The tech world served up quite the contrast this week. Some companies got regulatory wins that sent their stock soaring, while others are quietly backing away from products that didn't quite live up to the hype. Here's what happened.

TSMC Catches a Break on US Export Controls

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company kicked off 2026 with good news from Washington. The US Department of Commerce granted the chipmaker a one-year export license, which means TSMC can keep importing American chipmaking equipment for its operations in China. It's essentially a 12-month extension on doing business as usual, and investors loved it. The approval sent Taiwan Semiconductor's shares higher as the AI chip frenzy continues to drive demand.

Masimo's Weird Moment: Winning Big But Looking Shaky

Here's an odd one. Masimo Corp. just pocketed $634 million in a patent dispute with Apple, which sounds like cause for celebration. But look under the hood and things get less exciting. Market data shows Masimo's quality score has cratered to 10.43, landing it in the bottom tier for operational efficiency. Winning a lawsuit is great, but if your core business fundamentals are deteriorating, that's the kind of thing investors tend to notice eventually.

OpenAI Takes Its Hardware Project to Foxconn

OpenAI is reportedly shifting its first AI hardware project to Foxconn Technology Group, and the reason is pretty straightforward: China concerns. The device, designed by former Apple design chief Jony Ive, was apparently headed for mainland China manufacturing initially. Now it's expected to be assembled in Vietnam or the United States instead. It's another example of companies actively building supply chains that route around China when possible, especially for cutting-edge technology products.

Apple Quietly Backs Away From Vision Pro

Remember when Apple's Vision Pro was going to revolutionize spatial computing? Well, Apple is apparently less enthusiastic these days. The company has scaled back both production and promotion of the headset after sales failed to meet expectations. Luxshare, Apple's Chinese manufacturing partner for the device, stopped production early last year. Perhaps more telling: Apple has slashed its digital advertising spending for Vision Pro by over 95% year to date in major markets. That's not the marketing strategy of a company confident in a product's future. Sometimes even Apple misjudges what people actually want to buy.