# EP 136: WE DON'T HAVE THE POWER!

- Show: [The Circuit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit)
- Published: 2025-10-06
- Length: 47m
- Episode: 138
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2025-10-06-ep-136-we-dont-have-the-power
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/231c5919

## Summary

Ben Bajarin and Jay Goldberg discuss the definition of hyperscalers versus Neo clouds, noting that companies like CoreWeave and Oracle have pivoted from Bitcoin mining to AI infrastructure by leveraging locked-in power contracts. They analyze the storage bottleneck driven by OpenAI's Sora app and Meta's acquisition of Rivos for custom silicon development, highlighting the intense competition for HBM and NAND capacity. The episode concludes with a tour of Intel's Fab 52, emphasizing the technological marvel of 18A process manufacturing and the strategic importance of keeping such production in the US.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2025-10-06-ep-136-we-dont-have-the-power#t=6) Introduction: Defining Hyperscalers and Neo Clouds
- [8:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2025-10-06-ep-136-we-dont-have-the-power#t=509) The Pivot from Bitcoin Mining to AI Infrastructure
- [18:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2025-10-06-ep-136-we-dont-have-the-power#t=1109) Neo Clouds as AI Infrastructure Landlords
- [26:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2025-10-06-ep-136-we-dont-have-the-power#t=1585) Power Constraints and Grid Infrastructure Bottlenecks
- [29:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2025-10-06-ep-136-we-dont-have-the-power#t=1792) OpenAI's Sora App and Storage Capacity Crunch
- [37:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2025-10-06-ep-136-we-dont-have-the-power#t=2244) Meta's Acquisition of Rivos and Custom Silicon
- [43:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2025-10-06-ep-136-we-dont-have-the-power#t=2599) Intel Fab 52 Tour and 18A Process Manufacturing

## Topics

- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- CoreWeave (company)
- Oracle (company)
- Meta (company)
- Microsoft (company)
- OpenAI (company)
- Sora (product)
- Rivos (company)
- Intel (company)
- TSMC (company)
- NVIDIA (company)
- SK Hynix (company)
- Samsung (company)
- Western Digital (company)
- NetApp (company)
- Galaxy Digital (company)
- Iron (company)
- Cipher (company)
- Nebius (company)
- Lambda (company)
- Crusoe (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [How Much is Enough for Hyperscale Companies?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2019-07-26-how-much-is-enough-for-hyperscale-companies) (EE Times Current)
- [Inside the emerging frontier of models, machines and manufacturing hell.](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/built-2-scale/2025-12-11-inside-the-emerging-frontier-of-models-machines-and-manufacturing-hell) (Built 2 Scale)
- [Inside the AI power wars](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-07-09-inside-the-ai-power-wars) (Catalyst)
- [Who benefits from the AI power bottleneck?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-12-04-who-benefits-from-the-ai-power-bottleneck) (Catalyst)
- [AI NEWS | Episode 32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/built-2-scale/2025-12-15-ai-news-episode-32) (Built 2 Scale)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2025-10-06-ep-136-we-dont-have-the-power. 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 The Circuit.