A U.S. AI and semiconductor policy research group warned that if exports of advanced immersion deep ultraviolet lithography tools to China continue, the AI chip competitiveness of the United States and its allies could weaken or disappear within 5 to 10 years. The report said advanced manufacturing equipment is essential for producing competitive AI chips and urged tightening export controls on high-end immersion DUV tools, limiting approvals under licensing rules and preventing China from acquiring equipment via third countries.

Nexchange, a preparatory company set up to handle over-the-counter distribution of fractional investment products, has officially launched. Twenty-one institutions including Nextrade held its inaugural general meeting on Sept. 29 and appointed Jung Yoo-shin as the first chief executive. The company plans to begin trading products such as music intellectual property, aircraft engines and real estate loan receivables, and later expand to artworks, webtoons and performances.