IBM Expects 2024 Commercialization of 2-nm ‘Breakthrough’ Chip

IBM developed the world's first 2-nanometer semiconductor “breakthrough” technology, promising 45% higher performance and 75% lower energy consumption the 7-nm-node solutions, said the company Thursday. Quadrupling smartphone battery life and “drastically” speeding up laptop functionality are among “possible benefits,” said IBM. "We expect that the earliest devices based on this 2-nm technology could enter the market around 2024," said a spokesperson. "This timeline depends on a manufacturer’s road map." The 2-nm node is "a foundational advanced logic technology," which IBM Research built in its semiconductor lab in Albany, New York, she said. "We jointly developed the 2-nm technology with partners in our semiconductor innovation ecosystem. We'll work with our ecosystem partners for manufacturing options." Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., for context, is the world’s largest foundry, and is in the second year of volume production of 5-nm-node wafers. It expects to achieve 3-nm-node production at scale in 2022's second half, said top executives last month. TSMC hasn’t publicly discussed a 2-nm-node road map. TSMC representatives couldn't be reached by our deadline.