Shares of Samsung Electronics climbed 3.64% to €2,990 after Seoul Economic Daily reported the company is building a customized next-generation AI memory chip at Nvidia's direct request — a signal that the world's largest memory maker is clawing back relevance in the most lucrative corner of the semiconductor business.
Nvidia Wants Speed Over Height, and Samsung Fits the Brief. Nvidia asked Samsung to tailor its seventh-generation high-bandwidth memory around an 8-layer configuration, rather than the 12- and 16-layer stacks Samsung had originally planned.
Nvidia's target speed is 17–18 Gbps per pin, about a 20% increase from Samsung's early samples at 14.4 Gbps.
The shift appears driven by thermal management, supply availability, and manufacturing yields — fewer layers mean easier production and less heat, a persistent headache in stacking memory chips.
Yield Gains Give Samsung Real Manufacturing Credibility. Samsung's current-generation AI memory yield reached 80%, four months ahead of schedule, after starting below 60% when mass production began in February 2026.
For the next-generation chip in question, Samsung has reportedly raised reliability-test yields to around 70%. Higher yields mean more usable chips per wafer — directly lowering unit costs and boosting margins without new factory investment. Analysts project Samsung could earn at least $30 billion in profit from AI memory sales in 2027 if it sustains current performance.
A Development Deal Isn't a Production Contract — Yet. Samsung's in-house chip-design and manufacturing capabilities position it as a key competitor, but development collaboration does not guarantee a mass-production contract, and volume details remain undisclosed.
Supply-chain analysts estimate SK Hynix still holds roughly 60–70% of Nvidia's current AI-memory volume, with Samsung capturing approximately 25–30%. The market rewarded potential, not confirmed orders.
Broader Risks Haven't Disappeared. Rate-hike fears and chip-tariff threats continue to weigh on the sector. Nvidia's memory supply constraints are projected to persist through 2028 , which gives Samsung a long runway but also means execution gaps will be punished severely. Samsung is accelerating capacity by bringing its Pyeongtaek P4 fab to full operation by year-end, six months ahead of schedule , a capital commitment that only pays off if Nvidia converts development into volume orders. The stock's recovery reflects hope; delivery will determine whether it sticks.