Taiwan to Dominate Chip Production for Years, AI to Reshape Global Capacity

Ofcom CEO Melanie Dawes states Taiwan will remain the dominant global hub for semiconductor manufacturing for the foreseeable future. She emphasizes that the rapid rollout of artificial intelligence will necessitate new industrial capacity worldwide and reshape global production. Dawes expressed confidence in India's significant future role in applying AI for human good, citing the country's enormous market scale. The discussions also covered telecom regulation and the recent UK-India Free Trade Agreement, highlighting ongoing bilateral cooperation.

Key Points: Taiwan's Chip Dominance & AI's Global Impact: Ofcom CEO

  • Taiwan leads global chip production
  • AI rollout to drive industrial change
  • New manufacturing capacity needed worldwide
  • India's role in AI future growing
  • UK-India partnership strengthened by trade deal
3 min read

Taiwan to remain dominant in chip production for years, but AI rollout may reshape global capacity: Ofcom CEO

Ofcom CEO Melanie Dawes says Taiwan will lead chip production for years, but AI rollout will drive new global capacity and industrial shifts.

"Taiwan remaining the dominant place for chip production for many years to come - Melanie Dawes"

By Kaushal Verma, New Delhi, February 19

Taiwan will continue to be the dominant hub for global chip production for many years, but the rapid rollout of artificial intelligence will drive major industrial shifts and require new manufacturing capacity worldwide, Ofcom CEO Melanie Dawes said today.

"It was just interesting to hear that about Taiwan remaining the dominant place for chip production for many years to come," Dawes told ANI exclusively on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, adding that "but we're going to see a huge amount of change as AI rolls out. We're going to see new industries develop, and new capacity will need to be built everywhere."

Taiwan is the leading force in global semiconductor manufacturing, accounting for more than 60% of worldwide chip production and over 90% of the most advanced, cutting-edge semiconductors as of 2026.

India has also stepped up efforts to manufacture indigenous semiconductor chips under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM).

During the same event, which was based on the theme of Diffusing AI: Human Capital, Infrastructure and Trust.

Nikesh Arora, CEO, Palo Alto Networks, said, "No country can build chips with the pace and efficiency the way Taiwan is building. They have built multi billion dollar industry on it."

Dawes also told ANI that the scale of the Indian market is "enormous" and expressed confidence that India would play "a very big part in the future of AI and applying it for human good."

On telecom regulation, Dawes said she had earlier in the week discussed regulatory frameworks with Indian counterparts and also held a conversation with Bharti Airtel to understand the Indian context. "I think there are some similarities, but there are also some differences," she said.

"In India you've moved much more quickly to mobile, and that raises different kinds of questions to some of those we face in Britain, where it's more about rolling out fibre to every home," she added.

Dawes said both countries had discussed "the importance of competition" and "whether you can have competition in a more consolidated market, how you create that, whether it's about the number of companies."

She also spoke about the volume of online content available to consumers. "There's just so much to look at, so much to watch, to listen to, to read -- it can be bewildering," she said, adding that in the UK there remains strong belief in public service media that provides "balanced, impartial news."

Referring to the UK-India Free Trade Agreement, Dawes said, "The UK and India have always had a strong partnership, and we've just struck a trade deal together, which is fantastic," adding that she would return with "lots of opportunities to follow up" with counterparts in India.

Speaking about the wider AI debate in Delhi, Dawes described it as "such a privilege" to come from the UK and "immerse" herself in the Indian conversation. "I just find Delhi so full of energy, so full of a sense of hope and optimism and innovation, it's very exciting," she said.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
It's good to hear international recognition of India's potential in AI. The scale of our market and talent pool is indeed enormous. But we need more than just talk - we need faster implementation of policies and real investment in R&D to catch up.
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Nikhil C
The comment about mobile-first India vs fibre in Britain is spot on. Our digital infrastructure leapfrogged traditional models. This agility can be our biggest strength in the AI race if we channel it correctly. Exciting times ahead!
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Sarah B
While I appreciate the optimism, I respectfully disagree with the notion that "no country can build chips with the pace and efficiency of Taiwan." That's a defeatist mindset. With the right focus and investment, India can and must develop this capability. We've achieved the impossible before.
R
Rohit P
The UK-India FTA is a great step. Partnerships like these for tech transfer and joint ventures in semiconductor manufacturing could accelerate our ISM. We need to leverage such relationships strategically, not just for trade but for knowledge.
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Meera T
Her point about the "bewildering" amount of online content is so true! In India, with so many languages and platforms, the need for reliable, impartial news is even greater. Hope our regulators are listening. AI can help, but human oversight is key.

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