Feb 19 (Reuters) - Lam Research ( LRCX ) on Wednesday

introduced two new tools for building advanced artificial

intelligence chips, as the chipmaking tools supplier aims to

benefit from a growing AI-driven semiconductor demand.

It unveiled ALTUS Halo, a deposition tool that adds

molybdenum, a metal, to form precise layers on chips. The metal

improves chip performance and enables scaling for

next-generation semiconductor devices.

"Lam's ALTUS Halo tool has made it possible for Micron to

bring molybdenum into mass production," said chipmaker Micron

Technology ( MU ) executive Mark Kiehlbauch.

The company also launched Akara, an etching tool that

removes unwanted material from the semiconductor wafer to create

tiny chip structures.

Lam competes with other major suppliers of wafer fabrication

equipment, which are sophisticated and expensive tools to make

chips, including Applied Materials ( AMAT ), Dutch firm ASML

and KLA Corp. ( KLAC )

The company's customers include firms such as Micron

Technology ( MU ), Samsung Electronics ( SSNLF ) and Taiwan

Semiconductor Manufacturing Co ( TSM ) .

"As global demand for semiconductors continues to grow,

innovative technology solutions from our partners are required

to enable new, more powerful device architectures," said Y.J.

Mii, executive vice president and co-chief operating officer at

TSMC.

In January, Lam forecast third-quarter revenue above market

estimates, signaling growing demand from chip firms.