Samsung to Invest Record $80 Billion in AI Chips in 2026

Samsung Electronics announced its largest-ever investment plan, allocating 110 trillion won (approximately $80 billion) for facilities and R&D in 2026. This represents a 21.7% increase from 2025 and marks the company's first annual investment exceeding 100 trillion won. The investment targets AI semiconductor leadership, with significant allocation for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) production expansion and next-generation chip development. The move comes as global demand for AI-specific memory chips continues to outpace supply, with Samsung positioning itself to compete directly with SK Hynix in the premium AI memory market.