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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.

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Proposed US Rule Threatens China-made Cars in America

Proposed US Rule Threatens China-made Cars in America

By Bolaji Ojo

What’s at stake:

China’s dream of seizing a large chunk of the US autonomous vehicle market may be heading straight for a brick wall as the Commerce Dept. moves advances its proposal for a ban on the sale and importation of Chinese vehicles equipped with connectivity devices, systems and components. American automakers may rue the move one day, but for now, the proposal favors them.

Shed some tears for China’s automotive manufacturers. Their aspiration for domination of the global automotive market may be about to implode, courtesy of the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry & Security (BIS).

While you are at it, though, spare a few moments to cry for Detroit’s big automakers, and perhaps even Tesla, too. Their production operations or intentions in China may need to be aborted and shifted to more favorable terrains.

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Intel’s Last Hope: Private Equity LBO?

Intel’s Last Hope: Private Equity LBO?

By Bolaji Ojo

What’s at stake:

The US government’s multi-billion dollar bet on Intel is at risk under the company’s current leadership, which continues to vacillate, doling out timid reorganization moves when what the business requires is radical surgery. A new player not tied to its past may be Intel’s last hope.

Intel Corp., the giant of America’s chip world, is at risk of becoming a plaything of richer enterprises.

Speculations are rife about rivals circling Intel, seeking to purchase it even as many analysts a deal for the microprocessor vendor will be difficult to seal due to regulatory hurdles at home and abroad. In the process, Intel – once the undisputed leader of the chip world in both sales and market capitalization – has become an object of pity and scorn. It’s a very sad turn of events for the company, its customers and supporters in the American government.  

The unconfirmed speculations about who is in talks to acquire the company continues to swirl. If the current trend persists, Intel is at risk of being poked, inspected and weighed for break-up value like a rusty, unserviceable truck at a vehicle auction. Still, the speculations may be masking a route to eventual recovery for Intel in the form of a buyout by private equity investors using the famed leverage buyout (LBO) tool of the past to gain control of the company and accelerate its reorganization.

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Sehat Sutardja: Dedicated to Ideas

Sehat Sutardja: Dedicated to Ideas

Marvell’s co-founder remained a hands-on engineer at heart while running the enterprise and devised a new interconnect technology called MoChi, a building block of what we now know as “chiplets.”