Semiconductor And Beyond Newsletter - #191

Author

Chetan Arvind Patil
January 28, 2024

The AI Centers And Implications On Semiconductor Industry

Data centers have been essential for storing, managing, and processing data for several decades. However, we are now on the brink of a new era of technology, and a significant shift is imminent. Traditional data centers will be replaced by AI Centers, a new technology hub specifically designed to cater to the growing demands of Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI), Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), and Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI).

THREAD

After November 2022. The whole discussion around Moore and future seems to have changed. Except for the selected vendors, the rest are not looking to beat Moore’s law or even find a way as part of more than Moore. The focus instead is on simply getting enough AI infra ready to get the right amount of AI computing. Read this thread to learn about AI Centers and Moore's law.

I had the opportunity to give an online talk at Manipal University Jaipur. This institute is located in the City Of Jaipur. In the state of Rajasthan in India. The topic was “The Semiconductor Industry: Overview, Career Opportunities, And Productization.”

After interacting with more than 1K students (Online/Offline) Over the last three years. I have come to a realization. That is: every student thinks that if they have to join semiconductor industry. Then, it has to be part of a core semiconductor company. Which I find a wrong notion. Learn more about how students can explore semiconductor role outside of the semiconductor industry.

As it seems. The next hot job in the semiconductor industry is going to be “Head of AI Silicon”. The reason is simple: The field of AI silicon, particularly in the semiconductor industry, is experiencing significant growth and demand. Read and learn about the skills needed to work as a Head of AI Silicon.

Semiconductor industry is going through workforce aging issue. In 2022, there were 682,965 electronic component and product manufacturing workers, or 4.2% of all manufacturing workers. Approx. 52% of workers in electronic component and product manufacturing were ages 45 and over. Workers aged 16 to 34 comprised around 28% of the semiconductor-related workforce compared to 35.3% of all manufacturing workers. Learn more about aging semiconductor workforce and its impact on the semiconductor industry.

VLOG

Students need to understand how to forge a successful career in the semiconductor industry. This high-tech field is fascinating and vital in shaping the future of technology.

Watch this exciting video to explore the critical skills, diverse job roles, and key responsibilities within this industry, offering insights and advice for those aspiring to join semiconductor industry. 

GOVERNMENT

U.S. Department of Defense has awarded $49 Million to improve advanced semiconductor packaging capabilities. These awards, which focus on low-volume/high-mix production of secure 2.5 and/or 3D advanced packaging solutions, include options for further expanding the advanced packaging ecosystem and associated technologies. They are part of DOD's Re-shore Ecosystem for Secure Heterogeneous Advanced Packaged Electronics (RESHAPE) efforts, and directly support the National Defense Industrial Strategy's strategic priority of building resilient supply chains.

INDUSTRY

TSMC to establish semiconductor technician apprenticeship program. TSMC, the Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturer with a plant opening in North Phoenix, is footing $5 million to establish a first-on-its-kind new semiconductor technician registered apprenticeship program. The program will train 80 Facility Technicians over the next 5 years. After that, apprenticeships are planned to include manufacturing technicians, process engineering technicians, and equipment technicians.

Infineon and GlobalFoundries extend long-term agreement with focus on automotive microcontrollers. It is a new multi-year agreement on the supply of Infineon’s AURIX™ TC3x 40 nanometer automotive microcontrollers as well as power management and connectivity solutions. The additional capacity will contribute to secure Infineon’s business growth from 2024 through 2030.

Intel and UMC announced a new foundry collaboration. Companies to collaborate on the development of a 12-nanometer process platform targeting high-growth markets. Collaboration provides UMC with additional capacity, accelerates its development roadmap and demonstrates its leading process technology R&D.

ACADEMIA

Stanford researchers have developed a new phase-change memory that could help computers process large amounts of data faster and more efficiently. Researchers at Stanford have demonstrated that a new material may make phase-change memory – which relies on switching between high and low resistance states to create the ones and zeroes of computer data – an improved option for future AI and data-centric systems.

Their scalable technology, as detailed recently in Nature Communications, is fast, low-power, stable, long-lasting, and can be fabricated at temperatures compatible with commercial manufacturing.

RESEARCH

The central port city of Da Nang (Vietnam) plans to build a research center for semiconductors and AI, opening new opportunities for Vietnam’s semiconductor industry. The Da Nang People’s Committee issued the decision on Friday to establish the Da Nang Semiconductor and Artificial Intelligence Center for Research and Training, with Le Hoang Phuc as its director.

TOOLS

OpenROAD is a front-runner in open-source semiconductor design automation tools and know-how. The project reduces barriers of access and tool costs to democratize system and product innovation in silicon. The OpenROAD tool and flow provide autonomous, no-human-in-the-loop, 24-hour RTL-GDSII capability to support low-overhead design exploration and implementation through tapeout. 

Learn more about OpenROAD.

JOBS

NXP is hiring Sr. SoC verification Engineers who will focus on SoC architect performance analysis and verification: [LINK]

Intel has an opening for FEOL (Front-End-Of-Line) Process Integration Principal/Sr. Principal Engineer: [LINK]

Intel is looking for a Data Center Validation Lead: [LINK]

Intel has another great opportunity in the LTD Engineering group in Hillsboro, Oregon: [LINK]

CONNECT

Whether you are a student with the goal to enter semiconductor industry (or even academia) or a semiconductor professional or someone looking to learn more about the ins and outs of the semiconductor industry, please do reach out to me.

Let us together explore the world of semiconductor and the endless opportunities:

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