The hottest Semiconductors Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Technology Topics

The Race to 2nm: RISC-V Chips in Japan

More Than Moore • 87 HN points • 27 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Rapidus, a new semiconductor company in Japan, aims to bring 2nm manufacturing capacity online by 2027 with backing from major Japanese companies and government subsidies.
  2. The Leading-Edge Semiconductor Technology Center (LSTC) in Japan, a collaboration between the US and Japan, will focus on advanced research and building vital silicon for both economies.
  3. Tenstorrent's collaboration with LSTC involves providing advanced high-performance RISC-V cores and chiplets, indicating a push towards AI acceleration and cutting-edge technology development.

[Q4 CY23] ARM Special

Irrational Analysis • 19 implied HN points • 12 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. ARM's royalty revenue faces challenges with declines in smartphone sales and RISC-V gaining share in embedded markets.
  2. AI trend shifts workloads from CPUs to specialized hardware, posing a challenge to ARM's value capture.
  3. ARM is expanding and investing in compute capabilities, but questions arise regarding the outcomes of these efforts, especially in the face of evolving industry dynamics.

[Q4 CY23] Ericsson, Nokia, Lam Research, Tesla, TSMC

Irrational Analysis • 19 implied HN points • 21 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Analyst pointed out Ericsson's struggles with return to 2018 revenue levels and significant growth decline, raising concerns about pricing and cost-cutting efforts.
  2. Nokia's CEO indicated a challenging forecast with no recovery until 2026, expressing concern over irrational pricing actions by competitors in the market.
  3. TSMC CEO emphasized confidence in the company's advanced technology, dismissing the impact of edge AI on revenue growth in 2024.

CEA-Leti, Imec launch chip pilot lines

Semiecosystem • 2 HN points • 29 Jun 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. European Union boosts semiconductor industry with new chip pilot lines led by CEA-Leti and Imec to drive R&D and explore advanced technologies.
  2. European Chips Act aims to strengthen EU's semiconductor ecosystem with a $47 billion program and increase Europe's share of semiconductors from 8% in 2021 to 20% by 2030.
  3. Initiatives like these are crucial due to the global importance of semiconductors in various products, the geopolitical vulnerabilities in current chip production regions, and past disruptions like the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Semiconductor Trade War

Apricitas Economics • 78 implied HN points • 05 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. The US is engaged in a significant semiconductor trade war with China and needs help from allies to win.
  2. Semiconductors are crucial for modern industries and military defense, and the US sanctions have impacted chip exports to China.
  3. China's domestic semiconductor production is growing despite sanctions, creating a complex global scenario.
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QuantumSi - Routes Forward

ASeq Newsletter • 21 implied HN points • 24 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. QuantumSi has recently laid off employees as they restructure due to poor sales. This is tough for those affected, and it's hoped they find new jobs soon.
  2. To reach billions of reads, QuantumSi is exploring chip reuse but it's tricky since they might need to clean the chip quickly and keep it working well after many uses.
  3. They are also looking at using multiple imaging regions to help with throughput instead of reusing chips, which could be a more practical solution for their counting goals.

Small Mercies

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 19 implied HN points • 19 Jan 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. India is set to approve a $10 billion subsidy for semiconductor manufacturing, which is a big step for the tech industry. People are eager to see if this will lead to actual semiconductor plants in the country soon.
  2. The success of this project heavily relies on the partnership between Vedanta and Foxconn, who are investing a significant amount to make this happen. They had plans for a major manufacturing unit, but funding is a major concern.
  3. Despite the exciting prospects, there are still uncertainties about when and how soon India can have its semiconductor fab operational. Many are curious about the timeline and the challenges that lie ahead.

Can AMD beat Nvidia in the AI Race?

Golden Pineapple • 31 implied HN points • 07 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Nvidia has been a market leader with high-performance chips for GPT models, positioning them well in the AI competition.
  2. AMD is making strategic moves in AI, such as diversifying into software through acquisitions like Nod AI, to challenge Nvidia's dominance.
  3. Both Nvidia and AMD are eyeing potential acquisitions in AI-related sectors, with AMD's recent chip advancements showing promise in the competition.

