Samsung to Manufacture DeepX’s Next-Gen AI Chip on 2nm Process

Samsung is aiming to make a strong comeback in the semiconductor market with its 2nm chips. The company’s foundry unit is now actively working to secure clients and has reportedly struck a deal with DeepX, an on-device AI semiconductor company. As part of the contract, Samsung will manufacture DeepX’s next-gen DX-M2 AI chip using its 2nm process.

DeepX chooses Samsung’s 2nm node for its DX-M2 AI chip

Despite being the world’s second-largest semiconductor foundry, Samsung is significantly lagging behind industry leader TSMC in market share. The Korean foundry now needs to secure multiple clients for both advanced processes and mature nodes to improve its share. A few days ago, the firm signed a major $16.5 billion contract with Tesla to produce the carmaker’s next-gen chips. Now, the newly secured deal with DeepX gives Samsung confidence that it can step into the 2nm era without hurdles.

Samsung also manufactured DeepX’s previous-generation chip, DX-M1, using its 5nm process. This prior successful collaboration helped the company secure the deal for the upcoming DX-M2 chips. According to a report from Chosun, Samsung will begin producing prototypes of the DX-M2 chip using its 2nm node in the first half of next year. The company aims to begin mass production sometime in 2027.

DeepX has already conducted a detailed analysis of Samsung’s 2nm process in several key areas, such as power efficiency, performance, and yield. The company found that the process can meet the performance targets for on-device operation of generative AI. It said that the 2nm process can offer twice the power efficiency of the 5nm process used in DX-M1. These AI chips are used in several industries, including robotics, smart cameras, and factory automation.

“DX-M2 is a key platform that opens the era of popularization and industrialization of generative AI technology,” said Kim Nok-won, CEO of DeepX. “DeepX will also continue to lower technological barriers and contribute to creating a world where everyone can benefit from AI.”