TSMC’s C.C. Wei Says ‘Brain’ Chips Are Key to Robots, With US Firms Designing and TSMC Manufacturing

Competition in humanoid and eldercare robots is intensifying globally, but industry value hinges on more than whether machines can run or jump. Sensors, AI models and computing chips are also critical. TSMC Chairman C.C. Wei said US companies including NVIDIA and AMD control the design of the robots’ “brains,” while TSMC manufactures them using advanced processes, underscoring Taiwan’s pivotal role in the global AI supply chain.

Wei recently said that while some Chinese robots can demonstrate movements such as jumping, their practical utility is ultimately determined by the computing power behind them. About 95% of the relevant core chips are manufactured by TSMC. Recent reports also identified eldercare as the next major AI application and said Taiwan’s microelectromechanical systems and sensor industries could benefit. Available information, however, does not specify the date of Wei’s remarks, investment amounts or the scale of orders.