The hottest Semiconductors Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Technology Topics

Trump's Export Control Strategy

ChinaTalk • 207 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Semiconductors
  1. Trump's team may need to reconsider how they handle chip export controls to better respond to China's advancements in technology. Using broader, simpler restrictions might be more effective than current complicated rules.
  2. It's important for America to strengthen its semiconductor industry to avoid losing market share to China. Investing in domestic production is key, and the current CHIPS Act needs to be expanded.
  3. To effectively restrict China's tech growth, the U.S. should coordinate with allies and avoid creating loopholes. A united front will make it harder for China to advance their semiconductor capabilities.

Deploy! Intelligence too cheap to meter @ $0.0001 per million tokens.

Let Us Face the Future • 59 implied HN points • 29 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Making AI technology cheaper is key to its widespread use. If it costs only $0.0001 per million tokens, it can be integrated into many everyday devices.
  2. We need to focus on three main challenges: reducing semiconductor costs, optimizing power for devices, and creating smaller, efficient models that can run locally.
  3. To handle power constraints, especially for portable devices, we need new chips and better power management. This will help make AI more accessible and functional in our daily lives.

The post about GPUs

Technically • 68 implied HN points • 08 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. GPUs are special chips that are really good for running AI models because they can perform many simple tasks at the same time.
  2. NVIDIA is the leading company in making GPUs, and their success has made it one of the most valuable companies globally.
  3. While CPUs are great for complex tasks that need to happen in order, GPUs excel at handling lots of simple operations all at once.

Japan's Semiconductor Red Carpet

Interconnected • 447 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Japan's semiconductor industry is making a strong effort to attract TSMC and boost chip manufacturing through government support and strategic investments.
  2. Kumamoto in Japan is proving to be a successful hub for TSMC with speedy construction, substantial government subsidies, and efforts to welcome and retain Taiwanese employees.
  3. Soft touches like cultural support, language programs, and local community integration are enhancing the success of TSMC's venture in Kumamoto, highlighting the importance of human factors in high-tech industries.
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Tenstorrent Extends Japan Engagement

More Than Moore • 210 implied HN points • 05 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Tenstorrent is focusing on a combination of selling hardware and open-sourcing their software. This allows them to work closely with clients while still attracting broader interest.
  2. The company is training up to 200 Japanese engineers in their technology to help improve local manufacturing capabilities. This will enhance skills in the region and expand the use of their designs.
  3. Tenstorrent is growing its operations in Japan and developing local teams. This signals their commitment to being a key player in the Japanese semiconductor industry.

Why HBM is the Hottest Thing in Memory

Mule’s Musings • 411 implied HN points • 03 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Investing in semiconductors involves identifying secular trends and market dislocations for potential opportunities.
  2. HBM technology is driving a significant change in the memory industry, with SK Hynix being highlighted as a key player to watch for.
  3. Suppliers in the memory market are strategically shifting focus and investments towards HBM, anticipating a boost in market demand and profitability in the coming years.

ONE IMAGE: HOISTED FROM THE ARCHIVES FROM 2020: The Moment I Realized Intel Was in Huge Trouble—But I Did Not See the TSMC-NVIDIA Angle

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 161 implied HN points • 03 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Intel has been struggling to keep up with competitors like TSMC and Apple, especially in chip performance and manufacturing processes. This gap has raised concerns about Intel's future viability.
  2. Performance per watt is becoming more important in chip design, meaning companies like Apple that focus on this can gain a significant advantage over others, including Intel.
  3. Many believe Intel is in a tough spot with little hope for recovery. If things don’t improve, its value may only come from any cash payments the government might offer, rather than from future profits.

AMD MI300X is not an AI chip.

Irrational Analysis • 99 implied HN points • 15 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. AMD MI300X is not designed for AI workloads, despite the false narrative in the media.
  2. AMD's strategic decision to split GPU efforts into RDNA and CDNA families led to commercial success in gaming and datacenter markets.
  3. AMD's MI300X is optimized for high-precision compute and supercomputing, lacking in low-precision compute capabilities for AI workloads, putting them behind Nvidia until at least H1 2025.

