by AFP Workers Writers
Seoul (AFP) Feb 12, 2026
Samsung Electronics introduced Thursday it had began mass manufacturing of next-generation reminiscence chips to energy synthetic intelligence, touting an “industry-leading” breakthrough.
The high-bandwidth HBM4 chips are seen as a key element wanted to scale-up the huge information centres powering the explosion in synthetic intelligence.
US tech large Nvidia — the world’s most respected firm — is extensively anticipated to be certainly one of Samsung’s primary consumers.
Samsung stated it had “begun mass manufacturing of its industry-leading HBM4 and has shipped business merchandise to clients”.
“This achievement marks a primary within the {industry}, securing an early management place within the HBM4 market,” the South Korean firm stated in a press release.
A worldwide frenzy to construct AI information centres has despatched orders for superior, excessive?bandwidth reminiscence microchips hovering.
Samsung stated its new chip was considerably quicker than older fashions, exceeding {industry} requirements for processing velocity by greater than 40 p.c.
This could fulfill “escalating calls for for increased efficiency”, the corporate stated.
Samsung Electronics inventory was up greater than six p.c in afternoon commerce on South Korea’s inventory trade.
The South Korean authorities has pledged to turn out to be one of many world’s prime three AI powers, alongside the US and China.
Samsung and its South Korean rival SK hynix are already among the many main producers of high-performance reminiscence chips, and the 2 firms had raced to begin HBM4 manufacturing.
Taipei-based analysis agency TrendForce predicts that reminiscence chip {industry} income will surge to a world peak of greater than $840 billion in 2027.
-Frontrunner-
Samsung Electronics posted report quarterly income earlier this yr, using on huge market demand for its highly effective reminiscence chips.
The corporate has already earmarked billions of {dollars} to increase chip manufacturing services, pledging to proceed spending in “transitioning to superior manufacturing processes and upgrading current manufacturing strains to satisfy rising demand”.
An {industry} observer stated the transfer would assist Samsung seize the second within the intensifying race for chips important to AI infrastructure.
“Samsung struggled within the race for HBM3 chips, lagging behind its rival SK hynix,” Kim Dae-jong, a professor of enterprise at Sejong College, informed AFP.
“However with the early manufacturing of HBM4, it has positioned itself as a frontrunner within the competitors,” he added.
Nvidia designs {hardware} that powers AI computing, and has an virtually insatiable demand for reminiscence chips made by the likes of Samsung and SK hynix.
The US-based firm’s virtually singular function within the AI revolution has taken the world by storm for the reason that introduction of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in late 2022.
Apple, Microsoft and Amazon have additionally developed chips with AI in thoughts, however for now are caught attempting to get their palms on Nvidia’s coveted merchandise.
Main electronics producers and {industry} analysts have warned that chipmakers specializing in AI gross sales will trigger increased retail costs for client merchandise throughout the board.
Dutch courtroom orders investigation into China-owned Nexperia
Amsterdam (AFP) Feb 11, 2026 -
A Dutch courtroom on Wednesday ordered a proper investigation into alleged mismanagement at Nexperia, a Chinese language-owned chip agency on the centre of a world tug-of-war over important semiconductor expertise.
The agency, based mostly within the Netherlands however whose mother or father firm is China’s Wingtech, has been the topic of a standoff between Beijing and the West, which threatened to hobble automobile producers that depend on its chips.
“(The courtroom) finds that there are legitimate causes to doubt the sound coverage and conduct of enterprise at Nexperia and orders an investigation,” stated the Amsterdam-based Enterprise Chamber in a press release.
The investigation is anticipated to take a number of months.
The courtroom had beforehand performed a key half within the row over Nexperia in October when it suspended the Chinese language CEO Zhang Xuezheng, also called Wing, citing considerations over his administration.
These measures stay in power with the opening of the probe, the courtroom stated.
“The director stays suspended. The appointment of a brief director at Nexperia and the switch of the shares in Nexperia stay in impact,” stated the courtroom in a press release.
The courtroom discovered there was “negligent conduct involving a battle of curiosity.”
As well as, the courtroom stated Wing modified the agency’s technique with out consulting the opposite board members, refused to honour agreements with Dutch officers and crimped the powers of European Nexperia executives.
– ‘Scorched earth’ coverage –
Throughout hearings final month within the courtroom, legal professionals for Nexperia accused Wingtech of a “scorched earth” coverage in its bid to wrest management of the corporate.
One of many agency’s legal professionals, Jeroen van der Schrieck, stated Wingtech was “doing every thing to destabilise Nexperia, already beneath stress from a disaster state of affairs”.
Wingtech representatives responded that the Dutch intervention was “incomprehensible” and meant the row “degenerated needlessly”.
Wing didn’t attend final month’s hearings. His lawyer stated the case had taken a toll on his well being and he didn’t really feel robust sufficient to seem in individual.
Along with the courtroom order, the Dutch state waded into the row, utilizing a Chilly Warfare-era legislation for the primary time to successfully seize management of the corporate.
This sparked fury in Beijing, which responded by banning re-exports of the agency’s chips. The chips are despatched to China for ending earlier than being shipped to clients.
Carmakers warned of main manufacturing issues because the parts are important to onboard electronics.
China softened its stance in November, reportedly as a part of a commerce deal agreed by President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump.
In response, the Dutch authorities suspended its proposed takeover, taking a few of the warmth out of the row.
The agency is not any stranger to regulatory considerations within the West.
The US put Wingtech on certainly one of its “entity lists” final December, that means the federal government believed it was appearing in opposition to US nationwide safety and international coverage pursuits.
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