In a major strategic alliance announced on February 3, 2026, SoftBank Corp. and Intel have partnered to commercialize a revolutionary new memory technology called Z-Angle Memory (ZAM).
This collaboration marks Intel’s significant return to the advanced memory market, targeting a commercial launch by FY2029 to solve the “memory bottleneck” that currently hampers large-scale AI models.
1. What is Z-Angle Memory (ZAM)?
ZAM is a next-generation stacked DRAM architecture designed to outperform current High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) standards. The name refers to its unique vertical (Z-axis) stacking and diagonal interconnect topology.
- Performance Goals: The partners aim for 2x to 3x the storage capacity of current HBM while using 50% less power.
- High Density: Individual chips are expected to support capacities up to 512 GB.
- Lower Heat: The “Z-Angle” approach improves thermal resistance, allowing for higher-layer stacking without the overheating issues common in traditional DRAM.
2. Development Timeline & Roles
The project is being spearheaded by SAIMEMORY, a newly formed SoftBank subsidiary (established December 2024), utilizing foundational technology originally developed by Intel for the U.S. Department of Energy.
| Milestone | Target Date |
| Project Launch | Q1 2026 |
| First Prototypes | FY2027 (by March 2028) |
| Commercialization | FY2029 |
- Intel’s Role: Providing technical expertise, industry know-how, and proprietary “Next Generation DRAM Bonding” (NGDB) technology.
- SoftBank’s Role: Leading commercialization, providing significant cash investment (including a reported ¥3 billion for the prototype phase), and potentially integrating ZAM into its own Project Izanagi AI chips.
3. Strategic Impact: Breaking the HBM Monopoly
Currently, the market for AI memory is dominated by SK Hynix, Samsung, and Micron. This partnership represents a direct challenge to that triopoly.
- Supply Chain Relief: By introducing a new architecture (ZAM), Intel and SoftBank hope to bypass the manufacturing bottlenecks currently associated with HBM.
- Domestic Strength: Backed by the Japanese government, the deal is part of Japan’s broader strategy to reclaim its status as a global semiconductor powerhouse.
- The “Izanagi” Connection: Analysts believe ZAM will be the primary memory solution for Masayoshi Son’s Project Izanagi—a $100 billion venture to build AI processors that can rival Nvidia.
4. Market Reaction
Following the announcement on Tuesday, February 3, 2026:
- Intel Stock: Surged 5% in overnight trading as investors cheered its re-entry into a high-growth sector.
- SoftBank Stock: Rose 3.13%, reflecting confidence in the company’s deepening vertical integration in the AI hardware stack.
Conclusion: Re-Engineering the AI Stack
The SoftBank-Intel partnership is a bet that incremental improvements to standard DRAM won’t be enough to sustain the AI boom through the next decade. By 2029, they intend to have a “Z-Angle” alternative that makes data centers cheaper to run and AI models faster to train.
