By Bolaji Ojo

What’s at stake?
Semiconductor inventories have ballooned among chipmakers, foundries, and component distributors despite complaints of severe shortages. Most available parts have been prepaid and accounted for, however, and therefore cannot be released to just any prospective buyers, putting a further squeeze on supply chains. If the situation persists, the ongoing shortages will be indefinitely prolonged.

With the current supply shortages serving as cover and justification for their actions, chipmakers have been asking for and receiving billions of dollars as prepayment for components, splitting purchasers into two camps: the deep-pocketed enterprises that can afford to pay a premium for products and services, and the hardscrabble OEMs and fabless chip vendors that must scramble for leftover supplies and foundry manufacturing space, which they may only be able to secure by paying much higher prices.

By Junko Yoshida

What’s at stake?
Autonomous vehicle companies are rushing to get laws on the books allowing them to test their driverless vehicles on public roads. Few states have held public hearings on these proposals, and even fewer have included stakeholders in the discourse.

Autonomous-vehicle (AV) companies are marching through the states, both red and blue, fiercely advancing new legislation that will pave the way for automated driving. While the bills vary slightly, their agenda is uniform: to secure a free pass for companies to mobilize and test their highly automated vehicles — without human drivers — on public roads, with few safety questions asked and precious few legal and financial strings.

By Bolaji Ojo

What’s at stake?
Semiconductor sales forecasts for 2022 were calculated before war broke out in Ukraine and the West slapped economic sanctions on Russia. That makes the forecasts highly unreliable for capital expenditure, supply chain and other enterprise planning.