The capacity of the Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC has become a defining factor in the global race to develop artificial intelligence. According to DigiTimes, there is a particularly acute shortage of the advanced 3nm process technology, the demand for which significantly exceeds supply.
According to the source, almost all key players in the industry — from processor and video card manufacturers to large cloud providers — are seeking to place orders with TSMC. However, the company's production capacity is already insufficient to satisfy everyone. As a result, access to 3nm lines is mainly granted to long-term and loyal customers.
The shortage is exacerbated by rising prices amid limited supply. Companies are forced to revise their product plans and look for alternative options, as capacity allocation and procurement become major operational problems.
It is noted that giants such as Apple and Nvidia benefit the most from the current situation. Thanks to close cooperation with TSMC, they have priority access to advanced process technologies, which allows them to strengthen their position in the AI segment and restrain competitors.
At the same time, companies focused on the mass market, including Intel and AMD, receive significantly smaller production quotas.