Google in talks with Samsung to make part of next-gen chip, The Information reports
Google's Next-Generation AI Chip Manufacturing Plans
Overview of the Reported Talks
June 11 (Reuters) - Alphabet's Google is in talks with Samsung Electronics to manufacture part of its next-generation artificial intelligence processor, The Information reported on Thursday, citing two people familiar with the matter.
Production Details and Partners
TSMC's Role in the Project
Google plans for TSMC to make the main computing part of the tensor processing unit, codenamed "Icefish", while Samsung may produce a component that helps connect it to memory using its 2-nanometer production technology, the report said.
MediaTek's Involvement and Development Timeline
The tech giant is working with chip firm MediaTek on the design, and “Icefish” is still in development, with mass production possible as early as 2028, the report said.
Implications for Samsung and the Chip Industry
Potential Win for Samsung
Landing the contract would mark a big win for Samsung's push to grow its contract chip-manufacturing business. The 2nm process packs more power into smaller chips, potentially improving speed, power use and AI capabilities.
Official Responses and Industry Context
Samsung Electronics declined to comment, while Alphabet did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Reuters could not independently verify the report.
Samsung's Broader Chip Strategy
In April, Samsung said it expects to win more customers for chips manufactured using the advanced technology and was considering a second Texas plant to ramp up production. In July 2025, it landed a $16.5 billion deal with Tesla to make AI chips using the process.
Google's Chip Strategy and Industry Impact
Reducing Reliance on TSMC
The report is the latest to suggest that Google is looking to reduce reliance on TSMC, which is trying to keep up with surging AI demand but could prove to be a bottleneck for the industry.
Talks with Intel
The Information reported on Monday that Google was in talks with Intel to manufacture more than three million TPUs in 2028.
Growth of Google's In-House AI Chips
Google's in-house AI chips have emerged as an alternative to Nvidia's dominant graphics processors, with rising sales of the TPUs becoming a growth driver for its cloud unit. It unveiled two new custom chips in April, designed for training AI models and inference.
(Reporting by Anhata Rooprai in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid and Devika Syamnath)
