Elon Musk called IBM's new 0.7-nanometer process name misleading, saying chip nodes should be labeled by the number of atoms across the smallest feature.
IBM itself said 7 angstroms identifies a new chip generation rather than the actual width of contacted metal wires, reflecting how node names no longer map directly to physical dimensions.
The dispute centers on IBM's latest process announcement, which builds on nanosheet technology with nanostacking and wafer bonding to raise transistor density.
Process-node branding has already drifted across the industry: Intel renamed its 10-nanometer and 7-nanometer technologies to Intel 7 and Intel 4 in 2021 as competition with TSMC intensified.