The trillion dollar underdog story

Entry Level Investing • 50 implied HN points • 31 May 23
💼 Business Semiconductors
  1. Nvidia has reached a market cap of $1 trillion, becoming fifth American company to do so.
  2. The demand for AI models has significantly boosted Nvidia's stock value.
  3. Nvidia's success can be attributed to early investment in megatrends, outsourcing chip production, and developing user-friendly software.

US Supply Chains are Recovering

Apricitas Economics • 42 implied HN points • 20 Jun 23
💼 Business Semiconductors
  1. US supply chains are recovering after facing crises due to the pandemic.
  2. Constraints like materials shortages and logistics issues are decreasing, indicating improvements in the supply chain.
  3. Consumer demand for goods has slowed down, leading to manufacturers facing more demand constraints than supply constraints.

Wen Babelfish? feat. Aron of SEMRON who is making an analog AI chip

State of the Future • 7 implied HN points • 12 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Edge AI needs efficient computing because it's important for energy conservation. The best designs will combine processing and storage to save power.
  2. CapRAM is a promising technology since it uses standard materials, making it easier and cheaper to produce. This could help it succeed where other technologies struggle.
  3. CapRAM could lead to smaller, more powerful edge devices by minimizing data movement and energy use. This means devices can perform better without overheating.

AGI Futures

roon’s blog • 38 implied HN points • 16 May 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. As computers self-improve, merging with machines becomes a possibility.
  2. Creating super-intelligent machines may lead to advanced prediction abilities but struggle with novel actions.
  3. Limitations may plateau AI advancements, preventing godlike intelligence and impacts on society.

Groq's inference strategy

Axial • 7 implied HN points • 22 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Groq is designing chips that speed up AI by using a special kind of memory called SRAM, which is faster but also more expensive. This helps them run complex AI models more efficiently.
  2. Their choice of using separate cards for each chip instead of smaller, cheaper chips means they might face higher costs and power use. This choice could limit how easily they can grow their technology.
  3. Other companies like Microsoft are trying different approaches that might be cheaper and easier to scale. Groq needs to find a balance between speed and practicality to succeed in the competitive AI market.

Parallel Tracks: observations from the Jade Empire (Part 1)

East Wind • 7 implied HN points • 02 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. China and the US are in a tech race, but with different goals. China wants to become independent in key tech areas, while the US aims to bring manufacturing back home and limit China's advancements.
  2. China's economy is struggling, leading to a need for change. There are big problems like falling real estate prices and decreased foreign investment, which push China to improve its tech game.
  3. China is doing well in consumer tech, but it’s vying for a bigger role in high-end technologies like EVs and semiconductors. The US is currently ahead in areas like AI, but competition is growing.

Britain's headlong slide from silicon supremacy to silicon irrelevance

Material World • 6 HN points • 19 May 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. In the 1940s and '50s, Britain was at the forefront of semiconductor research and came close to inventing the integrated circuit before the U.S.
  2. Geoffrey Dummer, an English engineer, almost changed history by conceptualizing the integrated circuit in 1952.
  3. The UK's semiconductor sector faces challenges, and the government's new Integrated Semiconductor Strategy indicates a potential shift towards a 21st century industrial strategy.

Tippets #191

Tippets by Taps • 2 implied HN points • 17 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Children need physical risk-taking and thrill in play for healthy development and skill-building.
  2. AI is becoming more prevalent in various fields, including journalism and elderly care.
  3. Conflicts like US-China tech tensions can unexpectedly benefit other regions, like Malaysia's semiconductor industry.

Silicon Carbide: A Power Electronics Revolution

The Asianometry Newsletter • 3 HN points • 29 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Silicon carbide is a powerful semiconductor with unique properties like wide bandgap and high temperature tolerance.
  2. Silicon carbide-based power electronics are revolutionizing the industry by enabling higher voltages and frequencies with lower power loss.
  3. Challenges in producing silicon carbide wafers have limited its adoption, but recent advancements are making it more commercially viable.

