Technologie: Warum die KI-Welt von einem Chipkonzern aus Taiwan abhängt

The artificial intelligence boom has made Taiwan's semiconductor company TSMC increasingly successful. In the third quarter, the world's largest contract manufacturer reported a 69% increase in profit compared to the previous year, reaching approximately 763 billion Taiwan dollars (about 21 billion euros). Revenue rose to about 41.6 billion euros.

No end to the boom is expected in the near future: TSMC already expects revenue of up to 48.5 billion euros for the final quarter. TSMC is not well-known outside the technology industry, as it primarily manufactures chips developed by other companies. Leading AI firms rely on Taiwan for their chip production. TSMC's role as the factory behind major tech names is significant.

As AI requires increasingly powerful processors, the demand for chips grows, benefiting TSMC. Manufacturing these chips is one of the most challenging tasks in modern industry. Millions of electronic switches must be packed into tiny spaces, requiring expensive machinery, years of research, and extensive experience. Even minor errors can render a chip useless.

TSMC has perfected this technology over decades, with a substantial lead over competitors in producing the most advanced chips. While companies can develop new chips, they struggle to find another manufacturer to produce them in large quantities with the same quality. The AI boom appears to be continuing, with major tech firms investing substantial sums in new data centers, requiring more chips.

TSMC's CEO, Che-Chia Wei, noted during the presentation of quarterly results that recent developments are very positive for long-term demand prospects in the AI sector. The AI boom is also boosting Taiwan's economy, with GDP growth of 12.9% in the second quarter compared to the previous year. The central bank even expects a 11.5% growth for the entire year, the strongest increase in nearly 40 years.

However, doubts persist about whether the massive AI investments will pay off for all parties involved, particularly in expensive data centers. The timing and extent of profitability for these investments remain uncertain. Should major tech companies significantly reduce their spending, TSMC would also be affected. A significant risk lies in political tensions: Most of the most advanced chips are still produced in Taiwan.

China regards the democratic island as part of its territory and does not rule out violent reunification. A military conflict could therefore severely disrupt the global technology industry's supply chain. TSMC is now also producing chips in the United States and plans to build more factories there, primarily to supply the automotive and other industries.

However, it will take significant time for chip production to become more distributed across various countries.