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AI Memory Boom Sparks Global Chip Supply Crunch 
ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, is reportedly in discussions to purchase artificial intelligence (AI) chips from Shanghai-based Iluvatar CoreX and is also evaluating AI semiconductor products from Baidu's chip unit, Kunlunxin, according to a Reuters report citing sources familiar with the matter.
If the negotiations lead to a deal, Iluvatar CoreX would become ByteDance’s third major domestic GPU supplier, joining Huawei and Cambricon Technologies. The move highlights China's ongoing efforts to strengthen its domestic AI chip industry and reduce reliance on foreign technology amid U.S. export restrictions on advanced semiconductors.
Sources indicate that ByteDance is assessing Iluvatar CoreX's graphics processing units primarily for AI inference tasks. The company could reportedly acquire at least 50,000 AI chips this year as it continues expanding its Doubao AI chatbot and broader artificial intelligence initiatives.
In addition to Iluvatar, ByteDance is considering chips developed by Kunlunxin, Baidu’s AI semiconductor division. The report noted that Tencent is already among the customers using Kunlunxin products, reflecting growing demand for locally developed AI hardware across China’s technology sector.
The discussions between ByteDance and the chipmakers are still ongoing, and final terms have not yet been confirmed. Any agreement could change before being finalized.
A potential partnership with ByteDance would represent a significant commercial milestone for Iluvatar CoreX, which has traditionally focused on supplying government-backed and public-sector projects. Following the report, shares of the Hong Kong-listed company surged as much as 12% during trading before giving up most of those gains by midday.
The developments underscore the increasing importance of domestic AI chips, GPUs, and semiconductor innovation as Chinese technology companies accelerate investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure and generative AI applications.
