A new generation of chips is emerging—one that relies on light instead of electrons. As photonics moves from experiment to platform, technology shifts from processing information toward sensing and interacting with the physical world.
Semiconductors have become the backbone of modern power, shaping geopolitics, AI and global supply chains. From ASML’s unique position to Taiwan’s strategic role, this deep dive explores how chips evolved into the most critical resource of the digital age.
China rarely dominates Western headlines in the same way as Silicon Valley or Brussels, yet few countries shape the global future of artificial intelligence as quietly and consistently. While public debate in Europe and the United States often focuses on regulation, ethics and market competition, China has taken a different path. It treats AI not as a standalone sector, but as a strategic foundation for national power.
