What is GAA and why does it matter?

GAA (Gate-All-Around) is a transistor structure where the gate fully surrounds the channel, improving control and reducing leakage. It matters because it allows continued performance and power efficiency gains as chip features shrink below 3nm.

When will each company adopt GAA?

Samsung started GAA mass production in 2022. TSMC will adopt GAA at 2nm from 2025 mass production. Intel will move to mass production of its RibbonFET GAA from 2026.

Why is this important for AI?

AI chips face bottlenecks in compute density and data transfer. More advanced transistors like GAA help improve performance and power efficiency, which is critical for AI training and inference.

AI Business & IndustryITmedia AI＋Sep 30, 2026Sep 30, 2026, 10:01 JST

Samsung, TSMC, Intel race to next-gen chip transistors

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3 Key Points

What happened
Samsung Electronics began mass production of 3nm chips using GAA (Gate-All-Around) structures in 2022, the world's first. TSMC will adopt GAA at 2nm (N2) from 2025 mass production, and Intel will move to mass production of its RibbonFET GAA from 2026.
Why it matters
As miniaturization approaches physical limits, these structures are seen as essential for continuing to make chips more power-efficient and higher-performing — the foundation for AI computing.
What to watch
Whether these three companies can mass-produce complex GAA structures with high yields; the race is now about manufacturing execution, not just design. Watch Intel's 2026 production transition.

WHO IT HITSThis affects semiconductor manufacturers, chip designers, and companies investing in AI data centers, as it determines future chip performance and power efficiency for AI workloads.

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Context & Analysis

The article traces the evolution of semiconductor manufacturing from planar transistors to FinFET and now GAA structures, driven by the physical limits of miniaturization. As chip features shrink, controlling current becomes harder, prompting the shift to 3D structures like FinFET and then GAA, where the gate fully surrounds the channel. The three leading foundries — Samsung, TSMC, and Intel — are pursuing different timelines: Samsung began GAA mass production in 2022, TSMC plans it for 2nm in 2025, and Intel for 2026. The outcome hinges on whether these companies can achieve high yields in mass production, which will determine their ability to supply advanced chips for AI and other demanding applications. For AI hardware designers and cloud providers, the availability and cost of these chips will shape the pace of AI model deployment and data center efficiency.

FAQ

What is GAA and why does it matter?: GAA (Gate-All-Around) is a transistor structure where the gate fully surrounds the channel, improving control and reducing leakage. It matters because it allows continued performance and power efficiency gains as chip features shrink below 3nm.
When will each company adopt GAA?: Samsung started GAA mass production in 2022. TSMC will adopt GAA at 2nm from 2025 mass production. Intel will move to mass production of its RibbonFET GAA from 2026.
Why is this important for AI?: AI chips face bottlenecks in compute density and data transfer. More advanced transistors like GAA help improve performance and power efficiency, which is critical for AI training and inference.

ITmedia AI＋Read Original Article

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