Samsung Electronics will invest $73.3 billion in AI semiconductor research and facilities this year, marking its largest-ever annual spending. The move aims to strengthen its position in the booming AI chip market. The company is expanding global manufacturing, including in the US, even as workers plan a strike over wage and bonus disputes.

Samsung Electronics said on Thursday it plans to invest more than 110 trillion won (US$73.3 billion) this year in research and development and facilities for artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductors as it seeks to strengthen its leadership in the competitive industry.

The world's largest memory chip maker disclosed the plan in a regulatory filing, saying it aims to secure a leading position amid the AI boom, reports Yonhap news agency. The investment marks a 21.7 per cent increase from last year's 90.4 trillion won and represents the largest annual spending in the company's history. It is also the first time its annual investment has exceeded 100 trillion won.

The company also said it will pursue meaningful mergers and acquisitions in areas including robotics, medical technology, automotive electronics and air conditioning solutions. Amid rising chip demand, Samsung is currently carrying out efficiency improvement work at its P4 plant at the Pyeongtaek campus, located south of Seoul.

The company is also pushing ahead with key equipment installation for its planned P5 production line. In addition, Samsung is building new manufacturing facilities in its chip cluster in Yongin, south of Seoul. In the United States, the company is building a new foundry in Taylor, Texas, and aims to begin operations by the end of the year.