The development of Elon Musk’s fourth-generation Neuralink chip is already underway as Samsung looks to strengthen the bond between the two. The newest iteration belonging to the neurotechnology company is expected to have unique characteristics thanks to its ability to enable bidirectional communication between the brain and computing devices.
Elon Musk could set up a permanent relationship with Samsung, with TSMC being dropped after working to manufacture 3rd-generation Neuralink chips
After setting up a long-term deal with the Korean giant for its self-driving chips, the AI6 and AI6.5, Musk appears to be confident in tapping Samsung for its cutting-edge Neuralink chip on the latter’s 4nm process. While the report published on Korea Economic Daily hasn’t specified why a mature node will be leveraged for such an advanced chip, it likely has to do with Samsung achieving better stabilization with this process than the newer ones.
This strategy ensures better reliability, enabling Samsung to deliver timely Neuralink chip shipments. TSMC, Samsung’s closest foundry rival, was tasked with the mass production of the third-generation Neuralink chip, but based on the new partnership, the Taiwanese semiconductor giant is seemingly getting dropped.
Going by the current timeline, Samsung hopes to manufacture and ship out the first batch of test Neuralink chips in H1 2027, with mass production slated to commence as early as the end of next year. What separates the fourth version from its predecessors is that older-generation Neuralink chips functioned by reading brain signals to issue commands to devices.
Now, the newest variant can input data from those devices to the brain to activate physical functions. One example could be to restore vision to patients by simulating brain neurons. With the latest partnership, Samsung comes one step closer to revitalizing its foundry business, which it states will reach profitability in 2028.
Possible reason for Elon Musk dropping TSMC in favor of Samsung
The AI boom has forced companies like NVIDIA to place mammoth-sized orders with TSMC, leaving its supply lines choked. While the wafer manufacturer has attempted to remedy this problem by boosting monthly capacity by up to 175,000 wafer units for the 3nm lithography, the ravenous demand keeps TSMC grounded.
TSMC’s supply problem opens up a floodgate of opportunities for Samsung, and even though its 2nm GAA yields aren’t up to the mark where it’s economically feasible to place orders for customers in bulk, the company’s focus on mature nodes can become its savior for now.
News Source: Korea Economic Daily
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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