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On Wed, 19 Mar, 4:07 PM UTC
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[1]
Samsung Vows to Reclaim Ground in AI Memory Market With Rollout
Samsung Electronics Co. pledged to strengthen its position in the high-bandwidth memory chip market this year, in response to shareholder criticism over its underperformance in the lucrative artificial intelligence arena. Jun Young-hyun, head of the chip business, said Samsung plans to supply enhanced 12-layer HBM3E as early as the second quarter of this year and aims to produce cutting-edge HBM4 chips in the second half. He was officially appointed as co-chief executive officer of South Korea's biggest company following its annual shareholder meeting on Wednesday.
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Samsung's chip chief pledges HBM3e leadership in AI processor market
Jun Young-hyun, Samsung Electronics vice chairman and head of the chip division, speaks during the company's annual general meeting of shareholders at the Suwon Convention Center in Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. Courtesy of Samsung Electronics CEO Han promises 'painstaking efforts' to improve shareholder value By Nam Hyun-woo Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Jun Young-hyun said the company's fifth-generation high-bandwidth memory 3e (HBM3e) chip will play "a leading role" in the global artificial intelligence (AI) process market as early as the second quarter of this year. During the company's annual general shareholders' meeting on Wednesday, Jun, who also heads the chipmaker's Device Solutions (DS) division, acknowledged shareholders' criticism that its belated response to the AI-specific memory chip market is one of the reasons for the prolonged downturn of the company's stock price. He assured that Samsung will not repeat its "mistakes" in the upcoming market competitions for the sixth-generation HBM4 and customized HBM. "Despite the continued uncertainties in the global semiconductor market, we are internally strengthening our response through product improvements and organizational restructuring," he said. Shareholders fill out registration forms at the desk for Samsung Electronics' annual general meeting of shareholders at the Suwon Convention Center in Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. Joint Press Corps Formerly the world's leading memory chipmaker, Samsung Electronics lost its leadership due to struggles in supplying HBM3e chips to Nvidia, a dominant player in the global AI accelerator market with its graphics processing unit, or GPU, and other solutions. As a result, domestic rival SK hynix has become the world's leading HBM supplier based on its strong supply ties with Nvidia. This has negatively affected Samsung's share prices and has put the DS division under scrutiny. A shareholder at the meeting criticized the prolonged downturn in stock price, saying it was largely attributable to the company's failure to supply HBM3e chips to Nvidia. "We are now making efforts to improve product competitiveness by reflecting client feedback," Jun said. "As an outcome, (our) 12-layer HBM3e chips will be able to play a leading role in the market as early as the second quarter of this year or no later than the second half of this year." Jun added the sixth-generation HBM4 and customized HBM products are now under development with the goal of beginning their mass production in the second half of this year. "Though we missed the early market after failing to grasp the HBM trend, there will not be similar mistakes in the HBM4 and customized HBM market." In a presentation to shareholders, Jun said that the company plans to double its HBM supplies compared to 2024 and focus on high-value-added NAND products, such as high-capacity solid-state drives. Shareholders also questioned Samsung's foundry and chip designing businesses, saying the company is now lagging far behind the world's biggest foundry, the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Han Jin-man, president of the foundry business, said the company "does not lack advanced technology" and its "primary goal this year is improving yield rates." Shareholders attend Samsung Electronics' annual general meeting of shareholders at the Suwon Convention Center in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. Joint Press Corps The shareholder meeting came amid growing concerns over the company's key businesses' performance and the prolonged downturn of the company's stock price. After reaching 88,800 won on July 11 last year, its stock has been in a downward spiral, once plunging to 49,900 won on Nov. 14. Since then, the share price has remained below the 60,000 won mark. This was largely interpreted as a signal that investors are losing confidence in Samsung's competitiveness in both chip and device businesses. In the fourth quarter of last year, the company's Device eXperience (DX) division, which encompasses smartphones, TVs and other household appliances, suffered a 10 percent decline in operating profit from three months earlier. The chip-making DS division's operating profit posted a 25 percent decline during the same period. Samsung Electronics CEO and Vice Chairman Han Jong-hee drinks water during the company's annual general meeting of shareholders at the Suwon Convention Center in Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. Joint Press Corps During the meeting, its CEO and Vice Chairman Han Jong-hee pledged to make "painstaking efforts" to improve shareholder value. Han Jong-hee is also the head of the DX division. "I sincerely apologize to our shareholders for the company's recent stock price not meeting expectations," Han Jong-hee said. "Last year, we failed to respond quickly to rapid changes in the AI semiconductor market, while our key products -- such as smartphones, TVs and home appliances -- could not establish clear market leadership." Han Jong-hee added that the company's stock price is on a bearish run due to concerns about technological competitiveness and risks stemming from U.S. pressure to impose hefty tariffs. Regarding questions about Samsung's plan for "a large-scale mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deal," which the company has been presenting as a potential breakthrough to address the current slowdown, Han Jong-hee said Samsung has been "exploring M&A deals in various ways" and will do its utmost to deliver "tangible results this year." During the meeting, shareholders approved four agendas the board proposed, including appointing Jun and Song Jai-hyuk, the DS division's chief technology officer, as new board members. The shareholder meeting was held at the Suwon Convention Center in Gyeonggi Province and drew more than 900 shareholders. Following the meeting, Samsung's board appointed Jun as the co-CEO of Samsung Electronics. "By naming Jun as the co-CEO, Samsung Electronics will have two CEOs to reinforce the responsibility of each business division," the company said in a statement. "Through this, Samsung aims to strengthen the competitiveness of its core businesses and establish a foundation for sustainable growth."
