EP 141: Talking Bubbles, ARM and QCOM Earnings, Memory/Storage Cyclicality

The Circuit · 9 Nov 2025 · 51m · Episode 143

What this episode covers

Ben Bajarin and Jay Goldberg analyze the 'boom-bust-build-out' cycle in the current AI hardware market, arguing that while speculative excesses will correct, they leave behind productive infrastructure like power grids and cheap compute. They examine ARM's strategic shift toward first-party chip design and its acquisition of Dream Big Semiconductors to enhance CPU capabilities, alongside Qualcomm's growth driven by premium Android ASPs and its entry into data center inference. The hosts also discuss supply chain dynamics, noting how Tesla and OpenAI are securing foundry capacity through aggressive negotiations, while memory and storage companies like SanDisk manage tight supply through measured capacity expansion.

Mentioned

Companies
ARM, Qualcomm, Dream Big Semiconductors, SanDisk, TSMC, Samsung Foundry, Intel, NVIDIA, OpenAI, Tesla, Micron, TD Cowen
Also
Ben Thompson, Hobart and Huber

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