SoftBank and Intel to develop next-generation memory for AI. How are investors reacting?
The two companies have partnered amid growing memory chip shortages and rising prices

SoftBank subsidiary signed a cooperation agreement with Intel / Photo: Shutterstock.com/Tada Images
Saimemory, a subsidiary of international investment giant SoftBank, has signed a cooperation agreement with US chip manufacturer Intel. The parties intend to jointly develop and market a new generation of computer memory. The shortage of memory chips and rising prices are becoming one of the main challenges for the technology sector.
Details
The partnership focuses on the development of advanced memory technologies that can support the growing needs of artificial intelligence and high-performance computing, according to a statement on SoftBank's website. The project has been given the working name Z-Angle Memory program, or ZAM.
The first prototypes are planned to be unveiled by the fiscal year ending March 31, 2028, with commercialization scheduled for fiscal year 2029, the company said.
SoftBank shares rose by 5.1% in Tokyo on February 3. Intel shares gained more than 3% at the U.S. pre-market. At the main trades a day earlier, Intel shares rose 5% to $48.81.
What is known about the partnership
Saimemory in the framework of the project will rely on Intel's technological developments and expertise in the field of memory, including those obtained during the corporation's participation in the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Memory Technology program, CNBC writes.
This program focused on developing key technologies for advanced memory. Intel's involvement focused on improving the performance and energy efficiency of dynamic DRAM memory used in computers and server systems.
"Traditional memory architectures are no longer up to the challenges posed by artificial intelligence," Joshua Fryman, Intel Fellow( the company'shighest technical title) and CTO of Intel's Government Technologies division, told CNBC in a statement.
According to Fryman, Intel has developed a new memory architecture and assembly approach that improves DRAM performance while reducing power consumption and costs. This sets the stage for widespread adoption of the technology over the next decade.
Context
The cooperation agreement comes amid a surge in demand for memory. It is far outstripping supply, which has already led to shortages across the supply chain, CNBC reports. The ZAM program's focus on energy efficiency also reflects growing concerns about the enormous power consumption required for AI computing.
In late January, Apple became one of the largest companies to recognize the threat to margins from rising memory prices. After a minimal effect last quarter, Apple expects a "greater impact" in the current quarter, CEO Tim Cook said.
According to MarketWatch, analysts are rather reserved about Intel shares. The most popular recommendation is Hold (33 Hold ratings), while there are only nine Buy recommendations (Buy and Overweight ratings) and seven Sell and Underweight recommendations.
This article was AI-translated and verified by a human editor
