Intel and SK hynix have announced a significant partnership to advance next-generation semiconductor technology, specifically targeting the Artificial Intelligence accelerator market. According to statements made at the Intel Artificial Intelligence Summit on July 1, SK hynix’s sixth-generation HBM4 high-bandwidth memory is expected to be integrated into Intel’s forthcoming Gaudi accelerator codenamed Jaguar Shores. This move comes as Intel seeks to lessen its dependency on Nvidia’s dominant Artificial Intelligence silicon, a relationship that currently represents nearly 80% of SK hynix’s HBM business.
The collaboration, confirmed by SK hynix’s senior leadership, signals both companies’ intent to innovate beyond their current market limitations. While SK hynix noted its longstanding partnership with Intel and did not confirm specific HBM4 projects yet, both giants are advancing discussions centered on the development and deployment of cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence chips. Intel’s recent Gaudi 3 accelerator, which incorporated HBM2E memory, was not enough to close the technology gap with Nvidia, but pairing SK hynix’s industry-leading HBM4 could bolster Intel’s competitive position.
Big technology firms are increasingly shifting towards building custom chips with ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) technologies for Artificial Intelligence workloads, leaving traditional players like Intel struggling to gain meaningful market share. With SK hynix holding about half the market for high-bandwidth memory and actively shipping samples of its latest HBM4 modules, this partnership comes at a strategic time. Moreover, Intel is looking to grow its sales of next-generation Gaudi accelerators in South Korea, leveraging government initiatives such as the ´AI Expressway´ to foster adoption and ecosystem growth. As domestic and international competition heats up, Intel’s collaboration with SK hynix marks a concerted push to rewrite the Artificial Intelligence chip landscape and revitalize its own standing in a fast-moving sector.