[Q1 CY2024] Marvell and Broadcom

Irrational Analysis • 39 implied HN points • 08 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Marvell and Broadcom both faced challenges after recent earnings, with Marvell experiencing a bigger drop due to exposure to the struggling 5G industry.
  2. The 5G technology's promised new use cases beyond smartphones have largely failed to materialize, leading to decreased demand and implications for companies like Marvell.
  3. Broadcom, on the other hand, showed strength in custom AI accelerators and networking revenue growth, positioning themselves well for the future.

TSMC OIP Forum: Fabs, N3/N2+BSPN

More Than Moore • 303 implied HN points • 01 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. TSMC is a leading foundry with a focus on developing cutting-edge technologies and hosting events to showcase their advancements and collaborations.
  2. TSMC's current focus is on production, including expanding fab capabilities and advancing in process nodes like N3 and N2 with improved performance and power efficiency.
  3. In addition to process nodes, TSMC is also working on advancements in memory technology like HBM3 and HBM4, as well as expanding analog design tools and focusing on 3D integration for complex chip packaging.

Marvell Industry Analyst Day

Mule’s Musings • 256 implied HN points • 17 Dec 23
💼 Business Semiconductors
  1. Marvell's Industry Analyst Day focused on AI and highlighted strong revenue growth expectations for the company related to AI technologies.
  2. Marvell expects significant revenue from AI in 2024, with over two billion dollars projected, driven by AI demand and server attach rates.
  3. Marvell's strategy involves leveraging networking, custom silicon, and pluggable transceivers to position themselves as a key player in the AI semiconductor market.

Nvidia and the AI scaling wall, and what founder mode really is

Alex's Personal Blog • 98 implied HN points • 21 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Nvidia is experiencing strong demand for its new Blackwell GPUs, which are expected to outperform previous models. Major companies are eager to integrate these powerful chips into their systems.
  2. The concept of 'founder mode' is about being deeply involved in the critical details of your business. It's not just about delegating tasks, but collaborating closely with team members to achieve great outcomes.
  3. The AI industry continues to evolve with new ways to improve model performance. Nvidia's focus on scaling in various aspects shows that innovation in AI is still very much alive.

Escaping the Zelenograd Trap

sidkasbekar • 58 implied HN points • 15 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Copying old technology might lead to being outdated in fast-paced industries like AI and chip development.
  2. Innovation often comes from solving real problems rather than just copying new tech trends.
  3. Success in tech is often achieved by tackling problems creatively and staying ahead of the curve.

The Coming Wave of AI, and How Nvidia Dominants

Mule’s Musings • 366 implied HN points • 30 May 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Large Language Models (LLMs) are powering AI applications and depend on factors like model size, training data, and computing power.
  2. Semiconductors benefit from the demand for LLMs due to their computing power requirements for training and inference, creating opportunities for companies like Nvidia.
  3. Nvidia dominates in the AI hardware market with a three-headed hydra strategy focusing on networking and systems, accelerator hardware, and software solutions.

Taiwan vs. US Chip Subsidies: Bolstering the Sacred Mountain

ChinaTalk • 192 implied HN points • 07 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Taiwan allows companies to choose which technologies to invest in, unlike the US and South Korea which target specific areas to strengthen the supply chain.
  2. Taiwanese lawmakers grant significant discretion to government ministries in managing subsidies, in contrast to the US and EU where subsidies are tightly regulated.
  3. Taiwan's central government manages and funds the most significant incentive programs for the semiconductor industry, a strategy that reflects a commitment to enhancing existing strengths.

5 Reasons For Altman's Bold $7 Trillion Bet

The Algorithmic Bridge • 201 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Altman is seeking an unprecedented $7 trillion to invest in AI infrastructure, which includes developing GPUs, energy supply improvement, and expanding data center capacity.
  2. The $7 trillion investment is meant to propel technological advancements to a level comparable to the impact of the Industrial Revolution, focusing on long-term projects over decades rather than immediate outcomes.
  3. Despite the astronomical sum, the $7 trillion investment may not seem as excessive considering the potential growth of the global economy and the transformative nature of the projects Altman aims to support.

