# Samsung — AI news & analysis Samsung supplies the high-bandwidth memory and manufacturing capacity that AI accelerators rely on. - [AI-driven memory shortage forces smaller device makers to redesign hardware](https://www.parallelquant.com/posts/ai-driven-memory-shortage-forces-smaller-device-makers-to-redesign-hardw-85c79d) (2026-09-16, Tom's Hardware): Rising DRAM and NAND prices driven by AI demand have pushed memory to roughly 60% of Fairphone's materials cost, per Tom's Hardware. Smaller laptop and phone makers are redesigning motherboards, rethinking procurement, and testing incoming chips for counterfeits amid tight supply. - [TSMC, Samsung, Intel back larger photomasks for next-gen lithography](https://www.parallelquant.com/posts/tsmc-samsung-intel-back-larger-photomasks-for-next-gen-lithography-a71f04) (2026-09-10, Tom's Hardware): TSMC, Samsung, and Intel are jointly supporting ASML's development of larger 6x12-inch photomasks for High-NA EUV lithography systems. The larger format would let chipmakers build big processors without stitching multiple exposures together, though the transition is expected to take years. - [Intel passes 1 million wafers processed with High-NA EUV tools](https://www.parallelquant.com/posts/intel-passes-1-million-wafers-processed-with-high-na-euv-tools-d7626c) (2026-09-08, Tom's Hardware): Intel says it has processed more than one million wafers using High-NA EUV (extreme ultraviolet) lithography tools, surpassing the combined output of the rest of the semiconductor industry. The company is also developing larger 6x12 photomasks aimed at speeding production and lowering costs. - [Mistral raises 3 billion euros in Europe's largest-ever tech funding round](https://www.parallelquant.com/posts/mistral-raises-3-billion-euros-in-europe-s-largest-ever-tech-funding-rou-ab5561) (2026-09-08, The Decoder): Mistral AI closed a 3 billion euro Series D round three years after launch, pushing its valuation past 21 billion euros. Samsung Electronics led the round, and Mistral plans to use the funds to expand its compute capacity. - [Court rules Chinese chipmaker CXMT stole Samsung's DRAM tech](https://www.parallelquant.com/posts/court-rules-chinese-chipmaker-cxmt-stole-samsung-s-dram-tech-a7e2c9) (2026-09-04, Tom's Hardware): A South Korean court found that Chinese memory maker CXMT's "Project Hefei" used a stolen 620-step manufacturing recipe from Samsung. The ruling is tied to CXMT's rise to roughly 10% global DRAM market share. - [Nvidia to raise AI server prices about 15% on memory shortage](https://www.parallelquant.com/posts/nvidia-to-raise-ai-server-prices-about-15-on-memory-shortage-7fd7fe) (2026-08-23, Tom's Hardware): Nvidia has told major customers it will raise prices roughly 15% on Grace Blackwell and Vera Rubin AI server systems shipping in early 2027, driven by a DRAM shortage from Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron. The increases will hit large cloud buyers including Microsoft, Google, and Meta, which rely on these systems for AI data center buildouts. - [Nvidia H200 GPUs begin reaching China under new export licenses](https://www.parallelquant.com/posts/nvidia-h200-gpus-begin-reaching-china-under-new-export-licenses-a0fbee) (2026-08-21, Tom's Hardware): Nvidia's H200 AI GPUs are now entering China under case-by-case US export licenses, with each company's allowance reportedly capped around 100,000 units, most of which must stay outside mainland China. Domestically made Chinese AI chips have already gained significant ground in the local market despite the opening. - [Memory chip prices have jumped 500% in a year](https://www.parallelquant.com/posts/memory-chip-prices-have-jumped-500-in-a-year-731bac) (2026-08-19, Latent Space): AI-driven demand has pushed memory chip prices up roughly 500% over the past 12 months, according to industry newsletter coverage. The report describes the current memory crunch as reversing Moore's Law-style cost trends back to 2007 levels. - [OVHcloud to raise dedicated server prices up to 87% on RAM costs](https://www.parallelquant.com/posts/ovhcloud-to-raise-dedicated-server-prices-up-to-87-on-ram-costs-3832ed) (2026-08-20, Data Center Dynamics): French cloud provider OVHcloud will hike dedicated server prices by as much as 87% starting in September, citing a spike in memory (RAM) costs. The company is calling the situation "RAMaggedon." - [Court: China's CXMT used stolen Samsung DRAM technology](https://www.parallelquant.com/posts/court-china-s-cxmt-used-stolen-samsung-dram-technology-698681) (2026-08-20, Tom's Hardware): A South Korean court case found that a former Samsung engineer stole process technology for the company's 18-nanometer dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) manufacturing and sold it to Chinese memory maker CXMT. The engineer is reportedly now in custody. - [Samsung raises foundry prices up to 15% as AI demand fills capacity](https://www.parallelquant.com/posts/samsung-raises-foundry-prices-up-to-15-as-ai-demand-fills-capacity-04a880) (2026-08-19, Tom's Hardware): Samsung reportedly raised prices on new orders across its 4nm, 5nm, and 8nm foundry processes in July, with increases of up to 15%. Chinese customers reportedly accepted the largest hikes. --- Published by Parallel Quant — https://www.parallelquant.com