# Federico Faggin designed the first microprocessor and the capacitive touchscreen. He joins Go/No-Go to argue that AI cannot be conscious, however capable it becomes.

- Show: [Go/No-Go](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/go-no-go)
- Published: 2026-06-26
- Length: 54m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/go-no-go/2026-06-26-federico-faggin-designed-the-first-microprocessor-and-the-capacitive-touchscreen
- Listen: https://rss.com/podcasts/go-no-go/2946156

## Summary

Federico Faggin, inventor of the Intel 4004 microprocessor and the capacitive touchscreen, recounts his journey from developing MOS silicon gate technology at Fairchild Semiconductor to founding Zilog and Synaptics. He details the physical realities of early chip design, such as hand-drawing transistors and using slide rules, and explains how he built the Z80 with only $400,000 and 11 people. Faggin argues in his book Irreducible that classical computers and AI cannot be conscious because they lack the quantum field interactions necessary for true feeling and free will.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/go-no-go/2026-06-26-federico-faggin-designed-the-first-microprocessor-and-the-capacitive-touchscreen#t=0) Introduction: Federico Faggin and the Intel 4004
- [8:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/go-no-go/2026-06-26-federico-faggin-designed-the-first-microprocessor-and-the-capacitive-touchscreen#t=508) Fairchild Semiconductor and MOS Silicon Gate Technology
- [13:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/go-no-go/2026-06-26-federico-faggin-designed-the-first-microprocessor-and-the-capacitive-touchscreen#t=835) Designing the 4004 and 8080 at Intel
- [19:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/go-no-go/2026-06-26-federico-faggin-designed-the-first-microprocessor-and-the-capacitive-touchscreen#t=1184) Founding Zilog and Building the Z80
- [24:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/go-no-go/2026-06-26-federico-faggin-designed-the-first-microprocessor-and-the-capacitive-touchscreen#t=1490) Synaptics and the Invention of the Touchscreen
- [31:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/go-no-go/2026-06-26-federico-faggin-designed-the-first-microprocessor-and-the-capacitive-touchscreen#t=1892) The Physics of Consciousness and AI
- [51:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/go-no-go/2026-06-26-federico-faggin-designed-the-first-microprocessor-and-the-capacitive-touchscreen#t=3081) Go/No-Go Decision: Staying in the US

## Topics

- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Intel (company)
- Intel 4004 (product)
- Fairchild Semiconductor (company)
- Zilog (company)
- Z80 (product)
- Synaptics (company)
- Motorola (company)
- Sinter Tech (company)
- Irreducible (product)
- Apple (company)
- Nokia (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [This Week in Electronics History: The 1st Microprocessor](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2021-11-19-this-week-in-electronics-history-the-1st-microprocessor) (EE Times Current)
- [Of Calculation and Consciousness](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2021-08-27-of-calculation-and-consciousness) (EE Times Current)
- [An Interview With Chuck Peddle - Charismatic Chipmaking Coryphaeus](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-03-20-an-interview-with-chuck-peddle-charismatic-chipmaking-coryphaeus) (The Amp Hour)
- [Steve Sanghi - Microchip CEO for 31 Years!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2023-05-15-steve-sanghi-microchip-ceo-for-31-years) (The Amp Hour)
- [An Interview with Chuck Peddle (Repeat, in memoriam)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-12-30-an-interview-with-chuck-peddle-repeat-in-memoriam) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

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