Saimemory, a subsidiary of the global investment powerhouse SoftBank, and American chip manufacturer Intel Corp. have announced a pivotal collaboration aimed at accelerating the commercialization of next-generation memory technology. This strategic partnership, centered on the initiative dubbed the “Z-Angle Memory program” (ZAM), seeks to address the burgeoning demands of artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads that are increasingly straining current memory architectures.
The ZAM program is expected to yield prototypes by the fiscal year ending March 31, 2028, with commercial deployment targeted for fiscal 2029. This timeline underscores the urgency and long-term vision driving the development of memory solutions capable of powering the next wave of technological innovation.
Saimemory, established in December 2024, will leverage Intel’s extensive experience and intellectual property in memory technology, particularly drawing from initiatives undertaken as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Memory Technology program. Intel’s contributions are expected to focus on enhancing the performance and power efficiency of next-generation Dynamic Random-Access Memory (DRAM), a critical component in computing systems ranging from personal computers to large-scale data centers.
“Standard memory architectures are not adequately meeting the demands of AI,” stated Dr. Joshua Fryman, Intel Fellow and CTO of Intel Government Technologies. He elaborated that Intel has pioneered a novel memory architecture and manufacturing approach designed to significantly boost DRAM performance while simultaneously reducing power consumption and associated costs. This innovation is poised to drive broader market adoption throughout the coming decade.
The collaboration arrives at a critical juncture, as the demand for memory chips essential for AI applications has surged dramatically, outpacing supply and creating significant bottlenecks across the semiconductor supply chain. The ZAM program’s emphasis on energy efficiency also directly addresses growing concerns about the substantial energy footprint of AI computing.
This venture between Intel and SoftBank in the realm of advanced memory was previously highlighted by Nikkei Asia. Reports also indicate the potential involvement of Fujitsu, a prominent Japanese multinational in IT equipment and services, in this next-generation AI memory project. The market has reacted positively to the news, with SoftBank shares seeing a notable uptick in trading following the announcement.
Original article, Author: Tobias. If you wish to reprint this article, please indicate the source:https://aicnbc.com/16921.html
