The hottest Semiconductors Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

How to Invest in AI Sovereignty — Sovereign Albion w/ Andrew Bennett

State of the Future • 7 implied HN points • 12 Feb 26
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. The future of AI hardware is heterogeneous computing — many specialised chips (like compound semiconductors and photonics) will handle edge workloads for latency, privacy, and cost reasons rather than everything running in giant data centres.
  2. Europe and the UK can win by focusing on niche, strategic semiconductor areas and building specialist funds and industry partnerships instead of trying to match global capex-heavy players on their own turf.
  3. Successful AI industrial strategy needs fast, experimental, venture-style public support and a cultural shift toward bigger ambition and patient capital to back risky founders and long-term roadmaps.

Chips for China, land for Russia, scorn for Europe

Alex's Personal Blog • 65 implied HN points • 09 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Boom is converting its Symphony turbofan into a gas turbine to power AI data centers, with large orders giving the company useful near-term revenue. This also adds another quick-response power option for the growing AI infrastructure buildout.
  2. Wealthy, politically aligned buyers are moving to control major media outlets, a trend that risks weakening independent journalism and can erode democratic checks. This mirrors the ‘Orbánization’ pattern seen when governments and allies consolidate media power.
  3. The federal government looks poised to use an executive order to block state-level AI regulations, aiming to avoid a patchwork of rules and protect industry competitiveness. That approach centralizes authority, raises federalism and constitutional questions, and effectively lets industry shape national policy while Congress remains gridlocked.

The Sequence Opinion #770: The Post-GPU Era: Why AI Needs a New Kind of Computer

TheSequence • 63 implied HN points • 11 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Modern AI depends on massive matrix multiplications run on GPUs, and much of its progress has come from scaling up models and GPU clusters.
  2. This brute-force scaling is hitting diminishing returns because it consumes huge amounts of energy and hardware, making further improvements increasingly costly.
  3. Researchers and startups are exploring radically different hardware—like analog chips, photonics, neuromorphic designs, and quantum systems—to build more efficient AI computers and move beyond GPUs.

2025 AI & Semiconductor Outlook

Mule’s Musings • 777 implied HN points • 03 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. In 2024, AI technologies surged while many other sectors, especially automotive and smartphones, struggled. Companies like Nvidia saw huge gains, showcasing a divide in performance across the industry.
  2. The semiconductor market is cyclical, meaning trends can shift quickly. This year, companies that did poorly last year, could potentially do well, while top AI names might not see the same explosive growth.
  3. AI advancements are driving up costs and creating new economic challenges for tech companies. There's a bigger focus now on how much it costs to develop and maintain AI, differing from past trends where costs were lower.
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Lattice Semiconductor Q2 2025 Financials

More Than Moore • 210 implied HN points • 14 Aug 25
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Lattice Semiconductor saw a slight growth in revenue, reaching $124 million in Q2 2025. This is a positive sign after a tough period of declining sales.
  2. The company is focusing more on its newer product lines, like Avant and Nexus 2, which are becoming important for their business. These products are driving sales in high-demand areas like communications and computing.
  3. Despite some segments, like Industrial and Automotive, seeing declines, Lattice is managing its finances well with strong gross margins and an increase in free cash flow, giving it room for future investments.

Everything is (not) fine at Intel

Irrational Analysis • 159 implied HN points • 03 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. The Intel event highlighted concerning trends, particularly in product competitiveness and margins, with challenges in execution and manufacturing processes.
  2. Intel's strategic shift towards insourcing and reducing external foundry partnerships suggests significant changes in their manufacturing approach.
  3. Despite efforts to improve, Intel faces a tough road ahead with the need for advanced technology developments and a challenging competitive landscape.

Methinks the chip-god doth protest too much

Alex's Personal Blog • 65 implied HN points • 26 Nov 25
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Nvidia is experiencing huge revenue growth, but market sentiment is turning negative despite their strong performance. People are questioning if they'll keep leading in AI technology.
  2. There is a growing need for more domestic shipbuilding in the U.S., and startup Valstad is aiming to significantly boost America's ship production capabilities.
  3. Bitcoin's value can sometimes move independently from traditional stocks, showing it can be a different type of investment, but it has recently been performing poorly compared to the Nasdaq.

