19 Feb 2025 11 min read

Innovation Insider - February 18th, 2025

Geopolitical semiconductor chess, robot revolution, quantum computing breakthrough, Perplexity’s deep research, and 3D printed homes

New look, same great content. Innovation Insider is back with a fresh new feel.

Let's talk semiconductors. For those unfamiliar, semiconductors are fundamental to modern electronics because they can control the flow of electrical current, making them essential for creating integrated circuits and microchips, which power devices like computers, smartphones, and much more. Of course, semiconductors are at the heart of the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, as they enable the computational power and efficiency needed to run AI algorithms and process large datasets.

In the last two weeks, the semiconductor industry has seen some serious shakeups, both in boardrooms and on the geopolitical stage. The semiconductor race could very well shape the future of humanity by influencing who will lead in the AI space.

First up, Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te is heading to the U.S. for high-stakes talks about semiconductor tariffs. As the U.S. grows increasingly concerned about its reliance on Taiwan for chips, there’s talk of possible tariffs that could disrupt the supply chain and have global implications. President Lai’s visit will be key to addressing these concerns and keeping the chip industry on track.

Meanwhile, the semiconductor giants are eyeing big moves. Broadcom and TSMC are reportedly considering a split at Intel, with Broadcom taking over Intel's chip design and TSMC handling manufacturing. Intel, struggling to keep up in the AI race, may be looking for a major restructuring. If this deal goes through, it could completely reshape the industry.

Finally, the CHIPS Act is back in the spotlight. President Trump’s proposed changes could lead to tariffs on foreign chips, raising concerns about higher costs and a potential slowdown in innovation. The CHIPS Act was meant to strengthen U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, but these revisions might just complicate the landscape for tech companies and consumers alike.

From political tension to corporate restructuring, the semiconductor world is in a state of flux. Buckle up, things are only going to accelerate from here and this is just the beginning of a high-stakes game.

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Milan is a senior software engineer with more than 12 years of experience. He has worked with multiple stacks and has extensive experience with data processing and analytics. While working as a big data engineer, Milan has also been involved with several machine learning projects. Mil has experience with Python, Java, .NET, R, Scala and more. Milan is based in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Joel is an experienced and innovative backend developer specializing in delivering AWS Cloud, Big Data, and DevOps solutions. As an experienced data and certified cloud engineer, he has designed and implemented entire Serverless cloud-native platforms and big data frameworks for previous clients. Joel is also proficient with Python, Scala and Go amongst others. Joel is based in Vancouver, Canada

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