Taiwan's Taichung is pushing to become an "AI robot city," a bet that could pay off for the region's machine-tool and chip suppliers.

• Taichung mayor Lu Shiu-yen said the city will use its precision manufacturing and chip strengths to move into AI robotics.
• The plan adds two new pillars beside semiconductors: drones and unmanned vehicles, and now AI robots.
• The pitch is that robots need chips and AI for the "brain" but precision machinery and high-accuracy parts for the "body" — decades-old Taichung industries.
• The city points to its manufacturing corridor and the presence of TSMC and Micron as proof it has the full chain from R&D to sales.
• Executives from Phison, Foxconn, and Far EasTone joined the forum to talk about moving "physical AI" from lab demos into mass production.

Outlook: Expect Taichung to court more robotics investment and pilot projects, with real production volumes still some way off.