In a bold move to bypass global supply chain bottlenecks and reduce its reliance on Nvidia, ByteDance (the parent company of TikTok) is reportedly developing its own AI chips in collaboration with Samsung Electronics.
According to sources close to the project, the custom processor, internally codenamed "SeedChip," is designed specifically for AI inference—the stage where large language models (LLMs) generate responses and recommendation algorithms process millions of TikTok videos in real-time.
Why Samsung?
While ByteDance previously worked with TSMC and Broadcom, the shifting geopolitical landscape of 2026 has made Samsung a strategic ally.
Manufacturing Power: Samsung will use its advanced fabrication process to produce the chips.
Scare Memory Supply: A key part of the deal includes securing access to HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) chips, which are currently in extreme shortage and essential for high-performance AI.
Timeline: ByteDance aims to receive the first sample units by late March 2026, with a goal to produce 100,000 units this year, eventually scaling to 350,000.
The $22 Billion AI Push
ByteDance isn't just playing around; the company has reportedly earmarked over $22 billion for AI procurement and infrastructure in 2026. As AI bills for cloud services skyrocket, building in-house silicon is seen as the only way to keep TikTok’s addictive "For You" feed running efficiently and profitably.
The Bigger Picture
ByteDance joins other Chinese giants like Alibaba and Baidu who are already racing to build their own hardware stacks. This move signals a massive shift in the semiconductor industry: the "Nvidia Era" is facing its toughest challenge yet as tech titans transition from being customers to being competitors.
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