Samsung Electronics is seeing a surge in demand for its advanced‑node foundry capacity as AI-driven workloads outstrip Taiwan Semiconductor’s (TSMC) output. Reports from Nikkei Asia cite inquiries from BYD, Google, AMD and Tesla, all seeking alternatives to TSMC’s strained lines. The South Korean chipmaker, traditionally focused on consumer devices, now eyes a broader global client base.

While Samsung’s yields still trail TSMC’s, customers accept lower efficiency for guaranteed capacity, especially Chinese designers blocked from securing TSMC slots. An unnamed Chinese auto‑chip executive said the trade‑off is worthwhile, and industry sources confirm several firms have already shifted orders to Samsung. This shift bolsters Samsung’s foundry revenue at a time when rivals scramble for AI‑grade silicon in the near term.

The AI boom, however, is eroding low‑skill IT outsourcing in South Asia. Pakistan’s freelance exports of content writing, basic design and data entry have slowed, warned Imran Batada of the Pakistan Freelancers Association, while India’s TCS chief N. Chandrasekaran flagged a hiring slowdown as AI tools replace entry‑level tasks. The divergent trends underline AI’s capacity to reshape both high‑tech manufacturing and labour markets.