Global data center capex could reach US$31.6 trillion by 2050 as AI demand surges

The AI-driven data center investment wave is reshaping the global semiconductor supply chain. Technologically, this surge will significantly boost demand for high-performance computing chips, memory, and cooling materials, especially at advanced process nodes, putting immense pressure on supply chain players in Taiwan, China and Hong Kong, China. From a compliance standpoint, geopolitical tensions are heightening supply chain risks, forcing companies to restructure procurement strategies and increase domestic investments. In competitive terms, NVIDIA and AMD will continue expanding market share, while traditional data center providers pivot toward AI-native architectures. Within the next 12 months, capital expenditure peaks will drive strong performance among upstream equipment and material vendors, though policy tightening or geopolitical escalation could trigger short-term investment pullbacks. This trend signals a fundamental shift in global tech infrastructure, pushing the semiconductor industry from 'scale expansion' to 'technology-intensive competition'.