logo
Taiwan plans AI projects to boost economy by US$510bil

Taiwan plans AI projects to boost economy by US$510bil

TAIPEI: Taiwan plans to launch its "Ten Major AI Infrastructure Projects" initiative, aimed at generating more than T$15 trillion (US$510 billion) in economic value by 2040 as it strives to become a global leader in artificial intelligence.
Premier Cho Jung-tai said in a Facebook post late on Tuesday that Taiwan aims to leverage its information and communications technology (ICT) sector and world-leading semiconductor manufacturing capabilities to become a global AI influencer and a "smart technology island."
Under the initiative, Taiwan has identified three core technologies as strategic priorities: silicon photonics, quantum technology and AI robotics.
Silicon photonics is a technology that Taiwan's TSMC , the world's largest contract chipmaker, and many other firms in the industry are actively developing.
The government aims to position Taiwan as a global leader in silicon photonics by aligning the sector with future AI development needs.
Taiwan also hopes to become a key hub for AI robotics by tapping its hardware and ICT supply chains.
Industry groups, including one led by Foxconn Chairman Young Liu, have backed the move with the formation of the Taiwan AI Robotics Industry Grand Alliance on Tuesday to support the local development of AI robotics and related ecosystems.
Taiwan also plans to establish a quantum technology industry chain.
The 10 projects also include the development of sovereign AI - ability to build and control domestic AI technologies - and computing infrastructure, efforts to balance AI development across different regions of the island, and the introduction of AI across a wide range of industries.
The government also calls for expanding investment in AI innovation, with more than T$100 billion (US$3.08 billion) in venture capital funding, as it seeks to become a global hub for AI talent and investment.
The initiative targets the creation of 500,000 jobs and the establishment of three international-level research laboratories.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

What to know about the hack at Tea, an app where women share red flags about men
What to know about the hack at Tea, an app where women share red flags about men

The Star

time29 minutes ago

  • The Star

What to know about the hack at Tea, an app where women share red flags about men

A fast-growing app for women was hacked after it shot to the top of app download charts and kicked off heated debates about women's safety and dating. The app, Tea Dating Advice , allowed women worried about their safety to share information about men they might date. Its premise was immediately polarising: Some praised it as a useful way to warn women about dangerous men, while others called it divisive and a violation of men's privacy. On July 25, Tea said that hackers had breached a data storage system, exposing about 72,000 images, including selfies and photo identifications of its users. Here's what to know about the situation. What is the Tea app? Released in 2023, the US-based app says it is a resource for women to protect themselves while dating, with some online likening it to a Yelp service for women dating men in the same area. Women who sign up and are approved can join an anonymous forum to seek feedback on men they are interested in, or report bad behaviour from men they have dated. Other tools on the app allow users to run background checks, search for criminal records and reverse image search for photos in the hope of spotting 'catfishing', where people pass off photos of others as themselves. According to Tea's site, the app's founder, Sean Cook, launched the app because he witnessed his mother's 'terrifying' experience with online dating. He said she was catfished and unknowingly engaged with men who had criminal records. When did it take off? Interest in the app this week escalated after it became the subject of videos and conversations about dating and gender dynamics on social media. On Thursday, Tea reported a 'massive surge in growth', saying on Instagram that more than 2 million users in the past few days had asked to join the app. It was listed as the top free app in Apple's download charts, and was also highly ranked in the Google Play store. Critics however, including some users on 4chan, an anonymous message board known for spreading hateful content, called for the site to be hacked. What happened in the breach? On Friday, Tea said that there had been a data breach of a 'legacy storage system' holding data for its users. The company said it had detected unauthorised access to about 72,000 images, including about 13,000 selfies and images of identification documents, which the company solicited to verify that users are women. Images from posts, comments and direct messages in the apps were also included in the breach, it said. Whose data was hacked? Tea said that the data belonged to users who signed up before February 2024. According to Tea's privacy policy, the selfies it solicits are deleted shortly after users are verified. The hacked images were not deleted. That data set was stored 'in compliance with law enforcement requirements related to cyberbullying prevention', Tea said in its statement, and was not moved to newer systems that Tea said were better fortified. Where did it end up? Data from the hack, including photos of women and of identification cards containing personal details, appeared to circulate online Friday. An anonymous user shared the database of photographs, which the user said included driver's licenses, to 4chan, according to the tech publication 404 Media, the first outlet to report on the breach. Some circulated a map, which The New York Times was unable to authenticate, that purported to use data from the leak to tie the images to locations. That thread was later deleted. According to an archived version of the thread, the user accused the Tea app of exposing people's personal information because of its inadequate protections. What happens now? Tea said that it was working with third-party cybersecurity experts, and that there was 'no evidence' to suggest other user data was leaked. The app's terms and conditions note that users provide their location, birth date, photo and photo ID during registration. Tea said, that in 2023, it removed a requirement for photo ID in addition to a selfie. The conversation around Tea has tapped into a larger face-off over the responsibility of platforms that women say can help protect them from dating untrustworthy or violent men. Many of them, such as 'Are We Dating the Same Guy?' groups, have spread widely on platforms like Facebook. But such groups have increasingly drawn accusations of stoking gender divisions, as well as claims from men who say the groups have defamed them or invaded their privacy. – ©2025 The New York Times Company This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

