FT Tech Tonic The geopolitics of chips: A manufacturing miracle
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Nov 19, 2024 Dive into the intricate world of semiconductors, where the advanced EXE 5000 lithography machine is reshaping manufacturing. Explore the implications of Moore's Law on chip technology and competition. Unpack the complex geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China in the global chip race. Discover the critical role of key players like ASML and Intel, and what the future holds for semiconductor innovation amidst national security concerns. This journey reveals the challenges and opportunities in a rapidly changing tech landscape.
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Visiting "The Beast"
- James Kynge visited ASML in the Netherlands to see the EXE 5000, an EUV lithography machine.
- This machine, nicknamed "the Beast", is the size of a double-decker bus and represents the cutting edge of chip-making technology.
Moore's Law's Impact
- Moore's Law, the observation that the number of transistors on a chip doubles every two years, has driven the semiconductor industry for 60 years.
- It has led to significantly faster, smaller, and more affordable computers.
iPhone Chip's Transistor Density
- Mark Asink showed James Kynge an iPhone chip, the size of a fingernail, containing 20 billion transistors.
- This illustrates the continued relevance of Moore's Law, which predicts this doubling every two years.
