The artificial intelligence (AI) boom has reshaped the labor division within the semiconductor industry, rendering the distinctions between upstream and downstream sectors increasingly ambiguous. NVIDIA, once primarily known as a gaming graphics card powerhouse, has evolved into the leading architect of AI infrastructure, with plans to exceed $1 trillion in related chip orders by 2027. AMD has bolstered its product portfolio through the acquisition of Xilinx, with its data center business emerging as a key growth driver. By 2027, it anticipates generating billions of dollars in annual revenue from its Instinct series AI accelerator cards. Arm, breaking a 35-year tradition of licensing without manufacturing, has launched its own chips, aiming to boost revenue from around $5 billion to $25 billion by 2030. Qualcomm has expanded its reach from the mobile sector to data centers, with a focus on edge AI and inference technologies. TSMC has undergone significant business restructuring in response to the soaring demand for AI computing power, with high-performance computing now surpassing smartphones as its primary revenue source.

Moreover, internet and cloud service companies are accelerating their upstream integration, dismantling the long-established boundaries of the semiconductor industry. The establishment of new industry frontiers and the allocation of discourse power have become central points of focus.