SoftBank and Intel Partner on New AI Memory Chip Tech

Key Partnership for AI Advancement

SoftBank Corp announced that its subsidiary, Saimemory, has entered into a collaboration with Intel Corporation. The partnership is set to develop and commercialize a new class of memory chip technology known as Z-Angle operation memory.

Strategic Market Positioning

The collaboration aims to create memory chips with high capacity, high bandwidth, and low power consumption, specifically targeting the growing demands of artificial intelligence data centers. This initiative is part of Intel's broader strategy to enhance its chip offerings and gain a stronger foothold in the competitive AI sector, where high-speed memory is a critical component for processing large-scale generative AI models.

Technological and Financial Scope

As part of the agreement, Saimemory will leverage Intel’s next-generation DRAM bonding initiative. The joint effort is focused on producing functional prototypes by early 2028. This development follows a previous commitment from SoftBank Group in mid-2025 to invest $2 billion in Intel, signaling a deepening strategic alignment between the two technology leaders.

Summary and Outlook

This strategic alliance between SoftBank and Intel represents a significant step toward developing next-generation hardware for the AI industry. The successful commercialization of Z-Angle technology could provide a crucial performance boost for AI data centers. Market observers will be monitoring the partnership's progress toward its 2028 prototype goal and its potential impact on the memory market landscape.

FAQ

Q: What is the main objective of the SoftBank and Intel collaboration?
A: The primary objective is to develop and commercialize Z-Angle memory technology to produce high-performance, low-power memory chips for AI data centers.

Q: What is the projected timeline for the new chip technology?
A: The companies aim to develop and release prototypes of the new memory chips by at least early 2028.

Source: Investing.com