## TSMC forecasts endless AI demand Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) reported record fourth-quarter earnings and expects strong demand for artificial intelligence (AI) chips to continue for many years. During an earnings call, CEO C.C. Wei told investors that while he cannot predict the semiconductor industry's long-term trajectory, he remains bullish on AI. TSMC manufactures chips for companies including Apple, Nvidia, AMD, and Qualcomm, making it a linchpin of the global electronics supply chain. The company produces the vast majority of the world's most advanced semiconductors, and its factories in Taiwan have become a focal point of US-China tensions over technology and trade. "All in all, I believe in my point of view, the AI is real—not only real, it's starting to grow into our daily life. And we believe that is kind of—we call it AI megatrend," Wei said during the call. "So another question is 'can the semiconductor industry be good for 3, 4, 5 years in a row?' I'll tell you the truth, I don't know. But I look at the AI, it looks like it's going to be like an endless—I mean, that for many years to come." ## Background TSMC is the world's largest semiconductor manufacturer, with a dominant market share. Its state-of-the-art production capacity is essential for the global technology industry. The increasing demand for AI chips is driving significant investments in expanding TSMC's production capacity.