The Arm Story Part 3 : Creating A Global Standard

The Chip Letter • 3494 implied HN points • 19 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Arm's success was built on strategic partnerships and a unique licensing business model.
  2. The development of Thumb instruction set allowed Arm to address code size and attract key customers like Nokia and TI.
  3. Arm's growth and financial stability were further solidified by partnerships with companies like Samsung and the creation of the StrongARM line.

447: Nvidia vs Hyperscalers, TSMC, Tech IPOs, SpaceX & Starlink, $5bn for Old Songs, ChatGPT vs 17 Doctors, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge

Liberty’s Highlights • 471 implied HN points • 18 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Having a creative outlet can shift your mindset and generate more ideas.
  2. Writing online is competitive, requires multiple skills, and is ruled by power laws.
  3. Nvidia is making strategic moves in cloud services, there is competition in AI chips, and TSMC's Arizona plant chips still need to be shipped to Taiwan.

“Overachievement”: Xiaomi's Decade-Long Chip Development Journey

Interconnected • 323 implied HN points • 25 May 25
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Xiaomi has been working for over a decade to develop its own chips, overcoming past failures to launch their new Xring O1 chip. This shows their commitment to compete in the high-end smartphone market.
  2. The company learned from its earlier struggles and made smart changes, like bringing chip development in-house to improve teamwork and communication. This helped them build a stronger, more focused chip-making team.
  3. Despite their successes, Xiaomi faces significant challenges ahead, notably the need to sell enough phones equipped with their new chip to make the investment worthwhile. They are determined to continue improving and innovating in this area.

AI's Hardware Problem

The Asianometry Newsletter • 3130 implied HN points • 26 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. AI models are growing in size, straining the current hardware's ability to support them.
  2. The memory wall problem arises due to limitations in memory capacity and processing speed.
  3. To address AI hardware challenges, innovative solutions like Compute-in-Memory are being explored.

Import AI 335: Synth data is a bad AI drug; Facebook changes the internet with LLaMa release; and Chinese researchers use AI to figure out chip design

Import AI • 459 implied HN points • 31 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Synthetic data during AI training can be harmful if not used in moderation, as shown by researchers from Rice University and Stanford University
  2. Chinese researchers have successfully used AI to design semiconductors based only on input and output data, demonstrating the potential for economic and national security implications
  3. Facebook has released Llama 2, a powerful language model with freely available weights, potentially changing the landscape of AI deployment on the internet

Ampere Computing is probably dead.

Irrational Analysis • 79 implied HN points • 20 May 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Ampere Computing is likely facing challenges as most of their customers have transitioned to other solutions.
  2. Despite unique product advantages, Ampere Computing is struggling as customers are moving to alternatives in the market.
  3. Lack of transparency on technical details raises doubts about Ampere Computing's innovation and competitiveness in the semiconductor industry.

Weekly Wrap

Syncretica • 373 implied HN points • 27 Oct 23
💼 Business Semiconductors
  1. China's overproduction impacting US semiconductor market
  2. China's surplus of batteries and semiconductors leading to dumping solar products globally
  3. China's improving hydro situation likely to impact coal imports and emissions

Striving for Semiconductors

Vietnam Weekly • 176 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Vietnam is focusing on semiconductors as a key industry for development.
  2. Prime Minister Chính pitched Vietnam's investment opportunities in semiconductors and AI during his recent trips.
  3. The government is supporting strategic breakthroughs in semiconductors through infrastructure development, human resource training, and institutional improvement.

The 3-D Transistor Transition

The Asianometry Newsletter • 1861 implied HN points • 05 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. The semiconductor industry shifted to producing 3-D transistors like the FinFET for better control over the channels.
  2. Classical scaling involved shrinking transistor dimensions to improve performance, power, and area gains.
  3. D transistor designs like FinFETs and Gate all around are pushing semiconductor technology forward, but come with added complexity and cost.

