Samsung Electronics has forecast the highest quarterly profit ever recorded by a technology company, as booming global investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure continues to drive demand for advanced memory chips.
The South Korean technology giant said it expects third-quarter 2026 operating profit to reach 107.4 trillion won (approximately £60 billion or $80.2 billion), based on preliminary earnings guidance released this week. If confirmed in its final results later this month, the figure would represent a record quarterly profit for the global technology sector.
The projected earnings mark a dramatic increase from the same period a year earlier and underscore how the artificial intelligence boom has reshaped the semiconductor industry.
Samsung’s performance has been fuelled primarily by strong demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and other advanced memory products used in data centres and AI systems. Technology companies worldwide have accelerated spending on AI infrastructure as they race to expand computing capacity for generative artificial intelligence applications.
The company also forecast quarterly revenue of 195 trillion won, reflecting continued strength across its semiconductor operations. Analysts have attributed much of the growth to sustained demand from major cloud computing providers and AI developers investing heavily in next-generation hardware.
The earnings guidance highlights Samsung’s central role in the global AI supply chain. As one of the world’s largest memory chip manufacturers, the company has benefited from rising chip prices and increased orders for components essential to training and running advanced AI models.
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Despite the record forecast, investor reaction was measured, with market participants weighing the sustainability of current AI-related spending levels and the outlook for other parts of Samsung’s business. Analysts have noted that while the semiconductor division has delivered exceptional growth, challenges remain in some consumer electronics and contract chip manufacturing segments.
Samsung is scheduled to publish its full third-quarter earnings report later this month, when investors will receive a more detailed breakdown of the company’s financial performance and business outlook.
The results are being closely watched across the technology industry, where demand linked to artificial intelligence has become a key driver of growth, investment and corporate profitability. Samsung’s forecast is the latest indication of the extraordinary economic impact AI is having on global semiconductor markets.
Senior AI Writer
Bio: Okikiola is a writer and AI enthusiast with a background in Office Technology and Management from the Federal Polytechnic Offa. She went further to study an MSc in International Business at De Montfort University (DMU). With extensive work experience across administrative and business roles, she now focuses on exploring how artificial intelligence can transform work, innovation, and everyday life.