Samsung Electronics' foundry division chief told employees on June 12 that a return to profitability in the contract chipmaking business looks difficult next year, with 2028 emerging as a more likely timeline, Yonhap, ZDNet Korea, and Chosun reported.
Samsung Electronics has secured key technology for a 5nm-class magnetoresistive random-access memory cell, according to Korean financial daily Sedaily, moving ahead just four months after presenting what it described as the world's first 8nm-class MRAM at an international conference.
China has achieved mass production of ultra-pure silicon, according to the state-owned China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) — an essential material for building silicon-based quantum computers. The breakthrough builds on a government push to sharpen its quantum research edge and reduce its reliance on foreign technology supply chains more broadly.
Qualcomm has been in talks to acquire Tenstorrent, an AI chip startup, The Information reported, citing a person with direct knowledge of the deal. The two companies have discussed a price of US$8 billion to US$10 billion, the person said, a significant premium to Tenstorrent's last known valuation.
Shanghai Enflame Technology is nearing a STAR Market listing, bringing another Chinese AI chipmaker closer to public markets while losses, Tencent concentration, and a small share in Nvidia-led accelerators remain unresolved.
Apple is stepping up the AI capabilities of its Siri voice assistant, and analysts say memory chip demand will rise along with it, potentially benefiting Apple's suppliers such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. The shift could drive both shipment growth and higher prices for mobile DRAM.
