SK Hynix has supplied high bandwidth memory (HBM) to Waymo, the autonomous vehicle subsidiary of Google. As the autonomous driving era dawns, HBM is expected to find widespread applications in AI servers and the automotive sector.
According to South Korean media outlets, Seoul Economic Daily and ZDNet Korea, Kang Wook-seong, vice president of SK Hynix, revealed at the 7th AI Semiconductor Forum in South Korea that their third-generation HBM (HBM2E) is being used in Waymo's autonomous cars.
According to the reports, industry insiders said that SK Hynix has provided HBM2E tailored for automotive applications and is currently the sole supplier of HBM for autonomous vehicles, indicating HBM can be used in servers and autonomous vehicles.
With the advent of generative AI, HBM has become a focal point in the server industry. However, relatively few known cases of autonomous vehicles using HBM have been reported.
Due to the need for high-performance computing in autonomous vehicles to make real-time decisions about road conditions and ensure driver safety, the use of HBM may have become a prerequisite for achieving Level 2.5 and higher autonomous driving functions.
SK Hynix currently holds a leading position in the HBM market. With HBM's applications extending from servers to autonomous vehicles, the market prospects for HBM look promising, and its business scope is expected to grow further. Reports indicate that by March 2024, SK Hynix began preparing to broaden HBM's application areas to include edge devices and integrated HBM products into its automotive semiconductor solutions, securing AEC-Q100 automotive semiconductor safety certification.
Article translated by Jingyue Hsiao
