On February 19, 2025, Lam Research announced two groundbreaking chipmaking tools specifically for artificial intelligence (AI) chips: the ALTUS Halo and Akara. The ALTUS Halo equipment enables the use of molybdenum in chip production to enhance performance and enable the creation of next-generation semiconductor devices. The Akara equipment, on the other hand, solves etching, which is needed to create atomic-sized features in advanced chips.
At an investor day presentation, CEO Tim Archer identified rising demand for high-end AI chips, predicting 2028 revenue of $25 billion to $28 billion, up dramatically from $16.2 billion in 2024. It's part of a broader shift within the semiconductor industry as companies like TSMC rely more and more on Lam's leading tools to respond to growing market demands.
Investors were pleased, with Lam's stock rising by around 1% following the news.
Source: Economic Times, Reuters