Sebastian Elbaum

Mark Horowitz, a leading semiconductor expert and Chair of Electrical Engineering at Stanford, joins Sebastian Elbaum, a technologist focused on AI implications, to discuss the future of computing. They dive into the evolving landscape of chip manufacturing, the challenges posed by diminishing returns of Moore's Law, and how hardware strides are essential for AI advancement. Their conversation navigates the geopolitics of semiconductor exports, the need for a skilled workforce, and the exciting, yet cautious, outlook on quantum computing.

In this discussion, Sebastian Elbaum, a technologist at the Council on Foreign Relations and a professor at the University of Virginia, dives into the evolution of chip manufacturing and the essential role it plays in advancing AI technology. The conversation highlights the challenges of maintaining leadership in the semiconductor sector amidst rising costs and geopolitical tensions. Additionally, they tackle the intersection of energy strategy and computing, considering how sustainable solutions like nuclear power could support future innovations.

Mark Horowitz, Chair of Electrical Engineering at Stanford, and Sebastian Elbaum, technologist at the Council on Foreign Relations, dive into the future of chip manufacturing and the crucial role of semiconductors in AI innovation. They discuss the implications of Moore's Law and the intensifying U.S.-China competition, alongside the pressing need for skilled labor in chip manufacturing. The conversation highlights strategic investments necessary for the U.S. to maintain its leadership in tech, as well as the intersection of energy sustainability with advanced computing.