AI plays a significant role in shaping the future, Taiwan's competitive edge in hardware manufacturing positions it well in the potentially polarizing AI world.
