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Japan’s TDK Acquires U.S. Smart Glasses Company SoftEye

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Japanese electronics manufacturer TDK announced on Thursday it has acquired SoftEye, a U.S.-based company specializing in software and hardware for smart glasses. This acquisition supports TDK’s strategy to find new growth drivers linked to artificial intelligence (AI).

SoftEye, headquartered in San Diego, California, develops eye-tracking and object recognition technologies. Its founder and CEO, Te-Won Lee, has previously held executive roles at Samsung Electronics and Qualcomm.

According to a source familiar with the deal, the acquisition is valued at under $100 million.

Tech companies are increasingly investing in hardware beyond smartphones, with smart glasses gaining attention. Facebook owner Meta and others are focusing on AI-powered smart glasses to enhance user interaction with their environment. Social media company Snap plans to launch consumer smart glasses next year, and Alphabet’s Google recently showcased smart glasses at its developer conference. Chipmaker Qualcomm also unveiled a smart glasses processor this month.

TDK, once famous for its cassette tapes, now plays a key role in electronics by supplying components and batteries for smart glasses.

Qualcomm Opens AI Research and Development Centre in Vietnam

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Qualcomm, the U.S.-based chipmaker, announced on Tuesday the launch of a new artificial intelligence (AI) research and development centre in Vietnam.

The centre will focus on advancing generative and agentic AI technologies across a variety of fields including smartphones, personal computers, extended reality (XR), automotive, and Internet of Things (IoT) applications.

This initiative aligns with Vietnam’s national strategies on AI, semiconductors, and digital transformation. Qualcomm plans to emphasize technology transfer, ecosystem collaboration, and capacity building as part of its operations.

During a meeting in Hanoi, Alex Rogers, Qualcomm’s President of Global Affairs, met with Vietnam’s top leader, To Lam. To Lam encouraged Qualcomm to continue expanding its presence in Vietnam, especially in semiconductor manufacturing and digital infrastructure sectors.

Qualcomm to Acquire Alphawave for $2.4 Billion to Boost AI Data Center Expansion

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U.S. chipmaker Qualcomm announced on Monday that it will acquire British semiconductor firm Alphawave for approximately $2.4 billion, signaling Qualcomm’s strategic push into the rapidly growing AI data center market. Alphawave’s shares surged over 22% following the announcement.

Alphawave specializes in high-speed semiconductor technologies for data centers, an area that complements Qualcomm’s existing portfolio and helps diversify its reliance beyond the smartphone sector. Qualcomm, a leading supplier of chips for major smartphone brands including Apple and Xiaomi, is increasingly focusing on data centers and personal computers, partly due to Apple’s shift toward in-house processors for iPhones.

Alphawave shareholders will receive 183 pence per share, representing a nearly 96% premium over the company’s closing price on March 31, just before Qualcomm revealed its interest. Qualcomm’s shares rose about 4% on the news.

The deal includes two alternative all-share offers following extensions by the UK takeover panel, but Alphawave’s board plans to recommend the cash offer as fair and reasonable.

Jefferies analysts expect no significant regulatory hurdles, citing Alphawave’s recent exit from its Chinese joint venture, WiseWave.

Qualcomm President and CEO Cristiano Amon emphasized that Alphawave’s advanced connectivity and compute technologies will enhance Qualcomm’s power-efficient CPU and neural processing units.

The acquisition is slated to close in the first quarter of 2026. Notably, SoftBank-owned Arm had considered acquiring Alphawave but ultimately chose not to proceed.