Chip dreams meet reality

A chip factory construction site built by TSMC in partnership with European chipmakers, near Dresden, Germany. European chipmakers need TSMC’s help to grow their own semiconductor supply chain but the chip giant’s Taiwanese suppliers find Europe a tough place to do business. — Milan Bures/The New York Times

FOR decades, most of the world’s advanced computer chip production was rooted in Taiwan.

Then, pandemic disruptions and geopolitical tensions exposed the risks of concentrating output in one place – just as demand surged for artificial intelligence.