SoftBank subsidiary Saimemory just inked a deal with Intel to commercialize next-generation memory technology designed for AI's exploding demands. The Z-Angle Memory program targets prototypes by fiscal 2028 and commercial rollout in 2029, addressing critical shortages as AI workloads outpace traditional DRAM capabilities. Intel stock jumped 5% in overnight trading while SoftBank shares climbed 3.13% following Tuesday's announcement, signaling investor confidence that this partnership could reshape the AI infrastructure landscape.
SoftBank isn't backing away from the AI infrastructure race. The Japanese conglomerate's brand-new subsidiary Saimemory just announced a collaboration with Intel to commercialize memory technology specifically engineered for artificial intelligence's brutal performance demands. The partnership, unveiled Tuesday, centers on the Z-Angle Memory program - an effort to build DRAM that doesn't buckle under the weight of large language models and high-performance computing workloads.
The market responded immediately. Intel shares popped 5% in overnight Robinhood trading, while SoftBank climbed 3.13% as investors digested the implications. According to SoftBank's press release, prototypes should arrive by the fiscal year ending March 31, 2028, with commercial production slated for fiscal 2029.
Timing matters here. The semiconductor industry is wrestling with memory shortages that have rippled across the entire supply chain, driven by AI applications that devour bandwidth faster than traditional architectures can deliver. "Standard memory architectures aren't meeting AI needs," Dr. Joshua Fryman, Intel Fellow and CTO of Intel Government Technologies, said in a statement. His team has been developing what they're calling a fundamentally different memory architecture - one that improves DRAM performance while slashing power consumption and costs.
Intel's bringing serious technical firepower to the table. The chipmaker participated in the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Memory Technology program, which focused specifically on boosting performance and power efficiency for next-generation DRAM used in servers and computing infrastructure. That government-funded research now becomes the foundation for Saimemory's commercial ambitions.
