TSMC handed out much bigger bonuses after a record quarter, good news for its workers and a sign that the AI chip boom is still running hot.

• Second-quarter staff bonuses jumped more than 50% from a year earlier, to over US$1 billion.
• Quarterly profit hit a record, up 77% from last year and up sharply from the previous quarter.
• The surge comes from strong demand for high-powered computing chips, connected devices, and consumer gadgets.
• Bonuses grew slower than profits because TSMC is putting more money into social and community spending in Taiwan.
• Half of each year's bonus pool is paid out quarterly; the rest comes after the next shareholders' meeting.

Outlook: If chip demand holds up, TSMC looks set to keep posting strong profits and paying out bigger bonuses.