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Tesla's Game Plan From EV to SDV and AV

Tesla’s Game Plan From EV to SDV and AV

By Junko Yoshida

In the post-truth era, there was nothing surprising about Tesla’s “We, Robot” event last week. Tesla’s CEO perpetuated the fantasy of an autonomous car in which “you could fall asleep and wake up at your destination.” I wonder if the investors and fans who initially declared themselves “blown away” by Telsa humanoids dancing and serving drinks  were “shocked, shocked” when they learned they were talking to humanoids remotely controlled byTesla employees behind the scenes.

All par for the Tesla course.

Except in a few media outlets, I haven’t seen much outrage among Tesla fans against Elon Musk’s latest not-so-subtle deceptions.

Of course, in the age of post-truth politics, I know that objective facts take a back seat to personal emotion and devotion. But since when, is it okay to lie about science and technology? 

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Tech Leaders Struggle to Mount Opposition to Geopolitics

By Bolaji Ojo

What’s at stake:

Tech enterprises are chafing under severe export and manufacturing restriction terms set by Western and Chinese political leaders. In the semiconductor sector, regular operational functions involving capex, IP, R&D, and other activities are being dictated or influenced by state actors. The relentless use of technology restrictions to achieve political goals now threaten large swaths of the market although the totality of the impact remains hidden.

The barriers to Nvidia Corp. selling its most advanced AI chips and systems in China are artificially created. But they are no less formidable.

Soon, too, under rules that are under consideration, electric vehicles (EVs) made in China or with Chinese components will be banned, severely restricted or attract heavy tariffs in the United States and EU.

The actions of these governments are being executed sometimes with but often without the total consent of Western semiconductor suppliers, electronicsOEMs, systems builders, automotive makers, and tier-one suppliers.

So far, the response of the industry has been muted, even from companies like Nvidia, AMD and Intel that are experiencing downward sales pressures in China. Determining winners and losers in this environment will be difficult, at least until the dust settles, which may take several years.

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China Speed Is Real

China Speed Is Real

We invited Intel’s Jack Weast and Sino Auto Insights’ Tu Le— two of the best “China hands” in the automotive industry—to talk about what’s real in China.

Will quantum computing destroy society?

Will Quantum Computing Eliminate Privacy?

By Ron Wilson

What’s at stake:
In the near future, quantum computers may be able to decrypt any data protected by public-key cryptography — effectively eliminating privacy and security from the global digital world. Can we prevent it?

There is growing discussion among the information-technology community of post-quantum, or quantum-safe, cryptography. Recently the discussion has surfaced in the semiconductor industry as well, with at least two semiconductor IP announcements: from university spin-off PQShield, and from security veteran Rambus. So what is post-quantum cryptography? Why should we care? And if we should, why now?

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Intel Chasing China with Chiplets

Intel Chasing China with Chiplets

By Junko Yoshida

What’s at stake:
Intel is way late to the global automotive market. But Intel Auto’s leader is seeking a foothold by worming into China – the world’s fastest growing auto market. Intel’s edge is its ability to design and manufacture chiplets. Is this Intel’s chance to finally crack a non-PC market, or is it just another “best-laid plan”?

When Jack Weast, Intel Fellow, was newly appointed to lead Intel’s relaunched Automotive unit and moved to China this year, I wasn’t the only one surprised.

So were Intel’s competitors and Chinese OEMs.

At first blush, this is a Hail Mary, Intel trying at the last minute to score a sliver of the growing global automotive market. In particular, Intel Auto is targeting Chinese EV makers who have been advancing their technologies at a break-neck speed, These developments in China, Intel firmly believes, will inevitably influence the auto industry everywhere.

Uncharacteristically, Intel is proceeding with a sense of urgency and an almost startup-like mentality.

Of course, there are pundits with misgivings. They wonder if the Santa Clara, Calif.-based giant jumped the gun, with little regard to the worsening tensions between the United States and China.

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Memory Makers’ Fat Years are Here but for How Long?

By Bolaji Ojo

What’s at stake:

The memory semiconductor market is characterized by dizzying price swings, none more severe than the recent rounds. DRAM makers are soaring again after a severe dip, but this upswing is riding on the wings of artificial intelligence and high-bandwidth memory. It rests on nothing stronger. With the leading players rushing to build more fabs, within the next few years, the sector is certain to slide into another depression. The next one may be even more severe.

Sanjay Mehrotra must have skins tougher than the hides of a rhinoceros.

It’s hard to see how else Mehrotra, president and CEO of memory semiconductor vendor Micron Technology Inc., managed to cope with the market’s sharp downturn over the last couple of years. That swing, which resulted in negative margins, has suddenly reversed.

Micron is thriving again, enjoying a massive 62 percent increase in annual sales and the prospects of another round of double-digit revenue growth in the next two years.

The Boise, Idaho-based company is not alone. Demand for memory is hot, especially high-bandwidth memory (HBM), the much sought after components AI vendor Nvidia and its rivals crave so much for.

It would be tempting to believe the memory market has overcome its notorious challenges of overcapacity, undercapacity, pricing and margin swings and market opacity. It hasn’t. In fact, even as the market swings higher now, a wary eye must be kept on the veracity of current orders to avoid a repeat of recent errors.

Read More »Memory Makers’ Fat Years are Here but for How Long?