TAIPEI, April 30 (Reuters) - Taiwan's ASE Technology
Holding Co. ( ASX ) has yet to decide how it will support a
plan by Nvidia ( NVDA ) to build artificial intelligence servers
worth as much as $500 billion in the U.S. over the next four
years, it said on Wednesday.
The company, the world's largest chip packaging and testing
provider, is still evaluating an invitation from a customer to
invest in the U.S. and has yet to decide on the investment size
or timing, its Chief Financial Officer Joseph Tung told an
earnings call.
He did not name the customer but the company later confirmed
to Reuters that he was talking about a plan announced by AI chip
giant Nvidia ( NVDA ) made public earlier this month to expand production
in the U.S., with the help of partners including ASE subsidiary
Siliconware Precision Industries.
Analysts have questioned whether the sum of $500 billion is
realistic, given difficulties suppliers may have in moving
production.
Nvidia ( NVDA ) declined to comment.
The customer had invited ASE to "evaluate the possibility of
having some operations to support their business in the U.S,"
Tung said.
"Currently we are engaging in discussion and are evaluating
opportunities with interest. There are no further details so far
in terms of the actual investment size or the timing of it. But
any decision that we will eventually make will be made with
economic viability."
When asked by analysts about what kind of product would be
considered, Tung he said it would be an extension of what the
company offers in Taiwan.
Siliconware Precision Industries, which carries out chip
packaging for Nvidia ( NVDA ), has no manufacturing presence in the U.S.
Another ASE subsidiary, ISE Labs, has two testing factories in
California.