SoftBank-Backed Saimemory Partners with Intel to Address AI Memory Chip Shortage
SoftBank's fledgling memory venture Saimemory has joined forces with Intel to develop next-generation memory architectures through their Z-Angle Memory (ZAM) program. The December 2024 startup's announcement sent SoftBank shares up 3.13% and Intel stock jumping 5% in after-hours trading.
The collaboration comes as AI-driven demand overwhelms global memory chip supplies. "Standard memory architectures aren't meeting AI needs," stated Intel Fellow Dr. Joshua Fryman, highlighting their breakthrough in developing faster, more power-efficient chips at lower production costs.
Market conditions remain dire - industry leaders Micron and SK Hynix report sold-out capacity through 2026, with data centers projected to consume 70% of global memory chip output that year. DRAM prices skyrocketed 172% throughout 2025, with quarterly spikes reaching 55% according to TrendForce data.
