Taiwan

Taipei Times | English | News | Jan. 23, 2026 | UndeterminedEmployment

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang predicts that artificial intelligence (AI) will drive significant demand for skilled vocational workers such as electricians, plumbers, and construction workers. Highlighting the infrastructure needs of AI, Huang stated that these workers could soon command six-figure salaries due to the trillion-dollar investment in data centers required to support AI development and operations. He emphasized that lucrative careers in this growing sector do not necessarily require advanced degrees like a PhD in computer science.

Huang’s views align with other industry leaders, including Palantir CEO Alex Karp, who praised vocational training and suggested AI would generate more local jobs while reducing the need for mass immigration. Similarly, Coreweave CEO Michael Intrator underscored the physical labor demands of the AI expansion. Nvidia, a leading supplier of data center chips powering AI models, is experiencing a massive sales boom, with estimated data center chip revenue near $200 billion for the previous year. Major tech companies such as Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, and Alphabet remain key customers, while smaller data center operators are increasingly signing deals. Collectively, tech firms have committed $500 billion in data center leases in upcoming years.

Despite job creation in skilled trades, AI’s impact on white-collar employment raises concerns. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei warned of a "white-collar bloodbath," predicting that AI could eliminate up to half of entry-level jobs, particularly junior programming roles. While acknowledging AI’s net benefits, Amodei cautioned that many workers across industries could struggle to adapt to these changes.

Nvidia’s business is currently navigating geopolitical challenges linked to US-China relations. The company awaits regulatory clarity on chip exports to China, where sales are controversial due to national security concerns. Huang plans to visit China to support reopening the market for Nvidia’s AI chips. The US has eased some export restrictions but still prohibits shipping top-tier chips, limiting China’s access to cutting-edge AI technology. Concurrently, US legislation such as the "AI Overwatch Act" seeks congressional oversight over AI chip exports to China and other adversaries, reflecting ongoing tensions between economic interests and security risks.

台商供應鏈重組 國銀海外曝險15.1兆美國增額居冠

Central News Agency | Local Language | News | Jan. 23, 2026 | Supply Chain Issues

By the end of 2025, domestic Taiwanese banks' overseas exposure reached NT$15.1268 trillion, marking a 6.49% year-on-year increase. The United States accounted for the largest portion at NT$4.2418 trillion, with an annual increase of NT$352.9 billion (9.07%), driven by Taiwanese businesses' expanding presence and banks' investments primarily in U.S. Treasuries.

The ranking of countries for overseas exposure shifted due to global supply chain restructuring: the United States remained first, while Australia and Japan overtook China to become the second and third largest, respectively. China and Hong Kong fell to fourth and fifth place, reflecting reduced Chinese economic activity and real estate sector weakness.

The composition of overseas exposure included NT$7.3047 trillion in investments, NT$5.8146 trillion in credit (loans), and NT$2.0075 trillion in interbank placements and deposits. Nearly half of the annual NT$922.2 billion increase was from credit demand, influenced significantly by the New Southbound countries (40%) and the United States (28%). Bond investments dominated the investment category at NT$5.5584 trillion, followed by securitized products at NT$917.9 billion.

The increase in cross-border business activities and fund mobilization needs among Taiwanese enterprises elevated banks' interbank clearing and liquidity requirements, causing placements and deposits to rise by NT$129.5 billion year-on-year. Overall, supply chain adjustments and overseas business expansions have driven significant growth and shifts in domestic banks' overseas financial engagements.

公平會考量市場規模變動 調高事業結合申報銷售額門檻

Central News Agency | Local Language | News | Jan. 23, 2026 | Regulation

The Fair Trade Commission of Taiwan has approved amendments to increase the sales thresholds for business combination filings in response to steady economic growth and changes in market size. The domestic sales high threshold for non-financial businesses has been raised from NT$15 billion to NT$20 billion, with the low threshold also increased. For financial institutions, the domestic sales high threshold was raised from NT$30 billion to NT$40 billion. The global sales high threshold rose from NT$40 billion to NT$50 billion, and the global and domestic sales low thresholds were increased from NT$2 billion to NT$3 billion.

Additionally, the total sales amount threshold for exclusion from the determination of monopolistic enterprises was raised from NT$2 billion to NT$3 billion. These adjustments aim to reduce reporting burdens on businesses, moderately relax regulatory density, and align regulatory measures with actual market conditions while balancing economic development and competition. The updated rules will be implemented after publication by the Executive Yuan Gazette Center.

The Fair Trade Commission also aligned its recognition criteria for insurance industry sales with amendments made by the Financial Supervisory Commission, broadening the sales basis to include insurance income, net investment gains and losses, asset management service income, and other operating income. The commission emphasized that these changes maintain regulatory density without significantly impacting the market and urged businesses to use pre-filing consultation services to facilitate compliance with the new filing procedures.