Samsung Projects AI Chip Demand Surge Through 2026 as AMD Ties Deepen

Samsung Electronics has signaled a robust long-term growth trajectory for the semiconductor industry, with executives forecasting that artificial intelligence will remain a primary driver of chip demand through at least 2026. This projection comes at a critical juncture as the industry transitions from the initial infrastructure build-out phase to a more nuanced era of pervasive AI integration across data centers, edge computing, and consumer electronics. The South Korean tech giant is positioning itself to capture this 'second wave' of AI demand by aggressively scaling its production of High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) and expanding its foundry services to accommodate next-generation architectures.

A pivotal element of Samsung’s 2026 outlook is the strategic deepening of its relationship with Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). Recent reports indicate that AMD CEO Lisa Su is scheduled to visit Samsung’s semiconductor facilities in South Korea to discuss expanding their partnership. This move is widely interpreted as a signal that Samsung is successfully positioning itself as a vital alternative or secondary supplier to SK Hynix for high-end AI memory. As AMD ramps up its MI300 and future accelerator series to compete with NVIDIA, Samsung’s ability to deliver HBM3E and eventually HBM4 at scale will be a decisive factor in global supply chain stability.

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In 2025 alone, the company invested approximately $25.6 billion in R&D, much of it directed toward advanced packaging technologies and 2nm-class foundry processes.

Beyond data center applications, Samsung is pivoting toward 'on-device AI' as a secondary growth engine. Executives, including Mobile Business COO Won-Joon Choi, have characterized the AI revolution as 'unavoidable,' suggesting that the integration of generative AI features into the upcoming Galaxy S26 series and other mobile hardware will necessitate a new class of high-performance, low-power processors and memory. This shift is expected to mitigate the traditional cyclicality of the memory market by creating a baseline of high-value demand that persists even if hyperscale data center spending fluctuates.