Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are pushing forward their production schedules for sixth-generation high-bandwidth memory to February 2026. Industry sources and South Korean media reports confirm the accelerated timeline. The two companies aim to begin volume manufacturing of HBM4 months earlier than previously anticipated. The goal is to meet surging demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure. By accelerating their timelines, the South Korean chipmakers seek to solidify their dominance in the AI memory market before global competitors can scale similar technologies.

SK Hynix is scheduled to deliver final samples of its next-generation high-bandwidth memory to Nvidia in early January 2025. This comes as the South Korean chipmaker nears a February target for mass production of HBM4. The delivery follows a revised wafer run intended to resolve technical issues identified during earlier integration testing, according to DealSite. It marks a critical step in supporting Nvidia's next wave of artificial intelligence accelerators.

As demand for artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductors continues to surge, the market for glass substrates, which are widely regarded as a critical material for next-generation advanced packaging, is gaining momentum. South Korean companies such as Samsung Electro-Mechanics (SEMCO) and LG Innotek are gearing up to compete for leadership in this emerging segment.

Google and Microsoft are stepping up efforts to secure high-bandwidth memory. Production capacity at South Korean chipmakers is approaching its limits. The supply crunch has coincided with executive dismissals and stalled negotiations. According to industry sources cited by the Seoul Economic Daily and G-enews, major cloud and artificial intelligence companies are intensifying procurement efforts. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are nearing full utilization of their advanced memory lines.

Microcontroller (MCU) maker ENE Technology has officially entered the drone industry, partnering with Taiwan's HY Tech, Aeroprobing, and Egis to integrate communications, vision modules, and AI image processing and computing technologies. The company also established a new business unit staffed with drone experts to compete in the customized drone IC market.

Intel's 18A process node has reportedly drawn interest from Nvidia, though the chipmaker has yet to commit to using the technology, according to Reuters, citing sources familiar with the matter. The potential collaboration has not progressed, leaving the future of Intel's 18A node in question.

J.K. Wang, a veteran leader in the semiconductor industry and former COO of TSMC, shared insights on TSMC's large-scale wafer fab mass production during his first media interview since retirement. Speaking on DIGITIMES' IC Broadcasting podcast, Wang highlighted how TSMC's success stems from meticulous teamwork rather than any single individual.

The semiconductor industry is increasingly central to national strategies as the US and China intensify state-led investments amid growing tech geopolitical tensions. The US CHIPS and Science Act and China's multibillion-yuan semiconductor funding illustrate a resurgence of state capitalism in high-tech sectors, reshaping global supply chains and industrial competition.

SoftBank and Japanese partners are advancing a government-backed project to develop next-generation memory technology aimed at enhancing AI and supercomputer performance. The initiative, involving RIKEN, Intel, the University of Tokyo, and Taiwan's Vanguard International Semiconductor (VIS), targets prototype completion by fiscal 2027 and mass production by fiscal 2029, Nikkei Asia reports.

Samsung reportedly plans to launch an in-house GPU by 2027, marking a potential shift from reliance on external suppliers. The new GPU will be integrated into the Exynos 2800 mobile application processor, according to South Korean media outlets Yonhap News Agency and Hangyung.

Electronic component distributor Honey Hope Honesty anticipates significant growth in sales of high-end multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) fueled by rising demand from AI servers and edge AI applications. Despite potential memory shortages affecting the consumer market, the company remains optimistic about 2026 outlook.