TSMC halts advanced chip shipments to Chinese AI companies
Semiconductor giant TSMC is expected to stop supplying chips made with 7 nm or smaller processes to customers in China that are developing AI processors or GPUs. The move is reportedly to ensure it remains compliant with US export restrictions.
The Taiwan-based megacorp, the largest semiconductor contract manufacturer worldwide, is said to have notified AI/GPU chip companies in China that it will halt shipments to them of 7 nm and more advanced silicon, starting from November 11.
This follows events last month when TSMC reportedly tipped off US officials that a Chinese customer appeared to be trying to circumvent export controls against China-based tech firm Huawei by placing orders for a chip resembling Huawei's Ascend 910B GPU.
It was later claimed that the biz halted all shipments to the customer in question, alleged to be chip designer Sophgo, although the latter denied the claims.
Now TSMC is suspending production of advanced silicon for Chinese clients developing products aimed at high-performance computing, GPUs, and AI-related applications, as reported by Nikkei Asia and Taiwan-based industry watcher TrendForce, which cites Chinese-language media outlet ijiwei.
