Semiconductors & AI Chips Weekly Briefing

January 9, 2026

TSMC hit record sales as Samsung forecasted massive profits from soaring memory prices; Nvidia announced the Vera Rubin superchip; AMD detailed its MI500 roadmap, and more.

• TSMC reported record annual sales for 2025, surpassing NT$3.8 trillion, while Samsung Electronics forecasted record operating profits and reclaimed the global DRAM market leadership due to soaring memory prices driven by AI demand. ^12345678
• Nvidia unveiled its next-generation Vera Rubin superchip and the Alpamayo autonomous vehicle platform, and the company is requiring full upfront payment for H200 chips in China while awaiting regulatory approval. ^{9101112131415}
• AMD actively targeted the AI PC and data center markets at CES 2026, launching its Ryzen AI Halo mini-PC, new Ryzen AI Embedded processors, and detailing its Instinct MI400 GPU roadmap with plans for the MI500 in 2027. ^{1617181920212223}
• Qualcomm introduced new Snapdragon X Series chips for high-performance AI laptops and desktops, while expanding its automotive footprint through agreements with Volkswagen and Hyundai Mobis for infotainment and ADAS solutions. ^{2425262728293031}
• Qualcomm is reportedly in talks with Samsung Electronics to contract manufacturing of its next-generation 2nm flagship chips, strengthening Samsung's foundry business prospects, as TSMC expanded its real estate holdings in Arizona. ^323334353637
• CES 2026 highlighted pervasive AI integration, including Samsung's Bespoke AI vision for smart homes, Intel's launch of Series 3 CPUs for AI PCs, and SK hynix solidifying AI memory partnerships. ^{38394041424344}
• Other notable developments included Marvell announcing the $540 million acquisition of XConn Technologies for AI data center connectivity, and Samsung facing legal action in Texas regarding smart TV data collection and confirming an SSD software vulnerability. ^45464748

Sources

1. TSMC reports record high sales for 2025, up over 31% focustaiwan.tw
2. Nvidia’s go-to chipmaker TSMC sees revenue top estimates theedgesingapore.com
3. TSMC announces December 2025 revenue TSMC
4. Samsung Electronics Reclaims Global DRAM Market Leadership After One Year businesskorea.co.kr
5. Samsung cashes in on AI data centre boom as memory prices soar techcentral.co.za
6. Samsung estimates record-breaking $13 billion profits and says memory apocalypse tainted prices are 'inevitable' pcgamer.com
7. Samsung announces Q4 2025 earnings guidance Samsung
8. Samsung warns of memory-related price hikes taipeitimes.com
9. NVIDIA Unveils Autonomous Vehicle Platform to Compete with Tesla's FSD; Musk & Elluswamy Weigh In notateslaapp.com
10. Nvidia Pulls The Timeline Forward: Why Rubin Changes The AI Game seekingalpha.com
11. Exclusive: Nvidia requires full upfront payment for H200 chips in China, sources say | Reuters reuters.com
12. China to Approve Nvidia H200 Buying as Soon as This Quarter bloomberg.com
13. Meta and Nvidia show just how messy AI geopolitics is getting finance.yahoo.com
14. Nvidia Unveils AI Advancements, Calling It 'ChatGPT' Moment forbes.com
15. Nvidia Just Shared Details About Its Next Big Business Move inc.com
16. AMD finally launches Ryzen AI Halo in 2026 to compete against Nvidia techradar.com
17. AMD targets 2027 for MI500 launch, but Nvidia s Vera Rubin is out this year techradar.com
18. AMD launches Ryzen AI Embedded P100 and X100 processors with up to 50 TOPS of AI performance cnx-software.com
19. AMD unveils full MI400 product lineup, claims MI500 chips will deliver 1,000x increase in AI performance datacenterdynamics.com
20. CES 2026: AMD Details Helios AI Rack and Next-Gen Instinct MI400 GPUs techtimes.com
21. Ryzen AI Halo: AMD's Mini-(PC) Answer to Nvidia's DGX Spark heise.de
22. AMD launches on-prem AI chip, previews higher-end systems at CES networkworld.com
23. AMD introduces Ryzen AI Embedded processor portfolio AMD
24. Qualcomm reveals Snapdragon X2 Plus chip with eyes on low-cost AI laptops tech.yahoo.com
25. Volkswagen Group and Qualcomm Sign Letter of Intent to Power Next Generation Driving Experiences | Volkswagen Group volkswagen-group.com
26. Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme Emerges as Qualcomm’s Fastest PC Chip Yet windowsreport.com
27. Qualcomm and Hyundai Mobis to co-develop ADAS tech | Automotive World automotiveworld.com
28. Qualcomm signs LOI with Volkswagen for infotainment SoCs Qualcomm
29. Qualcomm signs MOU with Hyundai Mobis Qualcomm
30. Qualcomm introduces Snapdragon X Series for desktop PCs Qualcomm
31. Garmin and Qualcomm expand partnership with new automotive compute platform By Investing.com investing.com
32. Samsung Electronics Gets Green Light in Foundry Business businesskorea.co.kr
33. Samsung Wins Back Qualcomm for Next-Gen 2nm Flagship Chips androidheadlines.com
34. Samsung may be securing a major Qualcomm order phonearena.com
35. TSMC buys 900 acres of Arizona state land at auction kjzz.org
36. Qualcomm in talks with Samsung Electronics for contract manufacturing, South Korean newspaper says | Reuters reuters.com
37. Qualcomm in talks with Samsung Electronics for contract manufacturing, South Korean newspaper says reuters.com
38. Intel launches Series 3 CPUs at CES 2026 Intel
39. SK hynix CEO strengthens AI memory partnerships at CES 2026 SK hynix
40. Samsung outlines Bespoke AI 2026 vision Samsung
41. Nvidia CES AI Announcements Expand AI Capabilities And Continue Memory And Storage Shortages forbes.com
42. Micron introduces 3610 PCIe Gen5 NVMe SSD Micron
43. SK hynix completes Intel Data Center Certified validation SK hynix
44. CES 2026 Offers a Glimpse of AI-Powered Living as Samsung Unveils Next-Gen Smart Devices ibtimes.co.uk
45. Texas court blocks Samsung from collecting smart TV viewing data bleepingcomputer.com
46. Samsung Confirms Active Exploitation of High-Severity Vulnerability in SSD Magician Software guru3d.com
47. Marvell announces acquisition of XConn Technologies Marvell Technology
48. Samsung Magician: Security vulnerability allows privilege escalation heise.de