Christophe Fouquet discusses ASML dominance and AI chip demand
Updated
Updated · TechCrunch · May 5
Christophe Fouquet discusses ASML dominance and AI chip demand
12 articles · Updated · TechCrunch · May 5
Speaking in Beverly Hills before the Milken conference, the ASML chief said hyperscalers may face chip shortages for two to five years as AI spending surges.
He defended high-NA EUV tools costing $350 million or more, saying they can cut wafer costs by 20% to 30%, and dismissed startup and China reverse-engineering threats as long-term or unsupported.
Fouquet also backed export controls that preserve a technology gap while allowing older sales to China, saying ASML still sees room to balance security concerns with commercial opportunity.
As a global chip shortage looms, will TSMC's high-cost gamble against new EUV machines backfire on the AI industry?
With rivals touting new physics and China building prototypes, can anyone truly break ASML's chip machine monopoly?
ASML's €36-40 Billion 2026 Revenue Surge Driven by Unmatched AI Chip Demand and EUV Monopoly
Overview
ASML is set for a strong 2026 with a revenue forecast of €36-40 billion, driven by explosive AI growth that pushes chipmakers like TSMC, Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron to rapidly expand production. This surge creates unprecedented demand for ASML's exclusive EUV lithography machines, but supply struggles to keep pace. Geopolitical export restrictions are shifting sales away from China toward South Korea, while ASML adapts by expanding its support presence in China. Despite complex manufacturing challenges and supply chain risks, ASML's innovation in next-generation High-NA EUV systems and solid early 2026 results underpin confidence, even as analysts caution about potential overcapacity and geopolitical uncertainties.