Samsung has said it will build a $17bn (£12.7bn) The plant just outside Austin would be the South Korean company's biggest US investment and is expected to be operational in the second half of 2024. Samsung had also considered sites in Arizona and New York for the factory, which will be much bigger than its only other US chip plant, also in Austin. Samsung said the new facility would boost production of hi-tech chips used for 5G mobile communications, advanced computing and artificial intelligence, and also improve supply chain resilience. The chip shortage has become a significant business obstacle and a serious US national security concern.