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He shared a cautionary tale from Jim Collins’ How the Mighty Fall, noting that the first stage of corporate decline is often signaled by a leader’s hubris—a trait he humorously localized as "Xiāopái." He joked that his personal barometer for arrogance included two major warning signs: giving too many speeches and accepting too many honorary degrees.
While he initially feared that his presence at the ceremony might lead TSMC toward decline, he humorously justified his acceptance through a pragmatic lens. As a man entering his senior years, he noted that "cutting off your own retreat" by offending the very doctors who oversee your healthcare was a poor strategic move. The prospect of gaining a doctorate without the traditional burdens of exams and coursework was simply "too good an offer to refuse."
The chairman concluded with a profound tribute to the legacy of TSMC founder Morris Chang. He characterized Chang’s mentorship, trust, and the fundamental business model he established as the "indispensable pillars" of both his own success and the company’s global standing. He emphasized that the achievement of TSMC is the result of the foundation laid by Chang and the collective effort of thousands of employees.
Based on the video from March 21, 2026, Chairman C.C. Wei’s speech is approximately 20 minutes long.
In the live broadcast link you provided, his formal address begins around the 14:00 mark and concludes near the 34:00 mark, followed by the university’s cake-cutting ceremony and closing remarks.
Below is the complete English transcript of the core of his speech (spanning that 20-minute window), capturing his blend of industry warnings and personal humor:
Complete Transcript: C.C. Wei at Asia University
Time: 14:00 – ~34:00
[14:00 - The Humility & "Arrogance" Warning]
"First of all, I must admit I have some mixed feelings standing here today. [Laughter] I initially felt quite apprehensive about accepting this invitation. I firmly believe that TSMC’s success is not my own; it was built on the foundation of our founder, Mr. Morris Chang, and the hard work of all my colleagues.
When I became CEO in 2018, a friend gave me a book called How the Mighty Fall. It says the first stage of a company’s decline is when the CEO becomes 'Arrogant' (xiāo zhāng). My friend warned me: 'You’ll know you’re becoming arrogant when you start giving too many speeches and collecting too many honorary degrees.' [Laughter and applause] For a long time, I stayed away! But I changed my mind because I didn’t want to offend the medical experts here—you never know when you’ll need a doctor—and getting a PhD without taking an exam is simply too good a deal to pass up." [18:00 - The Technology Leap: 100x Improvement]
"Let’s talk about AI. People think it’s magic, but it’s hardware. When I joined TSMC in 1998, we were at 0.25-microns. Today, we are at 2-nanometers. That is a hundredfold improvement in speed and efficiency.
If you could run 100 meters in 10 seconds back then, a hundredfold improvement means you could run it in 0.1 seconds today. If a car cost a million dollars then, it would cost ten thousand now. This is the non-linear growth that allowed AI to finally 'wake up' and start processing the world." [22:00 - The "Brain" of the AI Robot]
"Now, let's look at robotics. We see videos of robots from China or elsewhere jumping, flipping, and dancing. I will tell you frankly: those are 'just for show' (hǎo kàn tóu ér yǐ). A robot that flips is a toy. A functional robot needs a 'brain.'
While U.S. companies like Nvidia and AMD design these brains, 95% of those physical AI brains are manufactured by TSMC. Without our logic chips, those robots are just empty shells. They can't sense temperature, light, or pressure. To safely hug an elderly person in our future 'aged society,' a robot needs the high-precision processing that only 2nm and 1.4nm chips can provide."
[26:00 - On Labor Fines & "Liver-Bursting"]
"People often joke that TSMC stands for 'Taiwanese Semiconductor Manufacturing Company,' but others say it means 'Tai-Man-Guan' (Liver-Bursting). Honestly, I think the medical doctors here work much harder than we do! [Laughter]
However, I saw a report recently that TSMC ranked 7th in Taiwan for labor law fines. I felt deeply ashamed. As we lead the world in technology, we must also lead in how we care for our people. We are working hard to change this culture and ensure our employees can thrive without 'bursting their livers.'" [30:00 - Advice to Students & Closing]
"To the graduates and students: AI is a tool, but integrity is the core. Stay curious. Don’t look at the flashy 'jumping' robots; look for the 'brain'—the logic and values—behind everything. Stay humble, keep learning, and remember that Taiwan’s strength lies in our collective hard work and our 'Silicon Shield.' Thank you for this honor."
