Everyone remembers the year when chips were important

the most important Technology of the Year is not Mark Zuckerberg’s Metaverse, Jack Dorsey Blockchain, Or Elon Musk’s, uh, Dancing robot.

This is more likely the same thing that has driven progress in the technology industry for decades. A way for machines to process and process information faster and more efficiently each year.Of course it is Silicon wafer.

In the past decade, as the Internet, social media and applications have emerged, the importance of semiconductors may have faded out of sight. Silicon Valley It can be said that it is more like GoogleThe inevitable web search, AmazonE-commerce empire, or FacebookFOMO fuel to feed ratio IntelThe latest chip. But the large amount of evidence provided in the past year shows that, in fact, chips are more important than ever.

Rising demand for chips New customers Combine Pandemic and Geopolitical tensions By 2021, there will be tremendous pressure on the supply of simple and advanced computer processors, resulting in a shortage of everything from cars to game consoles. The control of advanced silicon production is shaping competition and conflict between the world’s two superpowers. Many governments are prepared to invest huge sums of money to strengthen their manufacturing capabilities.

Custom chip design is rapidly becoming more and more important in emerging fields, such as artificial intelligence, Self-driving car, and 5G. These dedicated architectures, rather than general-purpose chips, will help shape the innovation process.

“Silicon chips really have nothing to be humble,” said Jesus of the Alamo, Professor of MIT, teaches advanced microelectronics courses. “They are the core of everything, doing so many important things in so many valuable places, and bringing incredible benefits to society.”

Del Alamo pointed out that chips now exist in a dizzying array of products, making kitchen appliances, industrial machinery, and even connecting objects as mundane as programmable light bulbs.

This Pandemic It soon revealed the importance of chips to the economy. When automakers closed their factories in early 2020, they cancelled orders for low-cost chips that are increasingly needed for engines, security systems, and infotainment displays due to the expected economic slowdown. Even the most basic gasoline-powered cars now have more than 100 chips, while the latest electric cars may have more than 1,000.When car purchases unexpectedly recovered, manufacturers did not have enough silicon, and Forced to stop production, Inhibiting the economic recovery of many countries.

Everything from industrial robots to medical equipment is computerized, which means that the impact of chip shortages is everywhere. At the same time, the huge cost of building a new chip factory and the cyclical nature of the industry, Cause the drought to delay…“Companies that think that chips are just another item on the bill of materials are now aware of the relevance of semiconductors,” said Gallaf Gupta, The vice president of research company Gartner, responsible for tracking electronic products. “Now everyone must focus on semiconductor sourcing and develop strategies.”

The tension between China and the United States exacerbated the chip crisis.The Trump administration bans the sale of state-of-the-art computer chips to Chinese companies – chips that power the latest smartphones or cloud servers Accused of close ties with the government or Assist in human rights violations Muslims in Xinjiang.

The blockade that the Biden administration has been implementing also reflects the awareness that these chips are critical to advancements in fields such as artificial intelligence, 5G, and robotics, which are growing more and more. Seen as the key to the economy and the military competition.And because China lacks the ability to manufacture the most advanced chips for itself, leading technology companies such as Huawei that once led the world in smartphone sales have already Saw part of their business paralyzed. According to reports, some Chinese companies Hoarding chips In anticipation of the ban, the available supply will be further expanded.