How Taiwan Sees the Chip War

ChinaTalk • 548 implied HN points • 24 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Taiwan has become a leader in the semiconductor industry, mainly due to effective industrial policies, the rise of TSMC, and a focus on education and talent. This development is crucial for understanding Taiwan's economic success.
  2. TSMC's success can be attributed to a mix of technological advancement and customer service. They prioritize satisfying customer needs, which is vital for maintaining their competitive edge.
  3. Taiwan's geopolitical situation makes its chip industry crucial for global supply chains. With rising tensions globally, TSMC's role is likened to a protective 'Silicon Shield' for Taiwan, reflecting its importance in international relations.

Morris Chang, TSMC and Japan

The Chip Letter • 1092 implied HN points • 01 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. The opening of TSMC's new fab in Kumamoto, Japan is a significant update in the semiconductor industry.
  2. There was a captivating report shared by Kevin Xu's 'Interconnected' Substack about this development.
  3. The expansion of TSMC's operations into Japan underlines the company's global growth strategy.

Broadcom 2024 AI Infrastructure Day

Irrational Analysis • 99 implied HN points • 23 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Broadcom is heavily invested in the semiconductor industry, focusing on AI infrastructure, disclosing that opinions expressed are personal, based on public info and not financial advice.
  2. The market is transitioning to Network Interface Cards (NIC) being tiny computers with CPUs, logic, and accelerators, a shift away from Broadcom's current direction.
  3. Broadcom presents debates on Ethernet vs. Infiniband, criticizes Infiniband, and shares potentially misleading information, contributing to confusion in the market.

The Future of Computing is Glass w/ Andrea Rocchetto of Ephos

State of the Future • 29 implied HN points • 02 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. The semiconductor industry is shifting from making transistors smaller to using specialized chiplets that connect more easily. This means the focus is on improving system-level architecture rather than just the size of chips.
  2. Glass is being considered as a better material than silicon for chip packaging because it maintains its shape when heated and allows for better integration of photonic components. This could help simplify the manufacturing process and improve performance.
  3. Both quantum and classical computing share similar needs for efficient data transfer, which is leading to exciting new developments in the use of photonics. Companies that master these photonic connections may gain a significant advantage in the future of computing.

The Fake Chip Scourge

The Asianometry Newsletter • 1945 implied HN points • 18 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Fake chips in critical components pose significant risks in various industries.
  2. Counterfeit semiconductors are a big business, with global implications.
  3. To combat counterfeit chips, there are strategies such as unique ID features and physical uncloneable features that can be implemented in chip designs.

The Astera Labs Extinction Event

Irrational Analysis • 99 implied HN points • 10 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Astera Labs focuses on making "extender" chips called retimers, which enable design flexibility and cost savings by allowing the use of cheaper PCB materials.
  2. Understanding technical terms like SerDes, PCB stackup, signal integrity, loss, reflections, CTLE, DFE, jitter, adaptation, and CDR bandwidth is crucial in the semiconductor industry.
  3. Broadcom's recent product announcements have positioned them as a strong competitor to Astera Labs, showcasing superior power efficiency, compatibility, reach, and overall competitive advantages.

A Guide on Semiconductor Development

Irrational Analysis • 239 implied HN points • 02 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Semiconductor development involves a complex process that can take 2-4 years to create a leading-edge chip, starting from digital design to post-silicon validation.
  2. Timing closure is a crucial step in the design process, ensuring that the delays of various circuit elements are aligned with reference clocks to optimize chip performance.
  3. Pre-silicon verification is essential before tape-out to catch physical design flaws that might impact the functionality and performance of the chip.

Tech in 2025: Infrastructure, Innovation, and Integrity

philsiarri • 22 implied HN points • 11 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. AI became everyday infrastructure: agentic systems and wider GPU access made generative tools and smarter search part of normal workflows.
  2. Big hardware launches — like the NVIDIA RTX 5090, Galaxy Z Fold 7, and Switch 2 — pushed performance and helped new device formats reach mainstream appeal.
  3. The year favored steady integration over sudden disruption, with sustainability shifting from an aspiration to an industry requirement.