Cognitive sovereignty

storyvoyager • 6 implied HN points • 01 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Accessing knowledge on an external server isn’t the same as being intelligent; intelligence depends on internal processing, not just retrieval.
  2. Having 'taste' or good ideas requires storing and processing at least some knowledge inside the brain rather than outsourcing all judgment.
  3. The future will favor developing organic, brain-integrated semiconductors so people can maintain cognitive independence alongside AI.

Intel Demonstrates High-Speed 3nm Silicon

More Than Moore • 186 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Intel showcased high-speed 3nm silicon technology at ISSCC 2024, revealing their advancements in SERDES connectivity.
  2. SERDES links, like PCIe, have evolved over the years and can now achieve faster transfer rates through encoding advancements like PAM-4 and PAM-6.
  3. Presenting impressive silicon like the Bixby Creek chip demonstrates Intel's commitment to developing power-efficient high-speed connections and prepares IP blocks for customer use in new process nodes.

How Taiwan became Arrakis

Deep Into The Mundane • 17 HN points • 20 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Taiwan's TSMC is crucial to the global economy, producing chips for major tech companies like Apple, Nvidia, and Tesla.
  2. ASML, a Dutch company, has a monopoly on EUV lithography machines, a key technology for chip manufacturing, with machines costing hundreds of millions of dollars.
  3. TSMC's innovative 'pure-play foundry' model, led by visionary Morris Chang, revolutionized chip manufacturing, emphasizing collaboration with designers and avoiding competition with customers.

Chinese EV's and the Lagging Edge Price War

Mule’s Musings • 256 implied HN points • 13 Aug 23
💼 Business Semiconductors
  1. Chinese EV market strategy involves price cuts implying a potential price war.
  2. Chinese semiconductor firms are focusing on older technology to capitalize on the worldwide EV export surge.
  3. Western semiconductor giants are facing challenges from Chinese companies investing in the lagging edge, potentially leading to a decline in profits.

VLSI Japan: It’s Better on the Backside

Mule’s Musings • 263 implied HN points • 15 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. VLSI Japan discussed the revolutionary Backside Power Delivery (BSPDN) technology and its importance in semiconductor design.
  2. BSPDN addresses the IR droop problem in semiconductor design, offering power and performance benefits like decreased IR droop and increased core performance.
  3. Intel's adoption of PowerVia technology positions them ahead of competitors like TSMC, providing potential competitive advantages in process efficiency and cost.

🧩E13: Chiplets - How Chip Lego is Driving AI Progress

Let Us Face the Future • 119 implied HN points • 31 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Chiplets are a modular approach to building computer chips by combining multiple smaller 'chiplets' instead of a single monolithic design.
  2. Chiplets offer benefits like improved manufacturing yield, diverse process nodes, and cost savings through reusing pre-tested chiplets.
  3. The chiplet market is growing rapidly, expected to be worth $20 billion by 2027, driven by demand for AI and HPC accelerators.

India’s Chip War

ChinaTalk • 148 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. India excels in software and design but faces challenges in manufacturing semiconductors due to historical economic policies that hindered growth in hardware and manufacturing sectors.
  2. India's approach to semiconductor industry development differed from Taiwan and China, starting from the design end rather than electronics assembly, posing challenges due to lack of a broader electronics ecosystem and global integration.
  3. Software industry in India thrived due to less restrictive regulations compared to hardware industries like semiconductors heavily controlled under small-scale industry reservations, hindering growth in manufacturing sectors.

