AI cuts chip R&D cycles to 9 months, says Etron chair

AI-driven growth will push the semiconductor industry past the US$1.6 trillion mark in 2026, while accelerating chip development cycles to one new product every nine months, Etron Chairman Nicky Lu said. He warned that the next 3 to 5 years will be critical for Taiwan, which risks facing intense competition unless it builds stronger software, system, and architecture advantages.