AI takes center stage at Taiwan’s Computex tech showcase

Taiwan’s Computex 2024 emerges as a critical intersection of AI innovation and geopolitical tension, as the tech industry’s premier Asian trade show prepares to welcome 1,400 exhibitors amid escalating U.S. tariff threats. The event, running May 20-23, will feature industry luminaries including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang—whose appearance last year sparked “Jensanity” from fans—alongside executives from Qualcomm, Foxconn, and other tech giants navigating an increasingly complex manufacturing landscape influenced by U.S.-China trade policies.

The big picture: This year’s Computex will focus on industry collaboration in response to macroeconomic and geopolitical pressures rather than just showcasing new consumer technologies.

• Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s keynote, scheduled for Monday, is expected to announce expanded partnerships with Taiwanese AI server manufacturers amid growing concerns about U.S. tariffs.
• The trade show marks the first major gathering of tech executives in Asia since former U.S. President Donald Trump threatened sweeping reciprocal tariffs in April, pushing companies to increase U.S.-based production.

Key players in attendance: Major tech executives will use the platform to outline their AI strategies and partnerships amid shifting global manufacturing dynamics.

• Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon will provide updates on the company’s AI PC developments, while MediaTek plans to outline its vision for both edge AI and cloud AI implementations.
• AMD will showcase advancements in gaming and AI-powered personal computers, while Intel’s new CEO Lip-Bu Tan will forego public appearances in favor of private meetings with Taiwanese partners.

Industry evolution: Taiwan’s Advantech, returning to Computex after a decade-long absence, represents the show’s broader transformation from consumer electronics to advanced technological systems.

• Advantech Chairman K.C. Liu credited Nvidia’s Jensen Huang with helping evolve the show from consumer-focused products like laptops to one highlighting technological advances for business applications.
• “Taiwan has also changed,” Liu noted. “The entire industry has shifted toward AI, so it’s no longer enough to focus solely on B2C products.”

U.S.-China tensions: Exhibitors face mounting pressure from both U.S. tariff threats and export controls targeting AI chip sales to China.

• Nvidia announced plans in April to produce AI servers worth $500 billion in the U.S. over four years, working with Taiwanese manufacturers including TSMC, Foxconn, and Wistron.
• Both Nvidia and AMD must navigate tightening export controls on advanced AI graphics processing units to China, adding another layer of complexity to their global manufacturing strategies.