Google is in discussions with Samsung to manufacture a key component of its next-generation TPU, codenamed Icefish, using Samsung's advanced 2nm process technology. The talks, if finalized, would mark a significant shift in Google's custom chip supply chain and give Samsung a major win in the foundry market.
Why Icefish Matters
Google's Tensor Processing Units are custom ASICs designed to accelerate machine learning workloads in its data centers. The Icefish chip is the next iteration, expected to deliver substantial performance and efficiency gains over the current generation. Manufacturing on a 2nm node would allow Google to pack more transistors into the same die area, boosting compute power while keeping power draw in check. That's critical as AI models grow larger and demand more from the underlying hardware.
Samsung's 2nm Ambitions
Samsung has been pushing its foundry business to catch up with TSMC, the dominant player in advanced chip manufacturing. The company's 2nm gate-all-around (GAA) process is its most advanced node yet, and landing a high-volume customer like Google would provide a strong validation. Samsung has already secured some orders for its 3nm GAA process, but a deal for Icefish would be a bigger prize, potentially worth hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue over the chip's lifecycle.
What's at Stake
For Google, diversifying its manufacturing partners reduces reliance on a single supplier. Currently, most of Google's TPUs are made by TSMC. Moving some production to Samsung could give Google better negotiating leverage and supply chain resilience. For Samsung, winning Icefish would be a direct challenge to TSMC's dominance in AI accelerators. The talks are still early, and no final decision has been made. Both companies are known for keeping their chip plans close to the vest.
The Icefish TPU is not expected to enter mass production until late 2025 or early 2026, giving both sides time to finalize terms. A deal would also require Samsung to ramp up its 2nm yield rates, a hurdle that has tripped up every foundry in the past.
Neither Google nor Samsung has commented publicly on the discussions. The outcome will likely hinge on technical qualifications, pricing, and capacity commitments. For now, the industry is watching closely.
