Semiconductor News 20260226

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1. Meta and AMD Agree to $100+ Billion AI Chip Deal
   Meta has agreed to a major $100+ billion AI chip supply deal with AMD to expand its AI infrastructure. This is a noteworthy move to diversify procurement sources in the AI chip market, which until now has been highly dependent on NVIDIA. This is a historic deal for AMD to dramatically grow its AI chip business amid the intensifying battle for AI supremacy among the IT giants.
2. China to Quintuple 7nm and 5nm Advanced Chip Production to Support AI Expansion
   China reportedly plans to quintuple its 7nm and 5nm process advanced chip production capacity over the next two years to support the rapid growth of its domestic AI industry. In the face of strong U.S. export restrictions, domestic foundries such as SMIC and Huahong Semiconductor are taking the lead in rapidly building a self-sufficient system for AI chips. This shows the strong will of the Chinese government to fully domesticize the semiconductor supply chain.
3. SK Hynix Develops HBM4 Test Equipment and Strengthens Collaboration with TSMC
   SK Hynix has reportedly developed its own system level test equipment for HBM4, the next generation of high-bandwidth memory. Through this technological development, SK Hynix aims to further deepen its cooperation with TSMC, the largest foundry, and solidify its overwhelming advantage in the memory market for AI semiconductors. With memory prices expected to rise throughout the year in a seller’s market, the company is accelerating the development of a system for the mass production of next-generation technologies.
4. Elon Musk Hires South Korean Semiconductor Talent Against Backdrop of HBM Competition
   Elon Musk, the leader of Tesla and other companies, is actively hiring talented South Korean semiconductor talent in anticipation of a global development race for HBM, which is essential for next-generation AI chips. The competition for top-class engineers is intensifying to accelerate the development of AI models. With growing concerns about the brain drain between nations, securing human resources has become a key to AI supremacy.
5. Chinese Government Adds TDK and 20 Other Japanese Institutions to Export Watch List
   The Chinese government has placed a total of 20 Japanese companies and universities, including TDK and Tokin, on a new watch list with the aim of strengthening export controls for both military and civilian goods. Against the backdrop of the U.S.-China confrontation, China is stepping up pressure on Japan for reasons of its own security and supply chain protection. There are growing concerns that this will have a serious impact on future trade and technology cooperation between Japan and China in the high-tech sector.
6. TSMC Upgrades Japan Factories to 3nm Process to Meet Rising AI Demand
   TSMC plans to upgrade its Japanese factories to the state-of-the-art 3nm process to expand its global AI chip production capacity. The company, which has posted record profits and is confident that the AI boom will continue, is upgrading its production facilities to meet the demand for high-performance semiconductors. The ability to manufacture cutting-edge semiconductors in Japan is expected to make a significant contribution to building a related ecosystem and strengthening Japan’s industrial competitiveness.
7. Samsung to Convert Legacy NAND Plant to State-of-the-Art HBM4 Production Facility
   Samsung Electronics is in the process of a large-scale conversion of its legacy 2D NAND flash manufacturing plant to a next-generation memory HBM4 production facility in order to secure its leadership position in the increasingly competitive AI memory market. The strategy is to respond quickly to the rapidly growing demand for high-value-added memory for AI servers while streamlining capital investment, and to make a comeback by significantly expanding production capacity in the HBM market, where SK Hynix is already a leader.
8. Samsung Unveils Its Most Intuitive Galaxy S26 Series to Date
   Samsung Electronics has officially unveiled its next flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S26 series, with AI capabilities deeply integrated throughout the system and the most intuitive experience to date. It includes features such as AI proactive support before you call, while perfectly protecting user privacy. The evolution of on-device AI technology sets a new standard for user experience in mobile devices.
9. Anthropic CEO and U.S. Defense Secretary Meet Over AI Contract Cancellation Crisis
   The CEO of leading AI company Anthropic and the U.S. Secretary of Defense have reportedly held talks over the military use of AI technology and the threat of contract cancellation for national security. As governments seek to utilize AI for national security, there have been instances where the company’s beliefs and ethical guidelines have clashed. The complex frictions and compromises between technology companies and government agencies in introducing advanced AI technologies into the defense sector are highlighted.
10. Taiwan’s OSAT Sector Growing Rapidly , Driven by Demand for AI and ASICs
    Taiwan’s OSAT sector for semiconductor assembly and testing is showing rapid revenue growth on the back of strong demand for AI and ASICs, which are custom chips. companies such as Sigurd are responding to this bullish market environment, Companies such as Sigurd are responding to this bullish market environment by expanding their production capacity, including a huge investment in the acquisition of a factory in Unimicron. In addition to front-end chip manufacturing, Taiwanese companies are also benefiting greatly from the construction of AI infrastructure in the back-end sector.

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