NVIDIA: Waiting on Blackwell, and the Networking Question

Mule’s Musings • 372 implied HN points • 21 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Nvidia's recent earnings report showed lighter-than-expected guidance, meaning some investors were disappointed but it also indicates the company is stabilizing as it grows larger.
  2. The focus is now on Nvidia's new product, Blackwell, which is expected to greatly impact revenue, and there's anticipation about how successful it will be as it ramps up.
  3. Networking sales have surprisingly dropped as a percentage of revenue, even though overall networking demand is still strong, raising questions about the reasons behind this change.

Q&A With Marvell CEO Matt Murphy

More Than Moore • 303 implied HN points • 13 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Marvell is focusing on custom chip design to meet the growing demand from large tech companies, helping them create tailored solutions without needing extensive in-house resources. This trend is important for optimizing performance and costs in data centers.
  2. The company recently announced a new high-performance memory interface called HBM, which is in high demand for advanced computing. They are offering innovative designs to enhance speed and reduce power usage.
  3. Marvell sees significant growth opportunities in the AI sector, believing there are still many product cycles ahead. They are committed to investing in R&D to stay competitive in this rapidly evolving market.

Export Controls and HBM

ChinaTalk • 340 implied HN points • 10 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Export controls on high-bandwidth memory (HBM) are making it harder for China to develop its AI technology. This could slow down China's progress in creating advanced AI chips.
  2. HBM is super important for AI because it helps process data faster and more efficiently. Most AI chips, like those from Nvidia, need HBM to work well.
  3. Chinese companies are currently behind in HBM production and advanced packaging technology. Without catching up in these areas, their AI chip industry might struggle in the future.

State of AI: February 2026 newsletter

Guide to AI • 4 implied HN points • 09 Feb 26
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Agentic AI is triggering a massive market repricing as autonomous agents and rapidly advancing frontier models threaten the long-term recurring revenue that justified high SaaS valuations, wiping hundreds of billions from software stocks. Investors are racing to re-evaluate how to underwrite tech companies in a world where core workflows can be rebuilt AI-first.
  2. Geopolitics and infrastructure constraints are reshaping the AI landscape: governments are clashing with labs over military use and export controls, states are limiting data center builds, and China is aggressively scaling talent and commercial AI, all of which will affect where training clusters and supply chains can be built. These policy and resource shifts will influence competition, investment, and national strategy in AI.
  3. Rapid agent proliferation has produced both theatrical emergent behavior and serious security problems: viral agent networks blurred the line between human and AI activity, while open-source agents exposed widespread vulnerabilities, leaked credentials, and growing shadow-IT risks for enterprises. The combination of autonomy, data access, and external actions makes agent security a top priority.

DeepSeek: Links and Memes (So Many Memes)

SatPost by Trung Phan • 244 implied HN points • 01 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. DeepSeek is changing the AI game by showing that smaller teams can produce top models at lower costs. They've made big AI breakthroughs using fewer resources than big companies like OpenAI, reshaping how we think about AI development.
  2. The reaction to DeepSeek's success shook up the stock market, especially for companies like Nvidia. Their approach made many investors reconsider the value and costs associated with AI, leading to huge market losses.
  3. DeepSeek's open-source strategy encourages collaboration and innovation. By sharing their models, they invite others to improve upon their work, which could lead to even greater advancements in AI technology.

Space Advantages for Electronics Production: Microgravity & Extreme Temperatures & Vacuum

Space Ambition • 179 implied HN points • 18 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Space offers unique conditions like microgravity and extreme temperatures that can help create better electronic materials. This can lead to higher purity materials and improved processes that are hard to achieve on Earth.
  2. The cost of launching materials into space has decreased significantly, making space manufacturing more accessible. New startups are emerging to support in-space production, which enhances the potential for innovations in microelectronics.
  3. To truly benefit from manufacturing in space, the economics need to prove that it's cheaper than Earth-based production. First, companies will focus on small-scale projects that can show clear advantages before scaling up.

