ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, is developing an AI chip with Broadcom and may partner with Samsung for production by 2026, amid high demand for AI memory chips.
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ByteDance, the Chinese corporation behind TikTok, is developing its own AI chip in collaboration with Broadcom. Initially, production was set for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), but the company is now exploring a partnership with Samsung Foundry.
ByteDance is negotiating with Samsung to produce trial samples of its AI chip, expected by the end of March 2026. This year, around 100,000 units are planned, with a subsequent increase to 356,000 pieces. The chip may also include memory components.
The rise of artificial intelligence has significantly boosted demand for memory, as AI tasks run on servers equipped with accelerators featuring large volumes of HBM3 and HBM4. Consequently, prices for such chips have risen sharply, and sourcing them has become more challenging. Currently, the main producers remain Micron, Samsung, and SK Hynix.
This collaboration benefits both sides: Samsung aims to attract new clients to its chip manufacturing business, while ByteDance seeks to secure orders for its chip production. Reports indicate that the negotiations also cover memory supply.
ByteDance has denied reports of a deal, and Samsung declined to comment. Since Samsung developed its second-generation 2nm process technology (SF2P), major global companies like Tesla, Apple, and AMD have turned to the South Korean giant for chip manufacturing. Now, ByteDance may potentially join this list.