Rumor
ByteDance reportedly considers Samsung Foundry for AI chip production
Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at 05:01 AM
ByteDance is reportedly considering using Samsung Foundry services to produce AI chips, which would mark a significant shift from its traditional reliance on TSMC. The move is possibly driven by a desire for more stable supply and competitive pricing, especially as the demand for AI chips intensifies. This is a rumor so far, but it could indicate a strategic diversification of foundry partners among major tech companies.
Context
ByteDance is reportedly in talks with Samsung Foundry to manufacture custom AI ASICs, focusing on inference tasks for its recommendation engines and chatbots. This move represents a strategic effort to navigate capacity bottlenecks at TSMC and secure a bundled supply of logic and high-bandwidth memory. By moving production to Samsung, ByteDance aims to bolster its internal hardware ecosystem while lowering its reliance on Nvidia and Broadcom designs.
The production roadmap targets initial sample deliveries by March 2026, with a plan to manufacture 100,000 units this year and eventually scale to 350,000 units annually. For Samsung, securing a high-volume client like ByteDance is a critical win as it attempts to grow its 9.3% foundry market share against TSMC’s dominance. This deal highlights the growing trend of hyperscalers pursuing vertical integration to control costs and ensure supply chain resilience during the ongoing AI infrastructure boom.
Sources (2)
Related Companies
S
Samsung