PALO ALTO, Calif., Oct. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Taiwan is taking its Physical AI ambitions to Silicon Valley, bringing semiconductor companies and AI startups together with U.S. technology leaders to explore how AI can move from models and simulations into factories, machines and other real-world environments.

Held around Taiwan Tech Week, the “Silicon to Steel: A Physical AI Stack Mixer” brought Taiwanese companies into conversation with leaders from Phison Electronics and Applied Materials. Co-hosted by Startup Island TAIWAN – Silicon Valley Hub and SparkLabs Taiwan, the event featured startups working across memory, semiconductor security, simulation, AI agents and enterprise AI.

Uly Su, Director and Head of Startup Island TAIWAN – Silicon Valley Hub, moderated the first fireside discussion, while SparkLabs Taiwan Founder and Managing Partner Edgar Chiu moderated the second.

“Most importantly, what does Physical AI mean and how can we turn that technology into something to be commercialized?” Chiu said.

Five Taiwanese startups, JMEMTEK, NeuroShine, metAI, MORALE AI and APMIC, participated in the discussions.

Building the Physical AI stack

The first discussion focused on the infrastructure required as AI moves beyond software.

Daniel Lin, AVP of AI Ecosystem & GTM at Phison Electronics, said AI is pushing the company beyond its traditional hardware role. “Phison is moving from silicon to system, to a total solution provider,” he said, pointing to memory as a growing bottleneck for AI workloads.

Security and data control are also becoming critical as AI enters physical and mission-critical environments. JMEMTEK Founder and CEO John Chang highlighted semiconductor security and post-quantum cryptography, while NeuroShine Business Development Head Sharon Ko emphasized the importance of protecting enterprise data.

The second discussion examined the transition from simulation to the factory floor.

Daniel Wu, Co-Founder and CEO of metAI, said the company is working with TSMC to automate the creation of digital twins, reducing the time required to build detailed factory simulations.

But simulation has limits. Colette Wu, Chief of Staff at Applied Materials, said manufacturers still need real-world experimentation because existing data cannot always predict what happens at the technological frontier.

For startups, she added, strong technology alone is not enough. Companies need a clearly validated problem, an internal sponsor and an economic case for deployment.

Making AI work for manufacturers

MORALE AI Co-Founder and CEO Phil Kao said startups need to speak the language of manufacturing, demonstrating impact through metrics such as production efficiency, quality, downtime and overall equipment effectiveness rather than model accuracy alone.

APMIC CMO and U.S. General Manager Ian Chen highlighted another challenge: navigating the internal decision-making structures of large enterprises.

The conversations also underscored the importance of local networks for Taiwanese startups entering the U.S. market. Chang said startups need to actively participate in Silicon Valley ecosystems, while Ko said Taiwanese companies must shift from simply demonstrating technology to listening first and understanding U.S. customers’ problems.

Together, the discussions highlighted a Physical AI stack extending from semiconductors, memory and security to simulation, domain expertise and deployment in real industrial environments.

For Taiwan, the emerging field offers a way to build on its semiconductor and manufacturing strengths while connecting with Silicon Valley customers, capital, software capabilities and global partnerships.

Startup Island TAIWAN – Silicon Valley Hub was established in Palo Alto in 2025 with support from Taiwan’s National Development Council to help Taiwanese startups enter and expand in the U.S. market. SparkLabs Taiwan, part of the global SparkLabs investment network, has supported more than 80 AI and deep-tech founders since 2018.

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SOURCE Startup Island TAIWAN Silicon Valley Hub

New Perth-Sydney route adds high-capacity connectivity and resilience as cloud, AI and international data flows drive demand across Australia 

LONDON, Oct. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Telstra has launched the Perth-Sydney route of its Aura Network, expanding its next-generation fibre network and strengthening connectivity between Western Australia, the eastern states and international markets.

The new route is the longest route in the network and strengthens Australia’s east-west digital corridor, connecting major cloud, data centre and business hubs of Australia’s eastern states to Perth, connecting into the western global subsea cable networks. The Aura Network provides organisations with greater capacity and route diversity to move data across the country and connect with international markets.

Steven Worrall, CEO, Telstra Digital Infrastructure, said: “Western Australia is home to some of the world’s most geographically distributed and technology-intensive industries, from remote operations centres to increasingly automated mining and industrial operations.

“As these industries become increasingly data-driven, the connectivity linking them to customers, partners, cloud and compute is becoming just as important as the technology deployed on the ground.

“The Perth-Sydney route adds another high-capacity pathway between Australia’s west and east, helping businesses move data more reliably across the country and strengthening the connections between WA’s growing digital economy and global markets.

“Western Australia is increasingly emerging as a strategic digital and defence hub in the Indo-Pacific, which makes this investment in low-latency, resilient new infrastructure even more strategic.”

The launch comes as new Oxford Economics research, Australia’s Western Gateway: WA’s Digital Opportunity, commissioned by Telstra, finds Western Australia’s digital economy could grow from $16.8 billion in FY25 to approximately $89.1 billion by FY40 under an accelerated digital adoption scenario. The report highlights high-capacity connectivity as a key enabler of growth across industries including mining, defence, and professional and financial services, while reinforcing WA’s role as a connection point between Australia and international markets.

