Few people know this, but Japan controls 95% of a material critical to Nvidia-style AI chips thanks to food giant Ajinomoto

submitted by randomname to Technology 36 points | 4 comments https://www.merinohomes.com.au/few-people-know-this-but-japan-controls-95-of-a-material-critical-to-nvidia-style-ai-chips-thanks-to-ajinomoto/ Archived version In the bustling world of tech, where cutting-edge innovation is the lifeblood of progress, few people realize the critical role a humble Japanese food giant plays in powering the latest AI revolution. Ajinomoto, a company best known for its umami-rich flavor enhancers and instant noodle broths, has quietly become an indispensable player in the global semiconductor industry. Behind the scenes of every state-of-the-art Nvidia AI processor, behind the meticulously engineered clean rooms of TSMC and other chipmakers, lies a fragile industrial secret: an ultra-specialized insulating film, produced almost entirely by Ajinomoto. This unsung material, known as Ajinomoto Build-up Film (ABF), has become the invisible backbone of the AI revolution, enabling the cutting-edge performance and energy efficiency that powers today’s most advanced neural networks. …