Jim Keller Claims Contact With Rapidus, Samsung, TSMC & Intel for Next-Gen Chips
The semiconductor industry continues to buzz with anticipation over the upcoming 2nm era, and one of the sector’s most respected voices, Jim Keller, has weighed in. In a recent interview with Nikkei Asia, the veteran chip architect revealed that his company, Tenstorrent, is in discussions with TSMC, Rapidus, Samsung, and Intel for future chip production.
Keller expressed particular interest in Intel’s foundry roadmap, noting that while the company still has considerable work ahead, it would be unwise to dismiss their potential. “We are talking to TSMC, Rapidus and Samsung for 2-nm technologies,” Keller said, adding that Intel is also under consideration. “They still have a lot of work to do … to deliver a really solid technology roadmap.”
Intel has been actively repositioning itself as a competitive foundry player, seeking to attract external customers to its advanced 18A and 14A nodes. Historically focused on internal manufacturing for its own CPUs, the company is now pushing its foundry business as a central pillar of future growth. Keller’s comments suggest that while skepticism remains, Intel’s efforts to regain relevance in leading-edge semiconductor production are being closely watched by major industry players.
For Tenstorrent, Keller’s AI startup built around RISC-V architecture, the discussions reflect its strategic push to secure next-generation nodes for AI chip development. The company has been steadily gaining traction in the AI hardware market, with Keller previously confirming interest in Rapidus’ 2nm technology. His latest remarks underscore a broader approach: engaging with nearly all the world’s leading fabs to secure manufacturing capacity at the most advanced process nodes available.
The significance of Keller’s words is amplified by his history. Widely regarded as one of the industry’s most influential engineers, he has shaped designs at AMD, Apple, Tesla, and Intel, leaving a lasting impact on CPU and chip architecture. His credibility lends weight to his assessments, and his openness to Intel, despite its lagging reputation in recent years, signals confidence that Team Blue could yet deliver on its ambitious roadmap if execution improves.
As the race toward 2nm heats up, the alignment of companies like Tenstorrent with major fabs will play a critical role in defining the competitive landscape. With TSMC and Samsung already entrenched, Rapidus emerging as Japan’s national champion, and Intel fighting to reestablish leadership, the next few years will determine which companies can reliably deliver at scale. For Keller and Tenstorrent, casting a wide net across all potential partners may ensure the flexibility needed to navigate an increasingly complex and competitive market.
What do you think? can Intel realistically compete with TSMC and Samsung at 2nm, or is Keller hedging his bets by keeping every door open?
