Google Chooses MediaTek Over Broadcom to Build TPU v9
Miles Bennett
GF Securities analyst Jeff Pu reports Google has tapped MediaTek — not Broadcom — to build its ninth-generation TPU (codenamed Triggerfish), pushing MediaTek from training chips into Broadcom's core inference market and lifting its 2028 ASIC revenue forecast to $2.3 billion.
Why did Google drop Broadcom for MediaTek?
Google's TPUv9 (codenamed Triggerfish) was previously a Broadcom engagement; it has now shifted to MediaTek.
Broadcom's rumored 2 nm project "Bladerunner" has not formally started. Before 2028, Broadcom has only one new TPU product — Whalefish (a.k.a. Sunfish x2).
This means → Broadcom fell behind on next-generation process readiness, and Google moved to the partner that was further along.
What makes MediaTek's 2 nm chip stand out?
The 2 nm version of TPUv9, codenamed Humufish, is currently the only 2 nm SKU — a specific orderable chip variant — on the market. Competitors are unlikely to ship a rival 2 nm product in the same window.
The chip uses a high-capacity SRAM design — fast on-chip memory that boosts data throughput — giving it higher average selling price and content value.
In plain terms = MediaTek has an exclusivity window: nobody else's 2 nm part is production-ready yet.
What does this mean for Broadcom?
MediaTek's Triggerfish extends its coverage from training (the v8t generation) into inference — the segment that was Broadcom's stronghold.
GF Securities also names MediaTek the top candidate for Google's TPUv10. If MediaTek wins that too, Broadcom's share of Google's TPU supply chain narrows further.
This means → Broadcom is not losing a single order; it faces systematic displacement across Google's entire TPU roadmap.
Is Qualcomm affected?
Jeff Pu notes that Qualcomm's AI250 product targets a distinctly different customer base and performance tier, with limited overlap with MediaTek.
This reflects the current competitive landscape in custom AI chips (ASICs): MediaTek and Broadcom compete head-to-head on Google's TPU; Qualcomm is on a separate track.
How much did the revenue forecast move, and what is the key milestone?
GF Securities raised MediaTek's 2028 ASIC-related revenue forecast from $1.5 billion to $2.3 billion — an increase of more than 50%.
2028 is the verification point: whether MediaTek locks in TPUv10 and whether Broadcom's share keeps shrinking will be settled then.
In plain terms = the analyst is betting MediaTek's role in Google's AI chip supply chain shifts from supporting player to lead — and the bet is already in the numbers.
Content is for reference only, not financial advice.