Investment Rating - The report maintains a positive outlook on the AI industry chain and core computing hardware, with a focus on AI copper-clad boards, PCBs, semiconductor equipment, and domestic computing power benefiting from the AI sector [1][2][3]. Core Insights - The capital expenditure (CAPEX) of the four major North American cloud service providers (CSPs) continues to grow, with a positive outlook for future spending. The total CAPEX for Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and Meta reached $97.3 billion in Q3 2025, a year-on-year increase of 65% [1][13]. - The demand for AI computing power is expected to remain strong, driven by the increasing need for ASICs and GPUs. The global market for ASICs is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 54% from 2025 to 2029 [1][41]. - The semiconductor equipment industry is poised for growth due to the expansion of storage capacity and the push for domestic control, with significant opportunities for domestic equipment manufacturers [2][3]. Summary by Sections Section 1: Continued Optimism for the AI Industry Chain - The high CAPEX of cloud providers is expected to be sustainable, with Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and Meta showing strong growth in capital expenditures [1][13]. - AI server demand is projected to increase significantly, with a 20% year-on-year growth expected in 2026, driven by CSP investments in AI infrastructure [1][34]. Section 2: Semiconductor Equipment Industry - The storage expansion cycle, combined with the need for domestic control, is expected to benefit the semiconductor equipment supply chain. The introduction of 3D DRAM technology and increased stacking layers in NAND will drive demand for advanced manufacturing equipment [2][3]. Section 3: Domestic Computing Power Opportunities - Domestic cloud providers have significant room for increased capital expenditure, with major players like Alibaba planning to invest $58 billion in AI hardware infrastructure over the next three years [2][3]. Section 4: AI Edge Applications and Hardware Innovations - Apple's AI strategy focuses on hardware integration and edge AI applications, with expectations for growth in AI/AR glasses and related technologies [3][3]. Investment Recommendations - The report suggests a favorable outlook for AI copper-clad boards, PCBs, core computing hardware, semiconductor equipment, and domestic computing power, anticipating continued growth in these sectors through 2026 [3].

Investment Rating - The industry investment rating is "Positive" (maintained) [1] Core Insights - The AI model continues to iterate, with edge-side AI becoming a core direction, emphasizing lightweight and efficient models [5][6] - Major global AI models are rapidly iterating through algorithm optimization and data accumulation, enhancing capabilities and optimizing inference effects [5][6] - The collaboration between cloud and edge computing is expected to optimize costs, energy consumption, and performance, shifting the focus of AI processing from the cloud to devices like smartphones and PCs [5][6] Summary by Sections Industry Trends - The importance of terminal hardware entry is highlighted, with major AI model manufacturers accelerating the integration of hardware to facilitate the rapid deployment of various AI functions and applications [6] - Companies like Google, Alibaba, and Apple are actively developing AI hardware and applications, indicating a strong push towards integrating AI technology into consumer devices [6] Technological Developments - AI terminals are evolving with advancements in hardware, energy efficiency, and interaction forms, focusing on enhancing local computing power and user experience [7] - The integration of NPU in SoC is improving local computing capabilities, while storage technology is advancing towards high bandwidth and low latency [7] Investment Opportunities - Beneficial targets for investment include brands like Transsion Holdings, Xiaomi Group, and various component manufacturers such as Lens Technology and Sunyu Optical Technology [8] - The edge-side AI model market is expected to grow rapidly, with projections indicating that by 2025, the AI smartphone market share in China will reach approximately 30% [6][8]