A new Japanese chipmaker called Rapidus is positioning itself to become a key player in the AI chip industry, with plans to start producing 2nm chips this month. The company has already engaged in discussions with tech giants like Apple, Google, Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft, seeking contracts to mass-produce chips using the advanced 2nm process node. Backed by significant investments from the Japanese government and major companies like SoftBank and Sony, Rapidus aims to challenge industry leaders TSMC and Samsung Foundry.
Rapidus's goal is to offer an alternative source of semiconductor production for companies like Apple, which currently relies heavily on TSMC. With concerns about TSMC's ability to meet demand and the increasing volatility in the region, having a reliable alternative like Rapidus could ease worries for Apple and other major customers.
While TSMC remains a dominant force in chip manufacturing, Rapidus's emergence could provide Apple with a viable option to diversify its supply chain and reduce dependency on a single foundry. The potential success of Rapidus could offer Tim Cook and Apple executives a sense of security and flexibility in their chip sourcing strategy.