🔮E10: Pushing Moore's Law to the Limit with High-NA EUV (aka Nanoscale Chip Printing)

Let Us Face the Future • 1 HN point • 27 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. High-NA EUV lithography enables more precise and densely packed chip patterns below 10nm, crucial for continuing Moore's Law.
  2. The first High-NA EUV systems are expected to be available commercially around 2025-2026, with known engineering hurdles to overcome.
  3. High-NA EUV may produce chips worth $200 billion annually, impacting advanced logic, analog, photonic, and quantum semiconductors.

Intel & AMD: The First 30 Years

The Asianometry Newsletter • 2 HN points • 31 May 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Intel's founding purpose was to exploit the semiconductor memory market, leading to the creation of the first commercial microprocessor, the Intel 4004, in 1971.
  2. AMD started as a reliable second-source provider for chips, using reverse-engineering to produce the Am9080 and becoming a major seller in the market.
  3. The rivalry between Intel and AMD escalated over time, involving complex legal battles over microcode and patent infringements until a settlement was reached in 1995.

UMC: Taiwan’s Other Semiconductor Giant

The Asianometry Newsletter • 2 HN points • 10 May 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. UMC was Taiwan's first semiconductor company founded by the government to pivot the economy towards integrated circuits.
  2. UMC faced steep competition from TSMC, leading to innovative strategies like OEM foundry and joint ventures.
  3. UMC struggled to keep up with TSMC technically, especially with significant decisions like the 28nm gate technology and faced challenges in global expansions, including incidents in China.

An Interview with Aart de Geus, ex-CEO Synopsys

More Than Moore • 1 HN point • 11 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. EDA software is crucial for designing chips, involving multiple stages like logic design, simulation, and multiphysics tools.
  2. Synopsys, a major player in EDA, has been in the industry since 1986, offering IP for chip design and recently acquired Ansys for simulation software enhancement.
  3. The future of chip design involves complexities like chipletization, 3D stacking, and the intersection of software and silicon, driving the evolution and demand in the industry.

An Interview with Renee James, CEO Ampere Computing

More Than Moore • 1 HN point • 28 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Efficiency is crucial for the future of AI, requiring high-performance CPUs that operate in tight power envelopes.
  2. Ampere Computing has succeeded by tackling challenges such as power constraints and building a full platform that includes software optimization.
  3. The company aims to be an at-scale semiconductor company, emphasizing the importance of diversity in suppliers and the need for merchant market silicon vendors for innovation and problem-solving.

ASML: A Monopoly on Magic

The Generalist • 1 HN point • 30 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. ASML is the sole provider of EUV lithography machines for semiconductor chips, making it a monopoly in a valuable market.
  2. ASML's EUV machines are incredibly complex and rely on a vast supply chain, with the company coordinating components sourced from multiple manufacturers.
  3. ASML's technology is crucial for industry advancements, particularly in AI, and the company faces challenges from US-China tensions and the need to maintain Moore's Law.

Metacritic digest #2 - Upgrading OpenAI to neutral

Metacritic Capital • 0 implied HN points • 16 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Foundational AI companies like OpenAI focus on creating and selling general models, akin to the semiconductor industry's approach.
  2. Understanding the importance of hurdle rates in financial investment can impact long-term stock performance.
  3. Managers need to set the example and show commitment to their teams for effective leadership, especially during times of crisis.

AI Partnerships Advance Industrial Automation

Exponential Industry • 0 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. AI partnerships are advancing industrial automation by improving quality, throughput, and worker safety.
  2. Businesses are investing in new technologies like sensors, robotics, 3D printing, and AI to enhance manufacturing processes.
  3. Government initiatives like Made Smarter are driving tech investments in SMEs for industry growth and sustainability.

Large models are pushing tech companies to rethink chip design; OpenAI unveils Sora generative video model; the world's first AI-powered Valentine's Day; ex-Salesforce CEO launches new startup

Computerspeak by Alexandru Voica • 0 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Large models like OpenAI's GPT series are reshaping the AI landscape by requiring vast computational resources and driving a buying frenzy among tech companies for AI chips.
  2. Designing AI chips involves significant costs spanning from R&D to testing, and challenges exist in producing low-volume chips due to economies of scale, NRE costs, and supply chain constraints.
  3. Advancements in semiconductor technology, including innovations like chiplets and AI-assisted design, offer potential ways to reduce costs and scale AI hardware production to meet the growing demand.

