Tech & Hardware 8 Hours

Last updated: May 18, 2026, 8:38 AM ET

Semiconductors & Manufacturing

TSMC's Arizona-based Fab 21 posted record Q1 profits that already exceeded its full-year 2025 earnings of NT$16.14 billion, signaling accelerating demand for advanced packaging capacity on U.S. soil. The milestone comes as TSMC scales production of its 3nm and N2 technology nodes to serve AI chip customers navigating export restrictions. In parallel, TetraMem announced the tape-out of a 22nm Multi-Level RRAM analog in-memory computing SoC, marking a Silicon Valley milestone for energy-efficient AI inference architectures that aim to displace traditional von Neumann processors in edge and data center workloads.

PC Hardware & Peripherals

Microsoft is making the Copilot key reprogrammable, reversing its earlier stance that the dedicated AI-launch button would remain hardcoded to Copilot. The change aligns with a broader push by the company to give OEMs and power users more control over keyboard shortcuts as AI features proliferate across Windows. On the peripherals front, Perixx launched the PERIBOARD-535 II, a full-size ergonomic mechanical keyboard designed for long-hour coding and office work, while Thermal Grizzly released de-lidded Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus CPUs that, when overclocked, outperform the higher-tier Core Ultra 9 285K — a move likely to appeal to enthusiasts chasing Arrow Lake Refresh gains without paying the premium SKU price.

Gaming & Linux

A new open-source project called low_latency_layer brings NVIDIA Reflex 2 and AMD Anti-Lag 2 to any GPU under Linux, eliminating the previous vendor-lock requirement and opening competitive low-latency gaming to Linux desktop users regardless of whether they run NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel graphics. The development removes a long-standing friction point for the growing Linux gaming market and could accelerate Steam Deck adoption in competitive titles.

Space & OS Software

The U.S. space enterprise waits for Starship to finally deliver after a string of delays and test flights that have swung between historic milestones and costly setbacks, with industry executives describing the experience as a ride defined by extreme highs and lows. Meanwhile, Microsoft restored Windows 10-style Taskbar and Start Menu customization to Windows 11, allowing users to relocate the Taskbar and adjust its appearance — a quality-of-life change that follows months of feedback from the Windows Insider community demanding more OS flexibility.