# Episode 80: Viewing AI Compute Demands as a Tectonic Shift for Semiconductor Design

- Show: [The Circuit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit)
- Published: 2024-08-20
- Length: 33m
- Episode: 81
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2024-08-20-episode-80-viewing-ai-compute-demands-as-a-tectonic-shift-for-semiconductor-desi
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/7e8a41d0

## Summary

Ben Bajarin and Jay Goldberg discuss the 'tectonic shift' in semiconductor design driven by AI's demand for energy-efficient compute, highlighting Applied Materials' focus on packaging and Intel's strategic investments. They analyze Intel's release of its PDK and its 18A process roadmap, arguing that a viable competitor to TSMC is essential for industry health. The episode concludes with the successful high NA EUV tape-out by Imec, marking a critical breakthrough for future lithography.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2024-08-20-episode-80-viewing-ai-compute-demands-as-a-tectonic-shift-for-semiconductor-desi#t=6) Introduction: The AI Infrastructure Build-Out
- [7:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2024-08-20-episode-80-viewing-ai-compute-demands-as-a-tectonic-shift-for-semiconductor-desi#t=468) Applied Materials Earnings and the Efficiency Imperative
- [19:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2024-08-20-episode-80-viewing-ai-compute-demands-as-a-tectonic-shift-for-semiconductor-desi#t=1167) Intel's Foundry Strategy and 18A Process
- [24:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2024-08-20-episode-80-viewing-ai-compute-demands-as-a-tectonic-shift-for-semiconductor-desi#t=1467) Intel PDK Release and Competitive Positioning
- [31:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2024-08-20-episode-80-viewing-ai-compute-demands-as-a-tectonic-shift-for-semiconductor-desi#t=1900) Imec's High NA EUV Breakthrough

## Topics

- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Applied Materials (company)
- Intel (company)
- TSMC (company)
- ASML (company)
- Imec (company)
- Nvidia (company)
- Qualcomm (company)
- AMD (company)
- Samsung (company)
- Google (company)
- Microsoft (company)
- High NA EUV (other)
- PDK (other)
- 18A (other)
- 14A (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Bonkers Birthday Badinage](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-06-18-bonkers-birthday-badinage) (The Amp Hour)
- [The CHIP Act’s Blind Spot | A Lifeline for Intel | I Just Saw a Face](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2020-07-31-the-chip-acts-blind-spot-a-lifeline-for-intel-i-just-saw-a-face) (EE Times Current)
- [Interview: AMD CTO Papermaster | Interview: Imagination CEO Black | Where to Invest in 2020](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2020-01-24-interview-amd-cto-papermaster-interview-imagination-ceo-black-where-to-invest-in) (EE Times Current)
- [IMEC & the End of the Road(map) | EDS and the Trade War | Restoring Notre Dame](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2019-05-17-imec-the-end-of-the-road-map-eds-and-the-trade-war-restoring-notre-dame) (EE Times Current)
- [Whither Semiconductors? The Wheels on the Bus Go ‘Round and ‘Round](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2021-07-16-whither-semiconductors-the-wheels-on-the-bus-go-round-and-round) (EE Times Current)

## Citing this page

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