Bordeaux winemakers face uncertainty as US tariffs loom
Bordeaux winemakers face uncertainty as US tariffs loom

The Sun

timean hour ago

  • The Sun

Bordeaux winemakers face uncertainty as US tariffs loom

BORDEAUX: French winemakers in the famed Bordeaux region are bracing for the financial impact of US tariffs, with industry leaders calling the uncertainty 'the stuff of nightmares.' The US remains the top export market for Bordeaux wines, accounting for €400 million in annual sales—20% of the region's total exports. Sunday's US-EU trade deal failed to clarify tariff rates for European alcohol exports. While US President Donald Trump announced a 15% across-the-board tariff, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen hinted at possible exemptions, stating that 'zero-for-zero' agreements for alcohol could still be negotiated. Philippe Tapie, chairman of Bordeaux Negoce, expressed frustration over the unpredictability. 'One day, it is white, the next it is black—the US administration can change its mind from one day to the next,' he said. The tariffs compound existing struggles, including declining consumption and overproduction, which have already pushed a third of Bordeaux's 5,000 winegrowers into financial distress. Twins Bordeaux, a major merchant, reported a 50% drop in US-bound sales this year. Co-director Sebastien Moses revealed they had stockpiled inventory preemptively but warned this was not a sustainable solution. Some high-end wines were even airlifted to bypass delays, though at triple the cost of sea freight. Jacques Bouey, CEO of Bouey wines, noted his firm had diversified exports to mitigate risks. 'Commercial strategies can no longer rely on one or two markets,' he said. With Trump's shifting deadlines—from 10% to 30%—Tapie warned, 'At 30%, no. End of story.' The industry now faces a critical wait for final tariff terms, with August 1 looming as the next decisive date. - AFP

Markets rise as EU-US trade deal boosts euro and global stocks
Markets rise as EU-US trade deal boosts euro and global stocks

The Sun

timean hour ago

  • The Sun

Markets rise as EU-US trade deal boosts euro and global stocks

HONG KONG: Most stock markets climbed higher on Monday, with the euro strengthening after the European Union and United States finalised a landmark trade agreement aimed at preventing a damaging trade war. The deal, announced by former US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, has injected optimism into global markets. The agreement includes a baseline 15 percent tariff on EU exports to the US, covering key sectors such as automobiles, pharmaceuticals, and semiconductors. Trump described the deal as 'probably the biggest ever reached in any capacity,' while von der Leyen emphasised its role in providing stability and predictability for businesses on both sides of the Atlantic. Brussels also committed to purchasing $750 billion worth of US energy and making an additional $600 billion in investments. The news pushed the euro to $1.1779, up from $1.1749 at Friday's close. Asian markets mostly advanced, with Hong Kong leading gains at around one percent. Shanghai, Sydney, Seoul, Wellington, Taipei, and Jakarta also rose, while Tokyo dipped for a second day following last week's rally. European and US futures pointed to further gains. Analysts noted that the trade developments, including progress in US-China negotiations, have eased market concerns. 'The news flow from both the extension with China and the agreement with the EU is clearly market-friendly,' said Chris Weston of Pepperstone. Investors are now focused on upcoming trade talks between US and Chinese officials in Stockholm, as well as key earnings reports from tech giants like Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft. The Federal Reserve and Bank of Japan are expected to maintain steady interest rates, though market watchers will scrutinise their outlooks amid shifting trade dynamics. - AFP

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store