Samsung Electronics has begun mass production of next-generation high bandwidth memory (HBM) chips, essential for artificial intelligence processors, and has already made its first commercial shipments to customers. The South Korean company expects its HBM chip sales to triple in 2026 compared to the previous year, actively driving the expansion of its HBM4 production capacity. Samsung highlighted that its new HBM4 chips represent a milestone in the industry, offering significant improvements in performance and energy efficiency. Following the announcement, the company's stock rose by more than 6%, reaching all-time highs. Additionally, Samsung is the first to produce and ship HBM4 chips in mass. This advancement comes shortly after Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU), its American competitor, announced the start of HBM4 shipments, getting ahead of SK Hynix (KS:000660) in the race for high bandwidth memory. Samsung also plans to distribute samples of HBM4E, an even more advanced version, in the second half of 2026. According to various reports, Samsung is a key memory supplier for NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) and will provide these chips for the next-generation Vera Rubin AI processors. HBM chips are crucial for the development of artificial intelligence, as they enable superior processing speeds and memory capacities necessary for generative AI models. In recent quarters, Samsung has focused its strategy on HBM memory products and AI solutions, sectors with higher profit margins, in response to growing global demand.