a report from reuters Scientists in China claim to have prototyped a machine that could eventually be used to produce semiconductor chips capable of powering artificial intelligence. Sources told the publication that a team in Shenzhen completed a prototype of an extreme ultraviolet lithography machine earlier this year and it is reportedly now undergoing testing. The EUV machine was reportedly built by former engineers at Dutch semiconductor supplier ASML. reuters China is said to be aiming to produce its own EUV chips starting in 2028, although other experts have offered 2030 as a more likely date.
EUV is an extremely complex piece of technology; We have an explainer below that gives some details. It’s at the heart of chips made by companies like Intel and TSMC, so any company trying to compete will also need access to EUV. Although the Chinese prototype is not yet producing chips, it is reportedly capable of generating the extreme ultraviolet light needed for chip manufacturing.
If confirmed, the development would put China in control of the technology much sooner than analysts expect. To date, the EUV has been largely kept out of reach by Western companies and used as a bargaining chip by the US government. Chinese President Xi Jinping has given high priority to enabling the country to produce its own semiconductors. “The goal is for China to eventually be able to make advanced chips on machines that are completely Chinese-made,” one source said. reuters“China wants the United States 100 percent out of its supply chains,”
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