My episode on Carl Zha regarding latest on AI

TP’s Substack • 15 implied HN points • 16 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. China is rapidly building a full AI hardware ecosystem — from semiconductors to memory, analog parts, cooling, and optical networking — which makes its domestic supernodes and clusters increasingly powerful.
  2. System-level limits like energy, interconnect bandwidth, and memory often leave chips idle, so tightly wiring many smaller chips into SuperPoDs or SuperClusters can be more effective than relying on bigger standalone chips.
  3. In the near term most AI will act like an advanced search/automation tool that replaces entry-level work, and while China may buy large numbers of H200s, those GPUs alone won’t be the core of its overall AI chip demand.

The Rise of Amazon's Trainium 2

Mule’s Musings • 288 implied HN points • 04 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Amazon is significantly increasing its investments in technology infrastructure, particularly for AI services, showing a strong commitment to compete in the generative AI space.
  2. The success of Amazon's new custom silicon, Trainium 2, could be larger than expected as demand from AI applications grows rapidly.
  3. Trainium 2 represents Amazon's serious entry into the market for training AI models, positioning it as a competitor against established players like Nvidia.

How American AI Chip Policy Could Lead Us Right into World War III

Future History • 190 implied HN points • 13 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. The US heavily relies on Taiwan and South Korea for advanced chips. If China were to invade Taiwan, it could cut off the supply of these crucial components, affecting everything from smartphones to cars.
  2. Building chip manufacturing capacity in the US is not happening fast enough. The current efforts, including the Chips Act, are insufficient compared to what countries like South Korea are investing.
  3. Current tensions and trade policies can push China towards aggressive actions. If chip trade restrictions continue, it might lead to a conflict, putting the whole world at risk.

Gallium Nitride + Photonics w/ James Lee of Wave Photonics

State of the Future • 14 implied HN points • 09 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Gallium nitride (GaN) could be better for photonics than silicon. It can generate light directly on the chip, while silicon needs separate lasers, making it less efficient.
  2. The constraints of using specific wavelengths for light transmission are starting to disappear. In short-distance connections, like inside data centers, it's possible to use a wider range of wavelengths.
  3. There's no perfect material for every need. Using different materials for different tasks could lead to better solutions in fields like quantum computing and RF photonics, making the industry more versatile.

Top 5 US-China Tech Stories

ChinaTalk • 637 implied HN points • 04 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. TikTok has defied early predictions of regulatory restrictions in the US due to vested interests and political dynamics.
  2. The splintering of cross-border VC firms like Sequoia and GGV Capital is a tangible impact of US-China relations.
  3. Chinese EVs are dominating globally, posing a challenge to traditional automakers and highlighting the US infrastructure gap.

Applied Digital, Defense Semiconductors, and 1998

Mule’s Musings • 96 implied HN points • 09 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Applied Digital focuses on combining technology with government projects. This partnership can lead to innovation and improved efficiency in services.
  2. Defense semiconductors are crucial for national security. They help in developing advanced technologies used in defense systems.
  3. Understanding the history of technology and its applications, like in 1998, gives insight into current trends and future developments. Learning from the past is important for progress.

Intel Q3'2024 Financials: Hallowe'en

More Than Moore • 256 implied HN points • 01 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Intel's recent financial report shows a drop in revenue but highlights some solid fundamentals when looking closer. The big losses are mostly from costs tied to restructuring and asset impairment, but without those, the numbers look much better.
  2. The company is focusing heavily on improving its margins and operations with new products coming up, especially in AI and client computing. However, they face tough competition in the AI market, lagging behind companies like NVIDIA.
  3. There are expectations for recovery in margins and revenue as newer products are released in the coming years. Overall, the restructuring seems to have some positive signs, but Intel needs to effectively deliver on its promised technology advancements.