Samsung Nears Tesla AI Chip Production as Post-Silicon Validation Begins

Samsung is gearing up to make next-generation Tesla AI chips at its Taylor foundry fab. The project has reportedly entered the post-silicon validation stage, where engineers test the actual physical chip. Since this is the final step of the chip development pipeline, mass production could be imminent.

Tesla expands chip verification team in Korea

According to a report from ETNews, Tesla Korea has recently begun expanding its semiconductor operations for post-silicon validation work. The company is hiring engineers responsible for testing and verifying prototype chips produced at Samsung’s foundry facilities.

Post-silicon validation is a key phase in chip development. After the company completes chip design and makes the first batch of prototype chips, engineers test them. The process begins with “bring-up,” where the team powers on the chip for the first time and verifies its key functions. Following the “bring-up” stage, they conduct high-speed data transmission stability and power characterization. These tests help determine the chip’s reliability before moving to large-scale manufacturing.

Industry watchers believe Samsung has either delivered engineering samples of Tesla’s AI chips to testing facilities in South Korea or they are currently on the way. The testing reportedly includes chips for Tesla’s self-driving systems and the brain of the Optimus humanoid robot.

Tesla reportedly built its chip testing infrastructure in Korea to remain close to Samsung’s chip fabs. Operating verification personnel can visit sites such as the Hwaseong and Pyeongtaek campuses to identify chip defects and work with manufacturing teams to fix them. However, the mass production will likely be carried out at the Taylor plant in the US.

Last year, Samsung and Tesla inked a foundry contract worth a $16.5 billion to produce the AI6 chip. The Korean firm will also make Tesla’s AI5 chip, though not solely — industry leader TSMC is also part of that project. The chips in question for testing are likely early batches of the AI5 chip.