# Episode 118: Weekly Update (Tariffs), AI Budget Spend, Semis and Saudi's

- Show: [The Circuit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit)
- Published: 2025-05-19
- Length: 32m
- Episode: 119
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2025-05-19-episode-118-weekly-update-tariffs-ai-budget-spend-semis-and-saudis
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/bc480dbb

## Summary

Ben Bajarin and Jay Goldberg discuss the semiconductor industry's response to a 90-day tariff pause between the US and China, noting that while the market reacted positively, the long-term impact remains uncertain and supply chains are becoming more complex. They analyze Broadcom's third-generation co-packaged optical switch as a key technology for reducing power consumption in AI servers, contrasting it with traditional optical DSPs. The hosts also cover Saudi Arabia's massive investment in sovereign AI infrastructure, partnering with Nvidia, AMD, and Cisco, and debate the viability of nation-state-owned AI data centers versus public cloud models.

## Chapters

- [0:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2025-05-19-episode-118-weekly-update-tariffs-ai-budget-spend-semis-and-saudis#t=5) Tariff Pause and Supply Chain Uncertainty
- [10:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2025-05-19-episode-118-weekly-update-tariffs-ai-budget-spend-semis-and-saudis#t=611) AI Budget Spend and Compute Demand
- [13:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2025-05-19-episode-118-weekly-update-tariffs-ai-budget-spend-semis-and-saudis#t=811) Broadcom's Co-Packaged Optics
- [20:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2025-05-19-episode-118-weekly-update-tariffs-ai-budget-spend-semis-and-saudis#t=1203) Saudi Arabia's Sovereign AI Investments
- [28:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2025-05-19-episode-118-weekly-update-tariffs-ai-budget-spend-semis-and-saudis#t=1692) AI Factories and Upcoming Events

## Topics

- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Broadcom (company)
- Nvidia (company)
- AMD (company)
- Cisco (company)
- Qualcomm (company)
- Intel (company)
- TSMC (company)
- AWS (company)
- Azure (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [China’s $28B Big Fund | The Cockiest Startup | Sony’s Ambitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2019-11-22-chinas-28b-big-fund-the-cockiest-startup-sonys-ambitions) (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)
- [EMS & The Economist: How AI Data Centers Are Reshaping Memory Prices And Supply with Shawn DuBravac](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-04-27-ems-the-economist-how-ai-data-centers-are-reshaping-memory-prices-and-supply-wit) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [EMS & The Economist (November 2025) - Shutdown Shockwaves And Smarter Supply Chains](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2025-11-14-ems-the-economist-november-2025-shutdown-shockwaves-and-smarter-supply-chains) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [Live from the Global CEO Summit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2019-11-15-live-from-the-global-ceo-summit) (EE Times Current)

## Citing this page

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