After unintentionally producing an AI chiplet for Huawei via a proxy, TSMC is set to stop supplying sophisticated AI processors for all of its Chinese clients from Monday, November 11, reports Financial Times, citing Ijiwei.com, which in turn cited emails sent by the foundry to its customers. This change concerns advanced process technologies (such as 7nm and below) and will have a significant impact on China-based developers of AI processors. This does not, however, mean that TSMC will cease to serve these customers completely.
The new restriction is limited to AI processors and AI GPUs made on 7nm-class and lower nodes. Smartphone processors, chips for automotive applications, and other devices that cannot be used for military or dual-use applications are not affected, the Ijiwei report stated. Sources with knowledge of the matter reportedly told Ijiwei that future supplies of advanced AI processors to China-based entities would require some kind of approval process, which likely involves specialists from the U.S. Department of Commerce.
It is unclear what TSMC plans to do with wafers containing advanced processors already in production, as well as with already processed wafers sitting in its stock. Perhaps, they will be shipped to actual customers if they get appropriate export licenses.
TSMC currently makes AI processors for chip giants like Alibaba and Baidu (which are mentioned specifically in the FT report) that produce their custom processors (such as Kunlun and Kunlun II) at TSMC. TSMC also fabs hardware for several AI processor designers, such as Horizon Robotics and Black Sesame International Holding, that design processors for applications like self-driving cars, according to Financial Times. For all of these companies, the new restriction will likely be a major setback, as they are highly dependent on processors made by TSMC.
The U.S. has already banned American firms, including AMD, Intel, and Nvidia, from selling their most…
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