The Perth-Sydney route forms part of Telstra’s broader $1.8 billion investment in Australia’s digital infrastructure. Together with Aura’s other routes, it strengthens connectivity between Australia’s major cities, data centres, cloud regions and international gateways.

Expanding Aura’s national network

The activation of the Aura Network’s Perth-Sydney route marks another milestone in the network, with 9,000km built of a planned 14,000km and active routes across Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra. It is designed to provide up to 35 times more fibre capacity per path and greater resilience than conventional fibre routes.

The network is already supporting demand from cloud, AI and digital infrastructure providers, with organisations including Microsoft and Google securing capacity on the Aura Network to help meet growing connectivity requirements.

Built with two separate fibre pathways, one for express traffic and another with “on” and “off” ramps to support connectivity to regional Australia, the network gives customers flexibility in how they access capacity. Organisations can purchase access to a dedicated part of the network, customise and scale capacity as needed, or use a fully managed service.

Steven Worrall said: “Cloud, AI and data centres are changing where and how data is generated, processed and consumed. Resilient connections between Australia’s major digital hubs will be increasingly important as that demand grows.

“The Perth-Sydney route adds another high-capacity pathway across the country, helping businesses connect Australia’s west and east and the global digital networks they increasingly depend on.”

About Telstra Digital Infrastructure

Telstra Digital Infrastructure is Telstra’s integrated digital infrastructure business, delivering end-to-end digital infrastructure solutions across Australia and international markets. Through an extensive portfolio of fibre, duct, subsea cable, data centre, tower, satellite infrastructure and engineering services, we provide the connectivity, platforms and services that underpin business growth, digital transformation and the evolving demands of the AI economy.

Combining deep technical expertise, decades of operational experience and a long history of supporting customers across Australia, Asia-Pacific and beyond, we connect businesses, markets and communities through secure, reliable and high-performance digital infrastructure. 

Report methodology

WA’s digital economy comprises the core digital sector, which covers technology industries that produce and deliver digital goods and services, and digitally enabled activity, which captures the contribution of digital technology embedded in the factors of production used across other industries. The accelerated scenario illustrates the additional economic opportunity available if WA increases its digital intensity and closes part of the gap with Australia’s leading digital economies. Econometric modelling shows that increased fibre capacity has the potential to increase Gross State Product and job creation by enabling Telstra’s customers to lift output and productivity through greater adoption of cloud computing, AI, and other digital technologies. The construction and operations impact follows a standard Input-Output framework widely used for assessing the economic footprint of businesses, industries and projects.

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SOURCE Telstra Digital Infrastructure

AGP257FT combines an overclocked to 1050Hz refresh rate, 0.1ms MPRT response time, Oxide panel, NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible performance and advanced eye-comfort technologies for next-generation competitive gaming.

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — AGON, the world’s No.1 gaming monitor brand for seven consecutive years according to 2025 IDC reports, today announces the upcoming AGP257FT. Designed for professional competitors and performance-driven gamers, this groundbreaking esports monitor takes responsiveness and motion clarity to a new level.

The AGP257FT incorporates proprietary ultra-high-refresh-rate gaming LCD technology. Its native Oxide panel combines fast-response liquid-crystal materials with integrated GIA circuit design to support a OC1050Hz refresh rate at 1920 × 1080 resolution.

This advanced panel architecture enables faster pixel driving and overcomes the slower voltage-response limitations of conventional LCD panels. The result is smoother motion, lower frame delay and more immediate visual feedback. Combined with an ultra-fast 0.1ms MPRT, rapid movements, flick shots and fast-changing scenes appear sharper and clearer during high-speed action.

Extreme Motion Clarity and Advanced Eye Comfort for Extended Play

Motion Blur Reduction Plus (MBR+) minimizes perceived blur during rapid movement for sharper object definition. NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible technology synchronizes the display’s refresh rate with compatible GPU output to reduce screen tearing and stuttering while maintaining responsive gameplay. VESA DisplayHDR™ 400 support brings greater brightness and visual impact in compatible games without compromising competitive performance.

The AGP257FT’s hardware-based Low Blue Light solution reduces harmful shortwave blue light at the backlight source while preserving natural colors without the yellow tint caused by software filters. Its TÜV Rheinland-certified Circular Polarization technology, verified at over 50% circularity, produces light that more closely resembles natural sunlight, helping reduce glare, visual harshness and eye fatigue without compromising display performance.

A New Benchmark for Esports Displays

Combining OC1050Hz performance, 0.1ms MPRT, a Fast IPS Technology, MBR+, NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible support and advanced Circular Polarization technologies, the AGP257FT establishes a new benchmark for extreme-speed gaming with enhanced visual comfort.

About AOC

Founded in 1967, AOC is a globally leading monitor and IT accessories brand and a subsidiary of TPV Technology Limited, one of the world’s largest display manufacturers. AOC delivers innovative, ergonomic and environmentally conscious solutions for professional and personal applications.

AGON, AOC’s gaming sub-brand, offers high-performance gaming monitors and accessories for core gamers, competitive players and esports professionals.

Brief Spec:

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SOURCE AGON by AOC