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TSMC says ‘A16’ tech to arrive in 2026, setting up showdown with Intel over who can make the world’s fastest chips
- TSMC, a key supplier to Nvidia and Apple, says AI chip makers are likely to be the first adopters of its new A16 tech rather than smartphone makers
- Analysts say TSMC’s announcements call into question Intel’s claims that it will retake the world chip-making crown
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Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) said on Wednesday that a new chip-making technology called “A16” will enter production in the second half of 2026, setting up a showdown with long-time rival Intel over who can make the world’s fastest semiconductors.
TSMC, the world’s biggest contract manufacturer of advanced chips and a key supplier to Nvidia and Apple, announced the news at a conference in Santa Clara, California, where company executives said that developers of artificial intelligence (AI) chips are likely to be the first adopters of the technology rather than smartphone makers.
Analysts said the technologies announced on Wednesday could call into question Intel’s claims in February that it will overtake TSMC in making the world’s fastest-computing chips with a new technology Intel calls “14A”.
Kevin Zhang, TSMC’s senior vice-president of business development, told reporters that the company has developed its new A16 chip-making process faster than expected because of demand from AI chip firms, without naming specific customers.
AI chip firms “really want to optimise their designs to get every ounce of performance we have”, Zhang said.
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