Elon Musk Claims Samsung’s Semiconductor Technology Surpasses TSMC as Tesla Partners with Korean Giant for Next-Gen AI5 & AI6 Chips

Elon Musk recently expressed notable gratitude towards Samsung Foundry, a sentiment that could significantly benefit the South Korean technology titan. This acknowledgment comes as Samsung secures critical contracts for producing Tesla’s next-generation AI chips.

Major Enhancements Expected from Tesla’s AI5 Chips: Up to 10x Performance Improvement

A landmark achievement for Samsung’s foundry division was clinching the contract to manufacture Tesla’s AI6 chips using its state-of-the-art SF2 (2nm) process technology. This deal is particularly momentous as it marks one of the first significant collaborations between Samsung Foundry and a major industry player like Tesla. During Tesla’s recent Q3 earnings call, CEO Elon Musk indicated that both Samsung and TSMC would contribute to the production of the forthcoming AI5 chips. Notably, he remarked that Samsung’s Taylor fabrication plant demonstrates a “slightly advanced”capability compared to TSMC’s facility in Arizona.

@elonmusk gave many interesting details on $TSM and Samsung, as well as $TSLA‘s AI chips during the earnings call today. Some takeaways (will add more details as I process the transcript).1.$TSLA will work with both $TSM and Samsung on AI 5 chips (known).2. In some… pic.twitter.com/5oLFAxhJA9

— Ray Wang (@rwang07) October 23, 2025

While Tesla has historically relied exclusively on TSMC for the production of its AI5 chips, the recent engagement with Samsung emphasizes a shift in strategy towards diversifying its supply chain. Tesla’s collaboration with Samsung represents a significant endorsement of the latter’s capabilities in chip manufacturing, particularly as Musk anticipates considerable performance advancements from the AI5—upwards of ten times the efficiency of the previous generation, AI4.

Unbranded computer component with copper heat sinks on a black background. — Image Credits: Tesla

In exploring the architectural advancements within the AI5 chip, Musk noted that the Tesla design team has eliminated the “legacy GPU block, ”which typically accommodates a general-purpose GPU. This redesign aims to incorporate AI tile kernels and related features tailored for specific applications that align with Tesla’s computing goals. Musk also highlighted the “half a reticle”size of the AI5 chip, suggesting an expansive package that will integrate numerous accelerator tiles alongside an increased on-chip SRAM capacity. Such enhancements are expected to deliver the significant performance improvements that Tesla strives for.

Musk’s confidence in the AI5 chips is so strong that he has expressed a desire for an “oversupply, ”indicating that Samsung’s Taylor fab must scale up production to meet the anticipated demand. Securing Tesla as a client will undeniably reinforce Samsung’s production efforts in the U. S., positioning the company for broader client adoption moving forward.

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