ASML says next-gen EUV tools ready to mass-produce AI chips, key for industry

ASML Holding said its next-generation High-NA extreme ultraviolet lithography machines are ready for chipmakers to begin high-volume production, marking a major milestone for the semiconductor industry. Chief Technology Officer Marco Pieters said the company will present supporting data at a technical conference in San Jose.

ASML, the sole supplier of commercial EUV tools, developed the new High-NA systems to help manufacturers such as Intel produce more powerful and efficient chips by reducing complex manufacturing steps. The machines are seen as critical for advancing AI chips used in systems like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, as current-generation EUV tools near their technical limits.

Each High-NA tool costs about $400 million. According to ASML, the machines have processed 500,000 silicon wafers, achieved around 80 percent uptime, and demonstrated the precision needed for advanced chip circuits. While technically ready, chipmakers are expected to need two to three more years of testing before fully integrating them into mass production.

Credit : CGTN