TSMC Approves $500 Million Investments in OpenAI and Anthropic

Key Takeaways

• TSMC authorized up to $500 million each for OpenAI preferred stock and Anthropic common shares, with the Anthropic purchase at its expected IPO price and both deals subject to offering terms.
• Anthropic set its IPO price range at $70–$78 per share; TSMC also approved up to $500 million for a semiconductor-focused strategic investment company.
• TSMC reported third-quarter profit of NT$763.06 billion, up 68.7% year over year, raised its quarterly dividend to NT$9 per share, and approved about $40.93 billion in capital spending.
• TSMC makes chips for Nvidia and AMD and holds more than 70% of foundry market share, according to Counterpoint Research; Broadcom’s AI chip revenue rose 221% to $16 billion in its latest quarter.
• Meta says it will donate 130,000 Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses to blind and visually impaired veterans; veterans used the glasses at Washington memorials, including to find a name on the Vietnam Memorial.
• Researchers say pass-or-fail AI-agent benchmarks can mask performance differences and propose a clipped log-ratio score, with cost measured separately.
• An analysis cited by Pack says PFAS may be used in as many as 1,000 semiconductor-production stages; the chemicals are persistent and linked to health risks, though more research is needed.
• Singapore’s Sapiens Technology says its robotics method can cut training from weeks or months to 30 minutes to less than a week; it is in talks with more than 30 firms.
• Smytten’s PulseAI Research combines survey responses and shopping behavior, has more than 200 enterprise clients and contributes nearly 25% of the company’s revenue.
• Google is rolling out Gemini voice conversations on Apple CarPlay; WellSaid is targeting businesses with voice tools accessible through Claude, ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot.

TSMC plans $1 billion investment in OpenAI and Anthropic

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s board approved plans to invest up to $500 million in OpenAI preferred stock and up to $500 million in Anthropic common shares. TSMC would buy the Anthropic shares at the company’s expected IPO price. The investments would give the chipmaker direct stakes in two leading AI developers while its chip business benefits from demand for AI data centers.

TSMC approves AI investments and raises its quarterly dividend

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company approved up to US$500 million for Anthropic shares at its IPO price and up to US$500 million for OpenAI preferred shares. Its board also approved raising the quarterly cash dividend to NT$9 per share for the third quarter, up from NT$7, with payment set for April 8, 2027. TSMC reported net profit of NT$763.06 billion for the July to September quarter, up 68.7 percent from a year earlier. The board also approved up to US$500 million for a strategic investment company and a capital budget of about US$40.93 billion for manufacturing expansion, fabrication plants, and research and development.

TSMC gains direct ties to leading AI developers through new investments

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s board authorized up to US$500 million to take equity stakes in OpenAI and Anthropic. The investments give the world’s largest contract chipmaker direct financial ties to the AI companies driving demand for its business. Directors also approved up to US$500 million to create a separate strategic investment arm focused on the semiconductor ecosystem.

TSMC authorizes up to $1 billion for OpenAI and Anthropic

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company authorized investments of up to $1 billion in US-based AI developers Anthropic and OpenAI. It approved up to $500 million for Anthropic common shares at the company’s IPO price and up to $500 million for OpenAI Group PBC preferred stock. Both investments depend on the terms of the share offerings. Anthropic set its IPO price range at $70 to $78 per share.

TSMC and Broadcom stand out as AI stocks after tech sell-off

The article names Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and Broadcom as potential long-term buys after a recent tech stock sell-off. TSMC makes chips for Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices, along with products for smartphones, PCs, and smart home devices, and holds more than 70% of the foundry market, according to Counterpoint Research. TSMC said demand for AI chips is growing, partly because of agentic AI, while its shares were valued at 22 times forward earnings estimates. Broadcom reported that AI semiconductor revenue rose 221% to $16 billion in its latest quarter, and said AI revenue could reach $230 billion by fiscal 2028; the company also sells networking products used in AI and non-AI systems.

Two AI Chip Stocks Stand Out After the Tech Sell-Off

The article names Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) and Broadcom as possible buys after a recent tech stock sell-off. It says both companies are growing with the AI boom but also serve markets beyond AI. TSMC makes chips for Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices, as well as smartphones, PCs and smart home appliances, and holds more than 70% of the foundry market, according to Counterpoint Research. The article says concern about AI spending and other market pressures has weighed on tech stocks, but argues the long-term outlook for AI remains promising.

Veterans Use AI Glasses to Find Names at Washington Memorials

On Tuesday, veterans visiting Washington’s war memorials used Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses to navigate and learn about the sites. Meta sponsored the three-day honor flight, and many of the veterans were blind or visually impaired. The glasses use cameras, microphones and AI to describe the wearers’ surroundings. Vietnam veteran Victor Dunham used them to find the name of his friend Anthony on the Vietnam Memorial wall. Meta said it has committed to donating 130,000 pairs of the glasses to blind and visually impaired veterans nationwide.

