TSMC’s nanometer-level process orders have arrived, and the A16 made a sensation before mass production

[Daniel Nenni]

Economic Daily reporter Yin Huizhong/Reporting from Taipei

TSMC (2330)’ s most advanced angstrom-level A16 process “made a sensation before mass production.” According to industry reports, not only has major customer Apple booked the first batch of TSMC's A16 production capacity, but OpenAI, a popular player in the AI industry, has also booked A16 production capacity due to long-term demand for self-developed AI chips, becoming an important driver of increasing the visibility of TSMC's AI-related orders.

Regarding related issues, TSMC responded on August 30 that the company does not comment on market rumors or single customer business.

There are rumors in the industry that TSMC's A16 process has not yet been mass-produced, but the first batch of customers have surfaced. What is rare is that in addition to Apple's continued cooperation, there are also new AI indicator companies. The most eye-catching one is ChatGPT developer OpenAI, which is actively investing in its own ASIC chip design and development.


TSMC’s Emmi process made a sensation before mass production

According to industry insiders, OpenAI originally actively negotiated with TSMC to build a dedicated wafer factory. However, after evaluating the development benefits, it shelved the plan to build a dedicated wafer factory. Strategically, OpenAI sought cooperation with American companies such as Broadcom and Marvell for its own ASIC chips. Development, among which OpenAI is expected to become Broadcom's top four customers.

Since Broadcom and Marvell are also long-term customers of TSMC, the ASIC chips developed by the two American companies with the assistance of OpenAI are scheduled to be put into production in TSMC's 3nm family and subsequent A16 process according to the chip design planning.

OpenAI not only plays a key role in the development of non-Apple AI applications, but also assists the development of Apple device AI applications. Apple released its personal intelligence system Apple Intelligence in June this year, which has integrated ChatGPT. Related strategies have led the outside world to believe that OpenAI plays a key role in Apple's AI development. In the future, as OpenAI actively invests in the design and development of its own ASIC chips, it will continue to play a key role in the field of AI computing. have the right to speak.

A16 is the most advanced process node that TSMC has revealed so far. It is also the first stop for TSMC to enter the Amy process. It is scheduled to be mass-produced in the second half of 2026, and will be mass-produced in Taiwan first.

TSMC previously introduced that the A16 will adopt next-generation nanosheet transistor technology and adopt Super Power Rail technology (SPR). SPR is an original and industry-leading backside power supply solution and is the first technology in the industry.

台積電埃米級製程訂單來了 A16未量產先轟動 | 產業熱點 | 產業 | 經濟日報

台積電最先進的埃米級A16製程「未量產先轟動」。業界傳出，不僅大客戶蘋果已預訂台積電A16首批產能，AI界當紅炸子雞Op...

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[vslee]

Amongst the companies that have asked TSMC for dedicated facilities: Apple, Intel, Nvidia, and now OpenAI. Everyone thinks they're the big kahuna when talking to TSMC. TSMC quickly shuts that down.

 

[siliconbruh999]

Amongst the companies that have asked TSMC for dedicated facilities: Apple, Intel, Nvidia, and now OpenAI. Everyone thinks they're the big kahuna when talking to TSMC. TSMC quickly shuts that down.

Except Apple is big

 

[vslee]

All of those companies certainly are big. Two of which are bigger than TSMC. But none are big enough that TSMC could just hitch their wagon to and never have to worry again.

 

[Daniel Nenni]

Amongst the companies that have asked TSMC for dedicated facilities: Apple, Intel, Nvidia, and now OpenAI. Everyone thinks they're the big kahuna when talking to TSMC. TSMC quickly shuts that down.

For dedicated customers TSMC will put you in first class. If you work with other foundries you are in economy. Either way you are going to get to your destination but first class does have its perks!

 

[hist78]

For dedicated customers TSMC will put you in first class. If you work with other foundries you are in economy. Either way you are going to get to your destination but first class does have its perks!

What if there is one particular passenger in economy class who keeps accusing the pilots of being unreliable and claims the airplane is going to crash at some undetermined point in the future?

Even worse, this passenger keeps telling fellow passengers that he is starting his own airline to provide better service than the one he is currently on.

 

[Erik F]

What if there is one particular passenger in economy class who keeps accusing the pilots of being unreliable and claims the airplane is going to crash at some undetermined point in the future?

Even worse, this passenger keeps telling fellow passengers that he is starting his own airline to provide better service than the one he is currently on.

keep your friends close, your passengers closer

 

[hskuo]

show me the money and then you have ticket.

 

[Maximus]

What if there is one particular passenger in economy class who keeps accusing the pilots of being unreliable and claims the airplane is going to crash at some undetermined point in the future?

Even worse, this passenger keeps telling fellow passengers that he is starting his own airline to provide better service than the one he is currently on.

The particular passenger (let’s call PG) began loudly asking, "Who’s interested in a new airline?" Many others responded positively. To show commitment, PG announced plans to launch 5 routes in 4 years: starting with one domestic route, followed by two mid-range flights to Europe, and finally, two long-range routes to Asia. Of those, one European and one Asian route would be for airline employees only, while the others would serve external customers.

