TSMC's N3 Process Is an AI Computing Bottleneck, Conservative Pricing Stirs Market Debate

AI semiconductor research firm SemiAnalysis said TSMC's N3 process has become a major bottleneck in the global AI computing supply chain. As Nvidia and AMD compete for advanced-process capacity, customers are prioritizing guaranteed supply over cost. Jensen Huang has also publicly argued that TSMC should raise prices, underscoring the chipmaker's pricing power.

Recent market reports say TSMC plans to raise prices for its 3-nanometer process in two stages, for a combined increase of 15%, with attention focused on its June 4 shareholders' meeting. The reports did not disclose the actual price per wafer. In a separate BBC interview, TSMC's chief financial officer said the company could raise chip prices as operating costs increase, reigniting debate over its conservative pricing strategy.