The Information's TITV Thinking Machines Co-founders Head to OpenAI, Zuckerberg’s AI Warning | Jan 15, 2026
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Jan 15, 2026 
Join Channer Liu, an Asia reporter focused on the semiconductor industry, as he discusses TSMC's record $56 billion capital spending and its dominance in advanced chipmaking. Stephanie Palazzolo dives into the drama at Thinking Machines Lab as co-founders return to OpenAI, stirring investor concerns. Analyst Gil Luria highlights Meta's heavy investment in Reality Labs amidst skepticism about its profitability. Lastly, Anita Ramaswamy sheds light on ByteDance's undervalued $330 billion, while Rocket Drew explores how companies are hiring and training AI-native talent.
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TSMC's AI-Led Revenue Boom
- TSMC's revenue surge is driven by advanced-node chips for AI, which now make up over 70% of sales.
- The company is planning $52–$56B CapEx to expand advanced production for 2027–2028 demand.
CapEx Will Only Help Years Out
- Most CapEx will buy advanced chipmaking tools to expand AI chip capacity, but benefits arrive only in years.
- Near-term fixes rely on boosting productivity and repurposing older facilities.
Yield And Neutrality Are TSMC's Moats
- TSMC's technical edge delivers higher yields, lowering customers' unit costs versus rivals.
- Its pure-foundry model avoids competing with clients and builds trust for secretive designs.