A deep dive into how ASML became a chokepoint for making cutting-edge chips by betting on EUV, closely collaborating with TSMC and the US government, and more
By betting on extreme ultraviolet lithography long before it worked, ASML became the chokepoint for cutting-edge chips.
Works in Progress Neil Hacker
Related Coverage
- TSMC refuses ASML's expensive High-NA EUV equipment, explained DigiTimes · Monica Chen
- The world's most complex machine Lobsters
- Advanced Chipmakers Face Raw Materials Shortage Silicon UK · Matthew Broersma
- The company with a monopoly on AI's most critical machine is racing to build more The Decoder · Maximilian Schreiner
- ASML says it plans to make at least 60 of its standard EUV machines in 2026, 36% more than it sold in 2025, as it races to meet demand for making AI chips Wall Street Journal · Kim Mackrael
- ASML plans to build at least 60 EUV machines this year as AI chip demand surges TechSpot · Skye Jacobs
- Taiwan Semi's Latest Breakthrough Isn't Just Bad for ASML Stock, It Could Disrupt the Entire Chip Industry Barchart.com · Jabran Kundi
Discussion
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@ruxandrateslo
Ruxandra Teslo
on x
I hadn't realized ASML is European!
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@alecstapp
Alec Stapp
on x
Reading about the semiconductor manufacturing process is a mind-bending experience. It's a miracle that we figured this out. [image]
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@simon__grimm
Simon Grimm
on x
Beyond all the things ASML has achieved, it has also de-throned LVMH as Europe's most valuable company—a huge win for Europe's reputation. Highly recommend checking out the latest WiP edition for an excellent article on the company. So much detail! https://worksinprogress.co/... …
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@s8mb
Sam Bowman
on x
Europe has one of the most essential and irreplaceable companies in the global AI supply chain: ASML, which produces the machines that TSMC uses to make its chips. These machines are roughly the size of double-decker buses. To ship one requires 40 freight containers, three cargo
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@quintin24
Quintin Schevernels
on x
Super impressive company for The Netherlands that is a crucial component for the AI ecosystem. https://worksinprogress.co/...
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@lugaricano
Luis Garicano
on x
ASML, the only irreplaceable company in the AI ecosystem, is European. A beautiful article by @_neilhacker on how ASML got its monopoly and how the technology works. It leaves me wanting more—all the human stories behind. Someone write a book please! https://worksinprogress.co/..…
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@dominic2306
Dominic Cummings
on x
More good work from Works in Progress. There is more good thinking now from networks like this than in SW1 a decade ago. But the main problem for them and similar ventures is the DEMAND problem: SW1 politicians and spads stopped being interested in ideas, policy, how
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@mm-jj-nn
Mark J. Nelson
on bluesky
a walk through the history of how ASML managed to become the only producer of advanced photolithography machines
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@_neilhacker
Neil Hacker
on x
ASML is one of the most impressive companies today and is only getting more important. I wrote a piece in the new issue of @WorksInProgMag about how they got their monopoly on the world's most complex machine.