Korean chipmaker FuriosaAI has rejected a US$800 million acquisition proposal from Meta Platforms Inc. The Seoul-based startup has opted to remain independent and focus on its growth.

Meta has been in discussions with FuriosaAI since early 2025 as part of its strategy to invest heavily in AI infrastructure.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced plans to allocate up to US$65 billion this year towards initiatives such as building AI-focused data centers and expanding the workforce in this sector.

Founded eight years ago and led by June Paik, a former executive at Samsung and AMD, FuriosaAI specializes in AI inference semiconductors. Its latest processor, RNGD (Renegade), is built using Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.’s 5-nanometer process.

The startup is currently engaging with customers, including LG AI Research and Saudi Aramco, providing samples of its chips. FuriosaAI plans to close an extended Series C funding round within the next month, expected to exceed its original target. It is also considering an initial public offering in the future.

Recent FuriosaAI developments