Rebellions and Samsung Electronics Partner to Target the Emerging Generative AI Market with Next-Generation AI Chip Co-Development

Press Release
Oct 05, 2023
  • Rebellions’ Next-Gen AI Chip “Rebel” to Be Produced on 4nm Process at Samsung Foundry with HBM3E Integration
  • Strengthened Collaboration with Korean AI Semiconductor and Enhanced Contribution to the South Korean Semiconductor Ecosystem
  • Samsung Electronics Foundry Services Directly Involved in Rebel Development and Production, Leading to Improved Product Performance in Mass Production

[Seoul, October 5, 2023] – Rebellions, a pioneering AI semiconductor startup, announces a strategic partnership with Samsung Electronics to co-develop their next-generation AI chip, Rebel. The chip will be produced using Samsung’s cutting-edge 4-nanometer fabrication process and will feature Samsung Electronics’ HBM3E memory technology.

In a move aimed at reinforcing their collaboration in the AI semiconductor sector, Rebellions and Samsung Foundry are set to make significant contributions to South Korea’s semiconductor ecosystem. Samsung Foundry will actively engage in all aspects of development, from logic design to layout and verification, leveraging the Korean semiconductor ecosystem.

Rebel’s development represents a strengthened partnership between the two companies. The chip will be manufactured using Samsung Electronics’ 4-nanometer process and will incorporate Samsung’s HBM3E memory technology. While most AI semiconductors in South Korea are produced through collaborations with overseas design houses and foundries, Rebel by Rebellions stands as a unique example where both the design and manufacturing take place domestically. This collaboration underscores the commitment of Rebellions and Samsung Electronics to advancing the nation’s advanced AI system semiconductor ecosystem.

As the generative AI market continues to expand, the consolidation of domestic semiconductor capabilities becomes crucial. High-performance AI chips demand high-capacity memory chips, a field where South Korea’s memory semiconductor competitiveness and the AI semiconductor design capabilities of startups like Rebellions can synergize effectively.

Regarding this collaboration, Samsung Electronics Foundry Business Vice President Jung Ki-bong stated, “Samsung regards the system semiconductor, particularly the AI semiconductor market, as a core future business. Through collaboration with Rebellions, we aim to further develop the domestic system semiconductor ecosystem.”

Park Sung-hyun, CEO of Rebellions, commented, “To seize the opportunity presented by the generative AI market, we believe that the maturity of South Korea’s semiconductor ecosystem, collaboration, and our global success in memory semiconductors are essential. We are grateful for Samsung Foundry’s proactive partnership, and through the successful development and production of Rebel, we are determined to demonstrate the global competitiveness of South Korean products in the system semiconductor sector.”

Rebellions and Samsung Electronics anticipate completing the chip development by the second half of next year, with the goal of leading the AI semiconductor market’s rapid growth in the wake of ChatGPT’s release in November of the previous year.