Semiconductors & AI Chips Weekly Briefing

Samsung and SK Hynix kicked off HBM4 shipments; AMD hit major market share records; NVIDIA invested $53B in AI; and Applied Materials settled a major export probe, and more.

  • Samsung and SK Hynix accelerated the HBM race, with Samsung starting commercial HBM4 shipments for NVIDIA s Rubin chips, while SK Hynix prepared to ship its own HBM4 and began ordering equipment for a new HBM packaging line. 123456
  • SK Group executives strengthened strategic partnerships with major AI players including NVIDIA, Microsoft, Broadcom, and Meta, focusing on collaborations across HBM supply, AI data centers, and advanced accelerator roadmaps. 78910
  • AMD demonstrated significant market share growth, surpassing 40% of server CPU revenue and over 35% in desktop PCs, and introduced new APIs and Solution Blueprints to support local AI development. 1112131415
  • NVIDIA continued expanding its AI ecosystem, reportedly moving to acquire Groq s AI inference chip assets and investing heavily in AI startups, while partners confirmed up to 10x efficiency gains using the Blackwell platform. 16171819
  • Applied Materials settled a US Commerce Department investigation for $252.5 million related to China export violations, even as the company announced Samsung would join its new multi-billion dollar EPIC R&D center in Silicon Valley. 20212223
  • Cadence introduced ChipStack AI Super Agent to automate chip design and verification, and TSMC posted record January revenue while approving a 2026 capital expenditure plan of up to $56 billion. 242526272829
  • Other notable developments included the U.S. ITC demanding confidential HBM data from SK Hynix regarding a Samsung patent probe, and Arm receiving a $71 million Texas grant for an Austin expansion. 303132

Sources

  1. SK Hynix reportedly begins equipment orders for Cheongju HBM packaging line amid AI-driven capacity race digitimes.com
  2. Samsung officially ships HBM4 ready for NVIDIA's next-gen Rubin AI chips tweaktown.com
  3. Samsung Says It Starts Commercial Shipment of HBM4 to Customer bloomberg.com
  4. Samsung ships industry-first commercial HBM4 Samsung
  5. Samsung gains confidence with HBM4: "We will stay No. 1 in next-generation HBM as well" mk.co.kr
  6. SK Hynix set to ship HBM4 for Nvidia's Vera Rubin this month digitimes.com
  7. SK Group Chairman meets NVIDIA CEO SK hynix
  8. SK hynix discusses AI chip design with Broadcom SK hynix
  9. SK Group expands AI partnership with Microsoft SK hynix
  10. SK hynix discusses HBM supply and AI glasses with Meta SK hynix
  11. AMD rockets past 35% market share in desktop PC market as Intel s share loss accelerates — AMD also hits 25% in laptops and nears 30% in crucial server market tomshardware.com
  12. AMD Breaks Historic 40% Server Milestone as CPU Revenue Soars windowsreport.com
  13. AMD partners with Liquid AI AMD
  14. AMD introduces Solution Blueprints for AI deployment AMD
  15. AMD introduces Lemonade API for local AI developers AMD
  16. Nvidia Deepens AI Inference Push With Groq Deal And Rubin Platform finance.yahoo.com
  17. AI inference costs dropped up to 10x on Nvidia's Blackwell — but hardware is only half the equation venturebeat.com
  18. Partners cut AI inference costs up to 10x on Blackwell Nvidia
  19. Nvidia's $53 Billion Investment Spree On AI Startups forbes.com
  20. Applied Materials to Pay $252.5 Million to Settle US Probe bloomberg.com
  21. Applied Materials Announces Samsung Electronics Will Join the New, Multibillion-Dollar EPIC Center in Silicon Valley markets.businessinsider.com
  22. Applied Materials reaches settlement with U.S. Department of Commerce Applied Materials
  23. Applied Materials announces Samsung joins EPIC Center Applied Materials
  24. Cadence unleashes ChipStack AI Super Agent, pioneering new frontier in chip design and verification dqindia.com
  25. Cadence launches ChipStack AI Super Agent Cadence
  26. Cadence ChipStack AI Super Agent Claims Up To 10X Faster Chip Design forbes.com
  27. TSMC deepens its lead with a US$45 billion 2026 investment plan and a generational reshuffle digitimes.com
  28. TSMC Posts Record Monthly Revenue in January morningstar.com
  29. TSMC announces January 2026 revenue TSMC
  30. Arm receives Texas grant for Austin expansion Arm
  31. U.S. ITC Seeks SK Hynix's Confidential HBM Data in Samsung Patent Probe alphabiz.co.kr
  32. Going Too Far: U.S. ITC Demands HBM Trade Secrets from SK Hynix businesskorea.co.kr
Company Intelligence on Autopilot

Get your own weekly briefings on the companies that matter to you

Start for free No credit card required