TSMC's Wei Zhejia Sarcastically Says: China's Robots Jump Around, Just for Show with No Real Use! The Key Still Comes from Nvidia

TSMC Chairman Wei Zhejia recently spoke at Asia University’s 25th anniversary celebration about the development of robots and semiconductors. He bluntly stated that if you look at China continuously developing robots that jump around, it’s just for show. It’s useless and only for appearances. He pointed out that the key is to enable the robot’s brain to function, and who is making the brain? Nvidia, AMD, and many American companies. However, 95% of the brain is manufactured by TSMC.

The key to robotics lies in the integration of sensing, computation, and decision-making

TSMC Chairman Wei Zhejia noted that the public’s imagination of robots often stays at the level of physical movements. In reality, the true core of robots depends on the massive semiconductor technology support behind them, especially the integration of sensing, computing, and communication capabilities. He said that robots must first have the ability to “see.” To achieve this, the semiconductor industry has developed various light sensors, allowing robots to recognize light, objects, and positions, establishing a basic understanding of their environment.

In addition to vision, tactile and temperature sensing are equally essential. Wei Zhejia pointed out that if robots are to interact with humans—for example, hugging or pouring tea—they must have precise pressure sensors and temperature sensors; otherwise, they cannot judge force or temperature differences, which affects practicality and safety. All these capabilities are realized through semiconductor technology. Robots also need to continuously gather large amounts of information and transmit it to the “brain” for processing, so they can perform tasks based on trained knowledge.

Wei Zhejia: China’s robots jumping around are just for show, useless

When discussing the “brain,” Wei Zhejia directly stated that American companies still hold the core dominance. He said that if you look at China developing robots that jump around, it’s just for show. It’s useless. The key is to make the robot’s brain operational, and who is making the brain? Nvidia, AMD, and many American companies. However, 95% of the brain is manufactured by TSMC.

Currently, the high-end computing chips needed for robots and artificial intelligence are mainly designed by US companies like NVIDIA and AMD. This includes edge AI platforms like NVIDIA Jetson Thor launched at GTC 2026, which focus on real-time perception, planning, and operation.

This article TSMC Wei Zhejia criticizes: China’s robots jumping around are just for show, useless! The real key still comes from Nvidia was originally published on Chain News ABMedia.