Taiwan is getting much richer off the AI export boom, but the money is piling up in one part of the economy — good for chip and electronics workers, less so for everyone else.

• Taiwan's income per person is set to hit about $45,000 in 2026 and close to $50,000 in 2027.
• The growth comes almost entirely from tech exports tied to AI demand, leaving other industries behind.
• Economists warn this is a "K-shaped" recovery — some sectors climbing while others sink.
• The government plans a universal cash handout worth about $7.4 billion so the "AI dividend" reaches everyone.
• CIER president Lien Hsien-ming argues that funding health and labor insurance would help poorer families more than one-off cash.

Outlook: Expect the debate in Taipei to shift from how fast the economy is growing to who is actually getting the money, with the cash handout landing in the 2027 budget.