Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced on Thursday that the automaker is aiming to reach the “tape out” phase for its highly anticipated AI6 chips by December of this year. “Tape out” represents the final stage of the design process, where the blueprint is finalized and sent to the foundry for manufacturing.
Responding to inquiries on his social media platform, X, Musk noted, “With some luck and acceleration using AI, we might be able to tape out AI6 in December.”
Strategic Partnership with Samsung
The production of the AI6 chips is tied to a landmark $16.5 billion deal with Samsung Electronics. Key details of the manufacturing plan include:
- Production Facility: The chips are expected to be produced at Samsung’s new state-of-the-art factory in Taylor, Texas.
- Advanced Technology: A Samsung executive confirmed on Wednesday that the company plans to utilize its advanced 2-nanometer process for these chips.
- Timeline: While design finalization is targeted for late 2024, Samsung expects to begin production in the second half of 2027.
Future Applications
The AI6 silicon is designed to be the backbone of Tesla’s future autonomous and robotic ecosystems. The hardware is slated for integration into:
- Next-Generation Self-Driving Vehicles: Enhancing real-time processing for Full Self-Driving (FSD) capabilities.
- Humanoid Robots: Powering the complex AI required for Tesla’s “Optimus” robotics program.
