The chips are down, in Texas and Arizona

We have them in everything from refrigerators to cars, phones and computers, the humble computer chip. So much so that we take them for granted. The fabrication plants that make them are a wonder of science and TSMC along with Samsung are the two top manufacturers on the planet. The current best technologies are the 4 and 2 nanometre fabrication levels. At this level the slightest vibration, air or water impurity, and a host of other factors are the difference between success and abject failure.

- JAMES HEIN

TSMC of Taiwan and Samsung of South Korea now have fabrication plants in the USA. TSMC in Phoenix, Arizona, makes chips for many companies like NVIDIA and Apple. TSMC also already has experience with the 2nm fabrication process. Samsung are just getting down to this level and the difference between 4nm and 2nm is a big one. It requires a change in the fabrication process and design. Samsung in Taylor, Texas, has decided to move to 2nm, supplying Tesla and Starlink with all the chips they need, after a deal was signed. Some of these chips will end up in consumer phones giving "auto follow" capability for access to Star-link satellites. Other chips will end up in Tesla cars. This is both a challenge and opportunity for Samsung as they build in the USA.