Samsung Foundry to make Claros power-management chips for AI data centers

Samsung Foundry’s deal with Claros signals that the AI efficiency race has shifted from raw compute to power delivery infrastructure. This move pressures TSMC and Intel to accelerate 48V architectures and GaN integration, especially as HBM3E and CoWoS packaging push thermal densities beyond what legacy 12V rails can sustain. Geopolitically, Claros—a U.S. startup—opting for Samsung over domestic foundries reveals a deliberate sidestep of CHIPS Act scrutiny, yet exposes it to tightening Korean export controls if the chips are deemed to enable advanced computing. Over the next 18 months, data center PUE will become a decisive procurement metric, institutionalizing 'efficiency as performance.' This will force NVIDIA and AMD to embed dynamic voltage scaling directly into SoC designs, while foundries in Taiwan, China may lag in high-integration PMICs due to U.S. technology licensing constraints.