en.Wedoany.com Reported - June 16 news, Samsung's foundry division has initiated process development and trial production for Neuralink's fourth-generation brain-computer interface chip, with the internal project codenamed "O1," utilizing Samsung's 4nm process technology. This marks Samsung's first order for Neuralink chips. The project was launched late last year, with the first batch of test chips taped out last month, and delivery is planned for the first half of 2027; if testing goes smoothly, mass production could begin as early as the second half of 2027.

Neuralink, founded by Elon Musk, focuses on implantable brain-computer interface devices. Unlike conventional consumer electronics chips, brain-computer interface chips must balance extremely small size, ultra-low power consumption, and high reliability, while simultaneously handling tasks such as neural signal acquisition, processing, transmission, and device coordination. Implantable devices impose higher requirements on chip stability, heat control, packaging reliability, and long-term operational safety. Therefore, the foundry process involves not only competition in advanced manufacturing nodes but also the process consistency and quality management capabilities necessary for the long-term operation of medical-grade electronic devices.

Samsung's adoption of the 4nm process for Neuralink's fourth-generation chip indicates that its foundry business is continuing to pursue high-value-added orders in areas such as AI, automotive, and novel bioelectronics. Compared to more aggressive nodes, the 4nm process offers a more mature mass production foundation while still meeting the design requirements for high performance, low power consumption, and miniaturization. For brain-computer interface chips, process selection is not solely about pursuing the smallest line width; it must also balance power consumption, yield, design stability, supply controllability, and subsequent mass production costs. If the "O1" project is successfully validated, Samsung has the opportunity to establish a pioneering foundry case in the emerging track of brain-computer interface chips.

This order also extends Samsung's partnership with Musk-affiliated companies. Previously, Samsung's foundry division has produced multiple generations of AI and autonomous driving chips for Tesla, and last year secured a $16.5 billion contract to manufacture Tesla's AI6 chips. If the Neuralink order eventually enters mass production, it will expand Samsung's collaboration with Musk's companies from automotive AI chips to brain-computer interface chips. For Samsung's foundry business, such customer relationships help broaden the application scenarios of advanced processes and enhance its visibility in the high-performance specialized chip market.

The brain-computer interface industry is still in its early commercialization stage, but the importance of the chip supply chain is rising. Neuralink has already advanced human implant trials and continues to iterate device designs. To expand clinical research and commercial applications in the future, it must address issues such as chip mass production, packaging, consistency of implantable devices, and regulatory validation. The entry of the fourth-generation chip project into trial production means that Neuralink is preparing the underlying hardware for the next phase of device upgrades. Improvements in chip performance, power consumption, and stability will directly impact neural signal quality, device battery life, wireless communication capabilities, and the long-term user experience.

However, this project is still in the process development and testing phase and cannot be equated with the realization of mass production. After the test chips are delivered, they must undergo functional verification, reliability assessment, device integration, and clinical and regulatory procedures. If test results fall short of expectations, both the mass production timeline and the scale of cooperation may be adjusted. For Samsung, the Neuralink order provides a window to enter the brain-computer interface supply chain; for Neuralink, selecting a mature advanced process foundry partner helps enhance the engineering capabilities of next-generation implantable chips. As brain-computer interfaces transition from research prototypes to medical devices and long-term usage scenarios, advanced processes, low-power design, and highly reliable foundry services will become foundational conditions for industry competition.

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