6/17 TBC Insider Digest

Tech Buzz China Insider • 0 implied HN points • 18 Jun 21
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. The post discusses various topics like Didi's IPO, China's Semiconductor Big Fund, updates on content platforms, cross border e-commerce trends, and differences between US and Chinese unicorns.
  2. The content highlights the importance of understanding semiconductors, the competition between Kuaishou and Douyin in content platforms, and emerging opportunities in cross border e-commerce.
  3. The post also includes insights on the number of unicorns in the US and China, and welcomes new members to the platform from various backgrounds.

[Q4 CY23] Intel, Lattice, AMD, Qualcomm

Irrational Analysis • 0 implied HN points • 02 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Intel had a stellar quarter with a significant prepayment from a major customer, and signed deals with additional customers for their latest technology. They divested a portion of their business and have strong momentum.
  2. Lattice faced significant challenges, potentially due to exposure to the Chinese market. They did not directly mention China in their communication, but it was evident through questions from an analyst.
  3. AMD showed mixed results with impressive products but flat revenue. They received great interest in a new AI chip from Microsoft with substantial revenue expectations, which caused significant stock movement.

Intel, IBM, OSATs tip the latest in packaging

Semiecosystem • 0 implied HN points • 03 May 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. IC-packaging is a crucial element in the semiconductor industry where chips are protected in enclosures for specific applications.
  2. Advanced packaging is crucial for complex chips like server chips or AI processing units to save space and reduce latency between components.
  3. Generative AI, datacenters, and edge computing benefit from advanced packaging to handle large amounts of data efficiently, despite challenges such as high power consumption.

Silicon wafer market: upturn, higher prices

Semiecosystem • 0 implied HN points • 24 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Silicon wafer suppliers are seeing signs of recovery and expect a gradual improvement in the second half of 2024.
  2. Prices for select silicon wafer products are anticipated to increase this year due to factors like demand and supply agreements.
  3. The 300mm silicon wafer market is expected to rebound in 2024, while the 200mm market faces challenges.

India’s AI Hardware Dream Takes Off

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 0 implied HN points • 27 Jun 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Chips are becoming as important as oil was in the past. Having strong chip manufacturing will be key for countries in the 21st century.
  2. SiMa.ai believes India can be a global leader in AI products, with many innovations coming from there.
  3. India is focusing more on semiconductor manufacturing, which could help the country grow in the tech industry.

AGI Factories Coming Soon 🤖🏭🔜

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 0 implied HN points • 02 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Microsoft and OpenAI are launching a massive $115 billion supercomputer project called Stargate by 2028. This shows a huge investment in AI technology.
  2. AWS plans to spend $150 billion on new data centers over the next 15 years to meet the rising demand for AI tools. This indicates that many companies are getting ready for a future filled with AI.
  3. NVIDIA is making advancements in AI with its 'AI factories' and next-gen chips. They are pushing boundaries in technology and aim to help develop artificial general intelligence.

Huang’s Law 🔥 🔥🔥

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 0 implied HN points • 19 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. NVIDIA's new AI superchip, Blackwell, has massively increased computing power with 208 billion transistors, showcasing a shift from Moore's Law to Huang's Law.
  2. Huang stated that in the last eight years, computational capacity has grown a thousandfold, which is much faster than what was seen previously.
  3. Despite the rapid growth, Huang noted that this progress still might not be enough to meet the industry's increasing demands for computing power.

Intel’s New Love

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 0 implied HN points • 30 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors
  1. Intel's revenue increased recently, going from $12.9 billion to $14.2 billion, mainly due to better conditions in the server chip and PC markets.
  2. Despite the recent growth, Intel's overall revenue is down 8% compared to the same quarter last year.
  3. The company's semiconductor plant has done really well, growing by 299% and earning $311 million in revenue this year.