Chinese memory-maker CXMT claims DRAM production breakthrough

Chinese memory manufacturer CXMT claims to have achieved a significant breakthrough in DRAM production. The company has begun mass production of chips manufactured using a fifth-generation process, which effectively doubles memory density. This means that CXMT can generate twice as many memory chips from a single wafer compared to previous processes.

The key to this advancement lies in the adoption of a high-k dielectric metal gate process, a technique for insulating silicon to enhance efficiency. This process has been adapted to suit DRAM production. CXMT believes its new process puts it on par with its competitors in the memory-making industry. The proof of this achievement is evidenced by a pair of LPDDR5X memory modules designed for smartphones and other high-end consumer electronics.

These products feature 24GB of memory each. If CXMT's assertions about enhanced density and efficient mass production prove accurate, and if the new products do not come at a prohibitive cost, it could be beneficial for Chinese electronics manufacturers who are grappling with supply chain issues due to rising demand for AI-related products.

This shortage prompted Apple to raise iPhone prices by $100 and led the GSM Association to warn that increasing smartphone prices could hinder digital inclusion. While democratic governments generally oppose the use of Chinese components in their smartphone manufacturing processes, India recently introduced fees for using its Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for instant payments.

The NCP, India's National Payments Corporation, introduced these charges for transactions exceeding 2,000 rupees (£15; $21). The government claims that this fee is necessary to cover the costs associated with operating the scheme, which are currently borne by the government and financial institutions. Merchants have been instructed not to transfer this fee to consumers.

A recent study conducted by Jason Hung, a research fellow at the Internet Society's Pulse program, reveals that China's online reach is limited. According to the research, China holds a mere 3.9 percent share of the CDN market in Southeast Asia, between 2024 and 2026. The study also indicates that US-registered companies dominate the CDN market in the region, with market shares ranging from 95.9 percent to 99.6 percent.

This dominance leaves organizations across Southeast Asia highly dependent on US tech companies for the dissemination of their content across the internet. Toyota has announced plans to hire 400,000 robots with two-fingered "hands," specifically designed for tasks requiring high precision. These robots, known as the Embodied Learning robot for Enhanced Yield (ELEY), can learn tasks like folding a t-shirt and perform them with remarkable efficiency.

Toyota intends to deploy these robots alongside human workers in its factories, enabling them to move freely using either a battery or an extension cord. The company hopes that its partners will also incorporate ELEY into their operations. India now boasts five fully operational semiconductor fabrication plants, according to the government.

Additionally, the government's latest industry promotion scheme has attracted $12 billion in investment. The Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, expressed optimism about creating a comprehensive semiconductor ecosystem in India. However, he did not provide any details regarding the nation's efforts to develop indigenous processors for local use.

The government's Shakti project aims to produce a 7nm processor, which would enable India to manufacture its own servers and even supercomputers. So far, there has been limited progress on this initiative, and it has yet to yield a modern microprocessor suitable for use in personal devices or servers.