Overview

• Elon Musk said Tesla signed a $16.5 billion agreement with Samsung to manufacture its next‑generation AI6 inference chip.
• Production is slated for a new Samsung foundry in Texas, positioning fabrication closer to Tesla’s headquarters.
• TSMC controls roughly 70% of the global foundry market and is widely described as the go‑to producer for cutting‑edge AI chips.
• Analysts characterize Samsung’s win as notable yet not a near‑term break of TSMC’s lead, with Samsung holding about 7% share.
• TSMC reported $30 billion in second‑quarter revenue and guided $31.8 billion to $33 billion for the third quarter, while some commentators predict a $2 trillion valuation by 2028.