Morris Chang, the 94-year-old visionary behind Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), marked a significant return to public view by sharing a private dinner with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang in Taipei. This dinner represented Chang's first public emergence in over a year, a period during which he had significantly reduced his public engagements. Notably, he abstained from attending TSMC's traditional annual Sports Day, an event where he has historically provided insights into the semiconductor industry dynamics. Chang's prolonged absence had stirred speculation concerning his health status, which gave his recent appearance considerable attention within the technology and financial communities.
Throughout 2025, Chang's physical presence was minimal and limited mainly to his auditory contribution to a joint multimedia presentation by Nvidia and TSMC. This presentation celebrated the commencement of volume production of Nvidia's Blackwell chips at TSMC's fabrication facility in Arizona, a landmark event symbolizing a substantial $165 billion investment in U.S. semiconductor manufacturing capacity. Notably, Chang did not appear on camera but offered an opening remark that encapsulated his enduring vision: "When I started TSMC … I had a dream to build fabs in the United States, and my dream lives."
At the dinner held at a Cantonese restaurant, Chang arrived in a wheelchair, indicating some effects of age; however, Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang reassured observers regarding Chang's mental acuity and vitality. Huang described the conversation as engaging and intellectually stimulating, emphasizing that Chang is growing stronger while retaining a sharp mind and high spirits. "Talking to Morris always makes you very sharp," Huang remarked, underscoring the founder's ongoing influence.
Following this meeting, Huang is scheduled to participate in the Nvidia Taiwan year-end banquet and organize events with stakeholders in the company's supply chain, further deepening Nvidia's collaborative interactions within Taiwan's semiconductor ecosystem.
Earlier on the day of the dinner, Huang addressed concerns that the United States had acquired nearly 40% of Taiwan's semiconductor manufacturing capabilities. He dismissed the narrative that this shift constituted a relocation of chip production, stating instead that the global semiconductor industry is experiencing an overall capacity expansion. Huang pointed to simultaneous investments and capacity additions in the U.S., Europe, and Japan, while reaffirming Taiwan's status as the world's primary nucleus for semiconductor manufacturing.
Huang characterized TSMC as the preeminent foundry partner globally, citing the company's leadership in technology, exemplary execution, and adaptability. He projected that TSMC will need to dramatically increase its manufacturing capacity over the coming decade, emphasizing that the majority of this production will remain based in Taiwan even as the company continues to broaden its international footprint.
In the market following this news, Nvidia's shares saw a modest decline of 0.49% during after-hours trading, settling at $190.20, according to Benzinga Pro data. Despite this slight dip, Nvidia's stock has gained over 59% in the past twelve months and maintains a strong Quality rating on Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings, supported by positive pricing trends across short, medium, and long-term analyses.
It is important to note that this report was compiled with the assistance of AI tools but underwent thorough editorial review. The included financial data and market commentary are sourced from reputable data providers and reflect stock performance relevant to the sector and companies discussed.
Throughout 2025, Chang's physical presence was minimal and limited mainly to his auditory contribution to a joint multimedia presentation by Nvidia and TSMC. This presentation celebrated the commencement of volume production of Nvidia's Blackwell chips at TSMC's fabrication facility in Arizona, a landmark event symbolizing a substantial $165 billion investment in U.S. semiconductor manufacturing capacity. Notably, Chang did not appear on camera but offered an opening remark that encapsulated his enduring vision: "When I started TSMC … I had a dream to build fabs in the United States, and my dream lives."
At the dinner held at a Cantonese restaurant, Chang arrived in a wheelchair, indicating some effects of age; however, Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang reassured observers regarding Chang's mental acuity and vitality. Huang described the conversation as engaging and intellectually stimulating, emphasizing that Chang is growing stronger while retaining a sharp mind and high spirits. "Talking to Morris always makes you very sharp," Huang remarked, underscoring the founder's ongoing influence.
Following this meeting, Huang is scheduled to participate in the Nvidia Taiwan year-end banquet and organize events with stakeholders in the company's supply chain, further deepening Nvidia's collaborative interactions within Taiwan's semiconductor ecosystem.
Earlier on the day of the dinner, Huang addressed concerns that the United States had acquired nearly 40% of Taiwan's semiconductor manufacturing capabilities. He dismissed the narrative that this shift constituted a relocation of chip production, stating instead that the global semiconductor industry is experiencing an overall capacity expansion. Huang pointed to simultaneous investments and capacity additions in the U.S., Europe, and Japan, while reaffirming Taiwan's status as the world's primary nucleus for semiconductor manufacturing.
Huang characterized TSMC as the preeminent foundry partner globally, citing the company's leadership in technology, exemplary execution, and adaptability. He projected that TSMC will need to dramatically increase its manufacturing capacity over the coming decade, emphasizing that the majority of this production will remain based in Taiwan even as the company continues to broaden its international footprint.
In the market following this news, Nvidia's shares saw a modest decline of 0.49% during after-hours trading, settling at $190.20, according to Benzinga Pro data. Despite this slight dip, Nvidia's stock has gained over 59% in the past twelve months and maintains a strong Quality rating on Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings, supported by positive pricing trends across short, medium, and long-term analyses.
It is important to note that this report was compiled with the assistance of AI tools but underwent thorough editorial review. The included financial data and market commentary are sourced from reputable data providers and reflect stock performance relevant to the sector and companies discussed.