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Samsung Electronics pledges to strengthen its position in the high-bandwidth memory chip market, addressing shareholder concerns over its underperformance in AI-specific memory chips. The company plans to launch enhanced 12-layer HBM3E chips and develop cutting-edge HBM4 chips to compete in the AI processor market.
Samsung Electronics, once the world's leading memory chipmaker, is making a bold move to reclaim its position in the artificial intelligence (AI) memory chip market. The company has faced criticism from shareholders for its underperformance in this lucrative sector, particularly due to its struggles in supplying high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips to industry leader Nvidia 12.
Jun Young-hyun, newly appointed co-CEO and head of Samsung's chip business, announced plans to supply enhanced 12-layer HBM3E chips as early as the second quarter of 2025. This move is aimed at regaining a leading role in the global AI processor market 12.
"Our 12-layer HBM3E chips will be able to play a leading role in the market as early as the second quarter of this year or no later than the second half of this year," Jun stated during the company's annual general shareholders' meeting 2.
Samsung is not stopping at HBM3E. The company has set its sights on the future, with plans to produce cutting-edge sixth-generation HBM4 chips in the second half of 2025. Additionally, customized HBM products are under development, with mass production targeted to begin in the latter half of the year 12.
Jun emphasized, "Though we missed the early market after failing to grasp the HBM trend, there will not be similar mistakes in the HBM4 and customized HBM market" 2.
The company's strategic shift comes in response to growing shareholder dissatisfaction. Samsung's stock price has been on a downward trend, dropping from 88,800 won in July 2024 to below 60,000 won in recent months 2.
CEO Han Jong-hee acknowledged these concerns, stating, "I sincerely apologize to our shareholders for the company's recent stock price not meeting expectations. Last year, we failed to respond quickly to rapid changes in the AI semiconductor market" 2.
Samsung's renewed focus on AI-specific memory chips is crucial in light of increased competition. The company lost its market leadership to domestic rival SK hynix, which has established strong supply ties with Nvidia 2.
To regain ground, Samsung plans to double its HBM supplies compared to 2024 and focus on high-value-added NAND products, such as high-capacity solid-state drives 2.
Shareholders also raised questions about Samsung's foundry and chip designing businesses, comparing them to industry leader Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Han Jin-man, president of the foundry business, assured that the company "does not lack advanced technology" and that their "primary goal this year is improving yield rates" 2.
As part of its strategy to address the current slowdown, Samsung is also exploring potential mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deals, with Han Jong-hee promising to deliver "tangible results this year" 2.
This strategic repositioning in the AI memory chip market demonstrates Samsung's commitment to innovation and its determination to regain its leadership position in the rapidly evolving AI technology landscape.
Reference
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Samsung Electronics confronts tough questions from shareholders at its annual general meeting, addressing its failure to capitalize on the AI boom and promising strategic changes to regain technological leadership.
5 Sources
5 Sources
Samsung Electronics reports weak chip earnings in 2024 despite record sales, struggling to keep up in the AI chip market. The company vows to double its high-bandwidth memory (HBM) sales in 2025 amid increasing competition and US export restrictions.
10 Sources
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Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang discusses Samsung's efforts to qualify its HBM chips for AI processors, while SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won reveals SK hynix's accelerated development pace in HBM technology.
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Samsung Electronics announces a major leadership reshuffle in its semiconductor division, aiming to boost competitiveness in AI chip production amid technological challenges and ongoing legal issues for its chairman.
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Samsung Electronics warns of lower-than-expected Q3 profits, apologizing for disappointing performance as it struggles to compete in the AI chip market, particularly in supplying high-end chips to major customers like Nvidia.
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