A closer look at how startups are turning local AI into global opportunity
Updated
March 24, 2026 6:25 PM
NVIDIA GTC 2026. PHOTO: NVIDIA
At NVIDIA GTC 2026 in Palo Alto, a group of 16 Taiwanese startups used the global AI stage to do more than showcase products—they tested how far their technologies could travel beyond domestic markets. The delegation, led by Startup Island TAIWAN Silicon Valley Hub with support from Taiwan’s National Development Council, reflected a broader shift in the country’s role within the AI ecosystem.
The startups represented a mix of emerging areas including digital twins, robotics, AI agents and healthcare, aligning closely with enterprise AI adoption trends. Some gained formal visibility within NVIDIA’s ecosystem, with companies such as MetAI and Spingence featured in the Inception Program, while six others presented their work in the conference’s poster gallery. These formats allowed them to engage directly with developers, enterprise users and potential partners rather than simply exhibiting technology.
A defining feature of Taiwan’s presence this year was how closely startups operated alongside established hardware companies such as ASUS, AAEON and Compal. This setup reflected a vertically integrated model where infrastructure and applications are developed together, offering a clearer path from product development to deployment. It also underscored Taiwan’s gradual shift from being primarily a hardware supplier to participating more actively across the full AI stack.
Activity around the conference extended well beyond the exhibition floor. A Taiwan Demo Day held during the week drew more than 1,000 registrations and nearly 600 in-person attendees, bringing startups into contact with close to 200 international investors. The event focused on structured introductions and deal flow, positioning startups in front of venture firms and corporate innovation teams looking for AI applications.
Alongside these formal sessions, Taiwan Startup Night provided a more informal but equally strategic setting. With over 100 curated participants, including founders, investors and corporate representatives, the gathering created space for early-stage conversations that could evolve into partnerships or market entry opportunities. These interactions, while less visible than on-stage presentations, are often where initial collaboration takes shape.
Taken together, the events around GTC point to a more coordinated approach to international expansion. Through platforms like Startup Island TAIWAN, the emphasis is not just on visibility but on building continuity—connecting startups with investors, partners and customers across multiple touchpoints in a single week. As AI development increasingly spans chips, systems and applications, Taiwan’s presence at GTC suggests a more integrated role, where the focus is as much on enabling global deployment as it is on developing the technology itself.
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From TV to YouTube, the Oscars’ global shift reveals how entertainment, access and platforms are reshaping cultural institutions.
Updated
January 8, 2026 6:29 PM
Youtube app on a mobile device. PHOTO: UNSPLASH
The Oscars are moving to YouTube. Beginning in 2029, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has signed a multi-year agreement that makes YouTube the exclusive global home of the Oscars through 2033. From the ceremony itself to red carpet coverage, behind-the-scenes access and the Governors Ball, the entire experience will live on a platform most people already open every day.
On the surface, it looks like a distribution shift. In reality, it signals a broader strategic reset. For decades, television delivered scale for cultural institutions. Today, reach and discovery live on platforms, not channels. By choosing YouTube, the Academy is quietly acknowledging that cultural relevance today is built where audiences already are. In that context, YouTube is no longer just a place to watch clips but an emerging piece of cultural infrastructure.
What also stands out is how the Oscars are being reframed. This partnership is not limited to one night a year. Alongside the ceremony, YouTube will host year-round Academy programming through the Oscars YouTube channel. That includes nominations announcements, the Governors Awards, the Student Academy Awards, the Scientific and Technical Awards, filmmaker interviews, podcasts and education programs. Instead of a single broadcast moment, the Oscars are turning into an always-on ecosystem.
Accessibility is another central pillar of the deal. The Oscars will be free to watch globally, supported by closed captioning and audio tracks in multiple languages. This is less about nice-to-have features and more about staying relevant in a global, digital-first world. Younger audiences and viewers outside traditional Western markets expect access by default. The Academy is clearly building with that expectation in mind.
There is also a deeper exchange happening between heritage and technology. YouTube gains cultural weight by hosting one of the world’s most established creative institutions. The Academy, in turn, gains technological legitimacy and a clearer path into the future.
That balance extends to how the transition is being handled. The Academy’s domestic broadcast partnership with Disney ABC will continue through the 100th Oscars in 2028 and the international arrangement with Disney’s Buena Vista International remains in place until then. This is not an abrupt break from legacy media but a carefully phased shift. Change is being managed without burning bridges.
“We are thrilled to enter into a multifaceted global partnership with YouTube to be the future home of the Oscars and our year-round Academy programming,” said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor. “The Academy is an international organization and this partnership will allow us to expand access to the work of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience possible — which will be beneficial for our Academy members and the film community. This collaboration will leverage YouTube’s vast reach and infuse the Oscars and other Academy programming with innovative opportunities for engagement while honoring our legacy. We will be able to celebrate cinema, inspire new generations of filmmakers and provide access to our film history on an unprecedented global scale.”
From YouTube’s side, the partnership places the platform firmly in the center of global cultural moments. “The Oscars are one of our essential cultural institutions, honoring excellence in storytelling and artistry,” said Neal Mohan, CEO, YouTube. “Partnering with the Academy to bring this celebration of art and entertainment to viewers all over the world will inspire a new generation of creativity and film lovers while staying true to the Oscars’ storied legacy.”
Google Arts & Culture extends the partnership beyond the ceremony. Select Academy Museum exhibitions and materials from the Academy’s 52-million-item collection will be made digitally accessible worldwide, bringing film history and education onto the same platform.
Taken together, the deal is less about where the Oscars will stream and more about how cultural institutions are adapting to the changing landscape. The Academy is positioning itself to be present year-round, globally accessible and aligned with the platforms that shape everyday viewing.