However, when the time came to launch the routes, PG realized that no external customers wanted to fly with the new airline. Disappointed, PG asked, "Have you all forgotten the potential crash risks with the other airline in the future?"

For the two routes to Asia, one to Osaka (internal-only) and one to Tokyo (for everyone), PG discovered only one internal passenger was booked. So, PG asked that passenger to fly with the other airline to save costs. Despite this, PG made a statement: "The experience gained from planning the Osaka route can be applied to the Tokyo route. We’re still on track with our 5 routes in 4 years plan."

Meanwhile, the head of the original airline smiled, welcoming all passengers aboard—including PG's own employees.

 

[hist78]

The particular passenger (let’s call PG) began loudly asking, "Who’s interested in a new airline?" Many others responded positively. To show commitment, PG announced plans to launch 5 routes in 4 years: starting with one domestic route, followed by two mid-range flights to Europe, and finally, two long-range routes to Asia. Of those, one European and one Asian route would be for airline employees only, while the others would serve external customers.

However, when the time came to launch the routes, PG realized that no external customers wanted to fly with the new airline. Disappointed, PG asked, "Have you all forgotten the potential crash risks with the other airline in the future?"

For the two routes to Asia, one to Osaka (internal-only) and one to Tokyo (for everyone), PG discovered only one internal passenger was booked. So, PG asked that passenger to fly with the other airline to save costs. Despite this, PG made a statement: "The experience gained from planning the Osaka route can be applied to the Tokyo route. We’re still on track with our 5 routes in 4 years plan."

Meanwhile, the head of the original airline smiled, welcoming all passengers aboard—including PG's own employees.

PG is a unique person in the airline industry. In this field, no matter how fierce the competition is, companies and executives typically do not criticize their competitors' safety or reliability records, as similar issues could happen to their own companies.

In fact, PG has major operations in a Middle Eastern country (which, due to sensitivity, has asked not to be named). Since last October, that country has been involved in some serious disputes that have yet to be resolved. This is precisely the kind of geopolitical risks PG was referring to when he said his company was handling it much better than other airlines.

 

[vslee]

Don't forget to mention a travel agent. Let's call him SA. SA has never flown on this airline, or on any airplane at all. But he has made a lot of money booking flights for others. So much so that he dreams of one day flying himself. So, he proclaims that he will seek $7 trillion to start not just his own airline, but also his own airplane maker. After he announces his plans, he is ridiculed, but he is unfazed. He asks the UAE to invest but they decline. SA ends up booking a flight on this existing airline.

 

[Daniel Nenni]

Don't forget to mention a travel agent. Let's call him SA. SA has never flown on this airline, or on any airplane at all. But he has made a lot of money booking flights for others. So much so that he dreams of one day flying himself. So, he proclaims that he will seek $7 trillion to start not just his own airline, but also his own airplane maker. After he announces his plans, he is ridiculed, but he is unfazed. He asks the UAE to invest but they decline. SA ends up booking a flight on this existing airline.

SA denied saying that multiple times even at the live Intel event when Pat asked him directly. He said "don't believe everything you read". Even funnier, PG asked SA what keeps him up at night implying that AI is scary. SA said without emotion "I sleep fine". SA flies first class and is one cool flier, absolutely.

In my opinion SA will cut a big deal with CC and CC will not miss PG's business.

 

[Maximus]

PG is a unique person in the airline industry. In this field, no matter how fierce the competition is, companies and executives typically do not criticize their competitors' safety or reliability records, as similar issues could happen to their own companies.

In fact, PG has major operations in a Middle Eastern country (which, due to sensitivity, has asked not to be named). Since last October, that country has been involved in some serious disputes that have yet to be resolved. This is precisely the kind of geopolitical risks PG was referring to when he said his company was handling it much better than other airlines.

PG also seems to have a spatial disorientation issue, making it difficult for him to accurately determine the position of another female passenger.

"She is in the rearview mirror, and never again will be in the windshield"

reference: https://www.pcgamer.com/intel-ceo-s...d-never-again-will-they-be-in-the-windshield/

 

[siliconbruh999]

PG also seems to have a spatial disorientation issue, making it difficult for him to accurately determine the position of another female passenger.

"She is in the rearview mirror, and never again will be in the windshield"

reference: https://www.pcgamer.com/intel-ceo-s...d-never-again-will-they-be-in-the-windshield/

This one aged like fine wine

 

[hist78]

SA denied saying that multiple times even at the live Intel event when Pat asked him directly. He said "don't believe everything you read". Even funnier, PG asked SA what keeps him up at night implying that AI is scary. SA said without emotion "I sleep fine". SA flies first class and is one cool flier, absolutely.

In my opinion SA will cut a big deal with CC and CC will not miss PG's business.

So you are introducing one more actor "CC" into this airlines industry drama?