Interview with Intel’s Dr. Ann Kelleher

More Than Moore • 186 implied HN points • 22 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Intel has been successful in using EUV in their Intel 4 technology
  2. The development of nodes at Intel involves extensive research, pathfinding, and process development before transferring to high-volume manufacturing
  3. Intel is progressing well with their roadmap of '5 nodes in 4 years', with Intel 4 completed and Intel 3 on track

🏴‍☠️Traitors or Treasures: the Semiconductor Talent Conundrum

Interconnected • 231 implied HN points • 10 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. South Korea is facing a conundrum in the fight for semiconductor talent, treating engineers suspiciously instead of as treasures.
  2. The case of Choi Jin-seok highlights the challenges faced by talented semiconductor executives, like being caught up in geopolitical tensions.
  3. There is a mismatch between demand and supply of semiconductor talent globally, with countries not properly valuing and nurturing their home-grown talent.

Huawei to Transform Chip Game

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 39 implied HN points • 11 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Huawei is entering the chip market and competing directly with NVIDIA. Their Ascend 910 AI processor has similar power to NVIDIA's A100.
  2. The Ascend 910 offers strong performance with 256 TeraFLOPs while using less power than the A100. It shows that Huawei's technology can be efficient and effective.
  3. More companies, like iFlytek, are choosing Huawei's chips for AI development, indicating a shift in the industry. This could change the landscape of chip manufacturing.

To Be or Not To Be

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 39 implied HN points • 04 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. AMD is facing a tough decision between following US export rules and keeping its market in China. It's a tricky balance to maintain.
  2. The US has set strict rules that prevent companies like AMD from selling advanced chips to China. These rules are aimed at restricting high-performance technology exports.
  3. Nvidia has a chip that exceeds these performance limits, illustrating the competitive tech landscape and the challenges AMD is dealing with.

[Q1 CY24] ARM Short Squeeze, Fabrinet Sus

Irrational Analysis • 19 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
💰 Finance Semiconductors
  1. ARM experienced a significant short squeeze after hours, showing wild price movement.
  2. Fabrinet's weak guidance and management's unconvincing excuses suggest something suspicious, leading the author to liquidate their position.
  3. Qualcomm showcased steady growth in the automotive semiconductor market despite challenges, with a rough response to questions about partnership details and future seasonality.

Interview with GlobalFoundries CEO

More Than Moore • 163 implied HN points • 08 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. GlobalFoundries focuses on 'essential chips' for a variety of industries, not just leading-edge technology.
  2. The company is expanding its global footprint to meet growing demand and customer needs.
  3. GlobalFoundries is positioning itself as a leader in providing solutions for AI at the edge and infrastructure technology.

Nvidia makes gains on rising inference demand

Alex's Personal Blog • 32 implied HN points • 27 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Nvidia's revenue is soaring due to high demand for their chips, especially for AI models. This growth is a good sign for the entire AI industry as more companies seek powerful computing solutions.
  2. Rising demand for inference, which is running AI models to handle user queries, is becoming more important than just training the models. Nvidia’s chips are designed to excel in this area, suggesting ongoing strong sales.
  3. Other companies like Snowflake are also doing well with their earnings by integrating AI into their services, while Salesforce is facing challenges despite its strong AI prospects. This shows different paths in the tech industry as they adapt to AI's growth.

The Incredible Shrinking Transistor

Bits and Bytes • 41 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Transistors are shrinking and becoming more powerful, with a goal of reaching one trillion transistors in a small chip by 2030. This will help meet the increasing demand for computing power, especially for AI.
  2. To keep improving transistor technology, new innovations in materials and designs are needed. The challenge is to make these transistors more energy-efficient, allowing them to run on lower voltages while still performing well.
  3. Upcoming technologies like the RibbonFET and potentially stacked transistors are expected to enhance performance and efficiency. These developments aim to tackle the energy demands of modern computing and ensure we can continue to create faster, smaller devices.

5 Years Late, Only #2

More Than Moore • 116 implied HN points • 16 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. The supercomputer Aurora faced delays and its performance fell short compared to expectations.
  2. Efficiency metrics show Aurora's performance ratio lagging behind other systems on the Top500 list.
  3. Limited timeframe for optimization impacted Aurora's benchmark results, emphasizing the challenge of extracting peak performance.