Elon Musk: “Tesla’s Next-Gen AI Chip ‘AI5’—Samsung to Join Production”
Elon Musk: “Tesla’s Next-Gen AI Chip ‘AI5’—Samsung to Join Production”
※ Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, officially stated that Samsung Electronics will join Tesla’s in-house AI chipset “AI5” project.
This means that Samsung will participate alongside TSMC on the production line, signaling that Tesla’s AI infrastructure and autonomous driving technology are moving toward a two-foundry model. 😅
🧠 What’s Different About Tesla’s AI5?
AI5 is expected to power Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) computers and extend to robotics and data-center AI servers.
Compared with AI4, AI5 reportedly delivers over 3× higher compute efficiency with around 40% better power efficiency.
Tesla had previously relied entirely on TSMC.
To secure supply resilience and manufacturing flexibility, the company is now running a parallel strategy with Samsung Foundry.
Against a backdrop of geopolitically complex chip supply chains, this is seen as risk diversification through production base diversification.
🔧 What Samsung’s Participation Means
Through this project, Samsung can broaden its reach beyond Tesla to other global AI chip clients such as NVIDIA and AMD.
- Samsung’s strengths:
- 3nm GAA (Gate-All-Around) process technology
- Integrated memory + advanced packaging solutions
- Automotive-grade reliability (AEC-Q100 qualified lines)
- Industry implications:
- A crack in TSMC’s de facto dominance in AI chip production
- Formation of a “TSMC–Samsung dual-foundry” structure within AI semiconductors
- Reinforcement of Korea’s AI server–class foundry competitiveness
🧩 How AI6 Differs
Samsung has reportedly already won the next-gen AI6 contract from Tesla.
AI6 is the high-performance successor to AI5 and is expected to be used in Tesla’s “Dojo” supercomputer and robotaxi platforms.
In short, AI5 targets high-volume automotive deployment, while AI6 targets high-performance computing (data centers/robotics).
📊 Market Reaction & Industry Analysis
✅ Global Market Take
Following the AI5 collaboration headlines:
- TSMC shares firmed on expectations of supply-chain stability, and
- Samsung Electronics ADRs saw strength in after-hours trading.
This underscores Tesla’s evolution beyond an automaker into an AI semiconductor platform company.
Experts note that designing its own automotive chips and partnering directly with foundries for production is a critical step toward full self-driving via AI SoC internalization.
🏭 Impact on Korea’s Tech Ecosystem
Samsung’s participation is broadly positive for Korea’s semiconductor sector.
AI chips command higher ASPs and greater value-add than conventional mobile/server parts, meaning direct margin leverage.
Knock-on benefits are also expected for domestic equipment/materials vendors.
For instance, ramping Samsung’s 3nm capacity can lift orders at Hanmi Semiconductor, WONIK IPS, Jusung Engineering, and other local suppliers.
💰 Investment View: U.S. & Korea Stock Ideas
🇺🇸 U.S. Stocks
| EV & AI | TSLA (Tesla) | Re-rating potential as a chip/AI tech company via AI5/AI6 internalization |
| Semi Equipment | AMAT (Applied Materials) | Front-end tool demand from AI chip capacity additions |
| Semiconductors | NVDA (NVIDIA) | Reinforced GPU–SoC ecosystem; collaboration optionality with Tesla |
| Memory | MU (Micron) | Direct beneficiary of HBM/DDR5 demand for AI workloads |
🇰🇷 Korea Stocks
| Foundry/Semiconductors | Samsung Electronics (005930) | Share gains in foundry from joining Tesla production alongside TSMC |
| Packaging Equipment | Hanmi Semiconductor (042700) | Increased demand for AI packaging and advanced assembly |
| Process Equipment | WONIK IPS (240810) | Etch/deposition tools leveraged to 3nm ramp |
| AI & Robotics SW | Hyundai AutoEver (307950) | Potential beneficiary from wider autonomous driving software stack adoption |
📈 Investment Insight
This Tesla–Samsung partnership isn’t just another order; it’s a signal of structural change across the AI chip industry.
With AI chip demand exploding, a “Korea-integrated semiconductor value chain” spanning memory, logic, and packaging is likely to draw increased attention.
The global AI chip market is set for intensified competition among:
- Tesla’s Dojo–AI5–AI6 lineup,
- NVIDIA’s GPU & Grace Hopper platform,
- Google’s TPU, and
- Apple’s MLA chips.
❓ FAQ
Q1. If AI5 is commercialized, how might it affect Tesla’s stock?
→ Near term, expectations for a tech-centric re-rating could build; longer term, AI services (Dojo cloud) may become a more important earnings driver than vehicle margins.
Q2. What’s the tangible upside for Samsung?
→ Higher-margin AI wafer orders can lift foundry operating margins while diversifying its global client base.
Q3. Is this competition or collaboration with TSMC?
→ Practically, it’s co-opetition. Tesla is dual-sourcing to reduce technical and supply risk.
Q4. What are the key themes to watch from here?
→ AI chip self-sufficiency and a global dual-foundry strategy will be central themes.