The Circuit · 20 Jan 2025 · 43m · Episode 101
Jordan Schneider, founder of China Talk, joins Ben Bajarin and Jay Goldberg to analyze the Biden administration's new semiconductor export controls targeting China. They discuss three key regulatory pillars: tightened restrictions on manufacturing equipment and high-bandwidth memory (HBM), new screening requirements for foundries like TSMC to prevent Huawei from bypassing rules, and a novel 'AI diffusion rule' that restricts where foreign nations can build large-scale AI data centers. The conversation explores the effectiveness of these measures in slowing China's AI advancement, the potential for Chinese workarounds via shell companies or inefficient scaling, and the unintended consequences for companies like Nvidia and the global supply chain.
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Hosts Chris Gammell and Dave Jones discuss the current state of the semiconductor industry, including Michael Burry's bearish bet on the sector and the impact of Chinese export controls on gallium and germanium. They analyze the layoffs at RISC-V startup SiFive and the acquisition of Future Electronics by W&T Microelectronics, while also covering the technical details of WS2812 LED controllers and the regulatory fraud surrounding the nuclear diamond battery.
Peter Clark, curator of EE Times' Silicon 100, analyzes the 2023 list with Embedded.com editor Nitin Dahad, highlighting a surge in AI startups, significant Chinese activity, and a shift toward full-stack offerings. They discuss the transition from data center AI to edge applications, the persistent semiconductor talent shortage, and the geopolitical challenges facing Chinese chipmakers like Byton Technology who are denied access to leading-edge foundries like TSMC. The conversation also covers the rise of custom silicon, the maturity of quantum computing, and the broadening wavefront of startup activity across power semiconductors and displays.
Brian Santo and Junko Yoshida discuss three major developments in the tech industry: the launch of Nuvia, a startup founded by former Apple and Google chip architects aiming to challenge Intel's data center dominance with a new System-on-Chip; Sony's creation of an independent AI research hub focused on gaming, sensors, and robotics; and China's announcement of its $28 billion Big Fund Phase 2 to build a self-sufficient semiconductor supply chain. The hosts analyze the feasibility of Nuvia's ambitious goals, Sony's strategic pivot in AI, and the long-term implications of China's state-backed semiconductor investments.
Michael Cohen, founder and CEO of Spark AI, explains how his company’s human-in-the-loop API resolves edge cases for robotics systems, specifically detailing a partnership with John Deere for autonomous tractors and applications in logistics. The hosts discuss the US government's export restrictions on AI chipsets from NVIDIA and AMD to China, analyzing the impact on robotics training and development. Cohen argues that while AI can reach 95% reliability, the final 5% requires human intervention to ensure commercial viability and safety, a gap Spark AI fills by providing real-time decision support.
Hosts Chris Gammell and Dave Jones discuss the inefficiencies of early solar thermal plants, the emerging UCIE standard for chiplets, and the acquisition of National Instruments by Emerson. They also review the Digilent Analog Discovery 3 test equipment, analyze the CH32V003 microcontroller, and touch on the geopolitical implications of China's export controls on gallium and germanium.
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