Tech Flash Report

TECH FLASH - February 12, 2026

Samsung Achieves Industry-First HBM4 Mass Production as AI Chip Competition Intensifies

TOP 3 STORIES:

1. Samsung Ships Commercial HBM4 Chips, Tripling HBM Sales Expected in 2026[3] Samsung Electronics announced mass production and commercial shipment of its industry-leading HBM4 memory chips with transfer speeds up to 13Gbps, marking the first commercial HBM4 delivery. This positions Samsung as a critical supplier in the AI infrastructure race, with HBM sales projected to more than triple compared to 2025, directly impacting datacenter buildout timelines and GPU manufacturer supply chains.

2. South Korean Stock Market Surges on Micron Optimism and Semiconductor Strength[1] The KOSPI index broke through 5,400 for the first time, jumping 1.32% to 5,425.39 points on February 12, driven by a 10% overnight surge in Micron shares and reassurance from Micron's CFO that HBM4 deliveries to Nvidia are proceeding without supply chain issues. This rally signals investor confidence in memory chip demand and validates the near-term viability of AI infrastructure expansion plans.

3. Waymo Targets 1 Million Weekly Robotaxi Rides by Year-End Following $16 Billion Funding Round[4] Waymo's co-CEO announced the autonomous driving unit will achieve over 1 million paid weekly robotaxi rides in the US by end of 2026, building on a quadrupling of trips in 2025 and a recent $16 billion funding round at a $126 billion valuation. This milestone demonstrates autonomous vehicle commercialization is accelerating, creating new market opportunities for fleet management, insurance, and mobility infrastructure technologies.

Flash Insight: The convergence of Samsung's HBM4 production, Micron's supply chain stability, and Waymo's scaling trajectory reveals AI infrastructure and autonomous systems are transitioning from speculative bets to operational deployments. For tech professionals and investors, this signals that foundational AI hardware constraints are easing while autonomous mobility is entering a critical commercialization phase. The next 12 months will determine whether these technologies can sustain growth momentum or face demand normalization pressures.

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Sources:
• [1] https://evrimagaci.org/gpt/kospi-surges-past-5400-as-tech-stocks-rally-528510
• [3] https://news.samsung.com/global/samsung-ships-industry-first-commercial-hbm4-with-ultimate-performance-for-ai-computing
• [4] https://www.claimsjournal.com/news/national/2026/02/12/335668.htm