# GaN Powers Up in AI, Robotics, and Our Lives

- Show: [Moore's Lobby](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby)
- Published: 2025-02-18
- Length: 51m
- Episode: 2
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2025-02-18-gan-powers-up-in-ai-robotics-and-our-lives
- Listen: https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/podcast/gan-powers-up-in-ai-robotics-and-our-lives

## Summary

Alex Lidow, CEO of EPC (Efficient Power Conversion), discusses his journey from co-inventing HexFETs at International Rectifier to founding EPC to commercialize Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology. He details the physics of GaN, the early struggles with manufacturing yields, and the pivotal role of LiDAR and space electronics in driving adoption. Lidow also highlights the current tipping points in AI power supplies and the future potential of GaN in humanoid robotics.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2025-02-18-gan-powers-up-in-ai-robotics-and-our-lives#t=1) Introduction and Family History
- [5:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2025-02-18-gan-powers-up-in-ai-robotics-and-our-lives#t=300) Co-inventing HexFETs and the Power of Mistakes
- [8:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2025-02-18-gan-powers-up-in-ai-robotics-and-our-lives#t=516) Founding EPC and the Shift to GaN
- [16:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2025-02-18-gan-powers-up-in-ai-robotics-and-our-lives#t=988) GaN Physics and Enhancement Mode Innovation
- [29:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2025-02-18-gan-powers-up-in-ai-robotics-and-our-lives#t=1740) Overcoming Yields and Early Adoption Hurdles
- [22:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2025-02-18-gan-powers-up-in-ai-robotics-and-our-lives#t=1375) Tipping Points: LiDAR, Space, and AI
- [42:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2025-02-18-gan-powers-up-in-ai-robotics-and-our-lives#t=2540) Future Applications: Humanoid Robots and Integration

## Topics

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

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- EPC (company)
- International Rectifier (company)
- HexFET (product)
- LiDAR (product)
- Navitas (company)
- Episil Technologies (company)
- GaN (material)
- Silicon (material)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Inventing the Power MOSFET with Alex Lidow](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-03-20-inventing-the-power-mosfet-with-alex-lidow) (The Amp Hour)
- [Moore’s Law and GaN | Facial Recognition vs. Privacy | The Trade War Soap Opera](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2019-07-04-moores-law-and-gan-facial-recognition-vs-privacy-the-trade-war-soap-opera) (EE Times Current)
- [Life, the Universe, and Power ICs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2021-07-23-life-the-universe-and-power-ics) (EE Times Current)
- [How FIT is GaN?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2023-07-13-how-fit-is-gan) (EE Times Current)
- [Moore's Law, GaN and SiC devices - Gallimaufry GaN Gabble](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-09-20-moores-law-gan-and-sic-devices-gallimaufry-gan-gabble) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2025-02-18-gan-powers-up-in-ai-robotics-and-our-lives. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Moore's Lobby.