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TSMC is riding the AI hype train

Chipmaker reports big Q3 profit thanks to AI demand.
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The intelligence may be artificial, but the money sure ain’t.

Chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing revealed that its third-quarter net profit increased 54.2% YoY to $10.1 billion, and revenue increased 39% to $23.6 billion. This was a “record quarterly profit” for the company, the Wall Street Journal reported.

CEO CC Wei said in a Q3 earnings call on Thursday that the company expects revenue from AI servers and processors “to more than triple this year and account for mid-teens percentage of our total revenue in 2024.” Wei also noted that a “key customer” of TSMC’s said that demand for AI-related products is “insane.”

“The demand is real,” Wei said. “And I believe it’s just the beginning of this demand.”

TSMC has itself been using AI and machine learning in its fabrication and R&D operations, which has led to greater “productivity, efficiency, speed, [and] qualities,” he said.

Companies far and wide are practically throwing money at AI tools, and the makers of the tech that enables AI (read: chip manufacturers) are reaping the rewards. For example, fellow chipmaker Nvidia saw its revenue growth surge “to triple digits for the fourth quarter in a row” in Q2, as CFO Brew previously reported.

It’s clear to Wei that AI is more than hype.

“I believe a lot of companies right now are using AI for their own improving productivity, efficiency, everything,” he said on the earnings call. “So I think it’s real.”

News built for finance pros

CFO Brew helps finance pros navigate their roles with insights into risk management, compliance, and strategy through our newsletter, virtual events, and digital guides.