2025 was a year of semiconductor extremes. Breakthroughs like diamond-integrated cooling and 6,000-device 2D chips emerged, while political turmoil killed key R&D hubs. The path from lab to fab has never been more dramatic.
Renesas is pushing into software-defined vehicles with its new 3nm automotive chip, the R-Car X5H. It promises massive AI performance and the ability to run multiple car systems at once, with sampling already underway.
Samsung is making a major push to reclaim its smartphone soul from Qualcomm. With a new 2nm chip and custom GPU in development, the goal is to make Exynos the dominant processor in future Galaxy phones, cutting off a massive and growing bill to its rival.
Samsung’s upcoming Exynos 2600 chip is shaping up to be a potential game-changer. It combines a cutting-edge 2nm manufacturing process, a new in-house GPU, and novel cooling tech to tackle the brand’s historic weaknesses.
After struggling with its HBM3E chips, Samsung appears to have turned things around. Its upcoming HBM4 memory has reportedly received the highest evaluation scores in NVIDIA’s tests for a 2026 AI accelerator, potentially leading to a larger-than-expected supply contract.
In a move to stabilize the EV supply chain, Bosch and Fuji Electric are joining forces on silicon carbide power modules. Their goal is to create mechanically compatible parts that can be swapped into an inverter without redesign. This should cut development time and give carmakers more sourcing opti
A new report details how “neocloud” companies like CoreWeave are taking out massive loans using Nvidia GPUs as collateral, turning $1 of Nvidia investment into $5 of purchases. This creates a dangerous feedback loop that could crash if the AI boom slows.
Samsung and Elon Musk’s companies are deepening their partnership. After deals for Tesla’s AI4, AI5, and AI6 chips, a new report suggests Samsung will now make chips for Musk’s xAI.
A Japanese company, Datasection, has become a critical conduit for Chinese tech giant Tencent to access advanced Nvidia AI chips. With over $1.2 billion in contracts, this deal highlights the complex, global workarounds emerging from US export controls.
Samsung’s next flip phone might once again skip a Qualcomm chip. The Galaxy Z Flip 8 could be powered by the new, 2nm Exynos 2600 processor, according to a fresh industry report. This would bring serious performance gains, but it’s a risky strategy.
