Taiwan key to AI development: Lai

Taiwan President William Lai opened Computex Taipei, the world’s largest tech trade show, on June 4, underscoring the country’s indispensable role in artificial intelligence development. Global tech giants like Nvidia, Qualcomm, and Intel attended, with some announcing continued investments in Taiwan’s technological capabilities, industrial efficiency, and democratic system. The event, themed ‘AI Together,’ featured over 6,000 booths from 1,500 exhibitors across 33 countries, with more than 60,000 registered attendees. Lai stated that Taiwan’s government welcomes international investment through tax incentives, improved investment environments, and a chip-based innovation program to drive next-generation tech. He emphasized that maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is essential for global supply chain security, framing it as Taiwan’s most responsible commitment. ‘The more the world needs AI, the more it needs a stable, trustworthy, and responsible Taiwan,’ Lai said, highlighting the nation’s economic strength and reliability. Taiwan’s economy grew 14.55% in the first quarter of 2024, its highest rate in 48 years, driven by strong technology exports. The government raised its 2024 economic growth forecast from 7.71% to 9.64%, the highest in 16 years, projecting Taiwan will rank among the world’s top 20 economies in 2025. The local stock market’s capitalization reached US$4.95 trillion last month, making it the fifth-largest globally, according to Lai. Addressing concerns over electricity shortages, Lai assured that Taiwan’s power supply would remain sufficient through 2032, despite rising demand from AI development. The government’s second phase of energy transformation, launched in 2024, focuses on increasing natural gas power, diversifying renewable energy, and expanding energy storage and grid capacity. He also pledged to ensure adequate water, land, and talent resources to support AI infrastructure, computing capacity, and semiconductor production. Lai’s remarks followed Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s recent statement that Taiwan would need more electricity to support future AI growth. The president reiterated Taiwan’s commitment to technological innovation, economic resilience, and international collaboration in AI development, reinforcing the nation’s position as a key partner in the global tech ecosystem.