Agent Benchmarks May Hide Differences Between Top AI Models

Researchers examined results from eight benchmarks used to test data science and machine learning engineering agents, including SWE-bench Verified and Terminal-Bench. They found that many benchmarks rely on a single pass or fail result, which can hide meaningful differences between high-performing models. On SWE-bench Verified, small score differences between top agents were within the tests’ error range, while ALE-Bench gave the top ten agents the same result against a median human despite nearly half beating that level. The researchers propose a clipped log-ratio score using dated anchors, with cost measured separately. In a Terminal-Bench rerun, models tied by pass or fail scores differed by more than tenfold on a measure the tests left out.

AI Growth Raises Demand and Concerns Over Forever Chemicals

An analysis cited by Pack says PFAS may be used in as many as 1,000 stages of semiconductor production, while a survey found that nearly all major PFAS producers plan to increase output. PFAS can build up in food, water and soil, and blood tests have detected them in more than 99% of the global population. The chemicals have been linked to reproductive problems, effects on child development, higher cancer risk and weakened immune systems, though more research is needed. Pack recommended steps such as filtering tap water, using stainless steel or cast iron cookware, and avoiding fast food. He urged government officials and businesses to restrict PFAS use, warning that AI’s environmental effects may include long-lasting chemicals as well as electricity and water use.

Singapore Startup Sapiens Cuts Robot AI Training to 30 Minutes

Singapore’s Sapiens Technology says its method can cut AI training for robotics from weeks or months to 30 minutes to less than a week. Instead of training an entire model, the technique trains one to three billion parameters and is designed to work with all AI models, including the company’s Agnes AI. Sapiens is in talks with more than 30 robotics and medical firms in the United States, China and Singapore, including TetraBOT Electronic Technology and Shanghai Xinwei Medical Technology. Tests used commercial robotic arms and robot ducks to pick up objects, and the company says trained robots can adapt to task changes and follow text prompts. TetraBOT is planning to train more industrial robots with the technique after a traditional two-month test failed, while Shanghai Xinwei is working with Sapiens on inventory forecasts and business insights.

Smytten uses AI to reveal how Indian shoppers really buy

Smytten’s PulseAI Research combines survey answers with shopping behavior to show how Indian consumers discover, compare and buy products. It tracks actions such as browsing, adding items to carts and completing purchases, helping explain why shoppers may choose a different product than the one they said they preferred. Co-founder Swagat Sarangi said the platform uses statistical models and machine learning, while AI helps explain the results in everyday language. PulseAI Research has passed 200 enterprise clients in just over two years and brings in nearly 25% of Smytten’s revenue. Its findings can help brands review pricing, packaging, advertising and product positioning, with researcher checks used to support reliable results.

RSNA 2026 preview highlights AI in real-world medical care

AuntMinnie’s Road to RSNA 2026 preview highlights selected scientific presentations on clinical uses of AI at the meeting at McCormick Place. Researchers will examine how AI performs in real-world care and whether it can help predict treatment response in theranostics. Other topics include patient risk assessment, early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and AI’s possible effects on radiology malpractice cases. The preview covers only some of the AI presentations, posters, plenary sessions, courses and exhibits planned for the meeting. Attendees can also visit the AI Showcase in the South Exhibit Hall.

Google brings Gemini voice conversations to Apple CarPlay

Google is starting a global rollout of its Gemini app for iOS users on Apple CarPlay, supporting every Gemini Live language. Drivers can tap the Gemini icon to resume a recent chat or start one, and conversations sync to the iPhone chat history. They can use voice to check Gmail, get email summaries, review their calendar, find local lunch spots or practice a presentation. To use Gemini, drivers need the latest iPhone app, microphone permission and at least one previous use of Gemini Live on their phone. The move follows Google’s rollout on Android Auto and cars with Google built-in.

WellSaid shifts its AI voice tools to businesses and agents

WellSaid has updated its platform so businesses can use its voiceover tools through assistants such as Claude, ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot. CEO Benjamin Dorr said the company is profitable and has about 30 employees, down from more than 70 in late 2024, as it shifts its focus from individual users to businesses. WellSaid continues to build voices from recordings of professional actors and pays them royalties when companies use their voices. It has about 1,000 business customers, including nearly half of the Fortune 100, and its top 25 customers each spend more than $100,000 a year, Dorr said. The company raised venture debt from Multiplier Capital in March, and Dorr said it may consider other financing in 2027 if its plans exceed its ability to reinvest.

Sources

• Taiwan’s chipmaking giant TSMC to invest $1B in Anthropic, OpenAI
• TSMC to invest in Anthropic, OpenAI, raise quarterly dividend
• What chip giant TSMC gains from taking stakes in OpenAI and Anthropic’s AI race
• TSMC plans up to $1bn investment in Anthropic, OpenAI
• Tech Sell-Off: Two AI Stocks That Are Screaming Buys Right Now
• Tech Sell-Off: Two AI Stocks That Are Screaming Buys Right Now
• Veterans tour Washington war memorials using AI glasses
• Agent Benchmarks Stop Ranking Before They Run Out of Tasks
• AI boom fuels demand for 'forever chemicals' as major producers plan to increase output
• Singapore start-up Sapiens cracks AI training bottleneck, makes waves overseas
• Why do Indian consumers change their buying decisions? AI helps brands track actual shopping behaviour
• Road to RSNA 2026: AI Preview
• Google is adding Gemini voice AI to Apple CarPlay
• AI voice company WellSaid retools for agents while keeping its commitment to human actors