Asianometry

It is 1982. And word in the United States is that the Japanese have made a sushi robot. The newspaper headlines had a blast. "You can have sushi robot for a mere $1.6 million yen", or "Japanese shops resist tide of automation" or "Sushi shop owners at sea over robot in Japan". And when the machine first obtained export clearance to the US, we got the gem "Sushi Robot invasion slices into West Coast". My initial impression of the first Sushi Robot was that it did something with the fish. Cutting it or something. I was wrong. The first Sushi Robot was a rice machine. In today's video, we go back yet again to my favorite carb. And discuss the machine that industrialized the art of sushi. Get all episodes of Asianometry, Sharp Tech, Sharp China, Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Greatest of All Talk, and Dithering as part of Stratechery Plus for $15/month or $150/year. Listen to Stratechery. Listen to Dithering. Listen to Sharp China. Listen to Sharp Tech. Listen to Greatest Of All Talk.

In the beginning, 2D NAND had only one way to scale. Making the cells smaller. That eventually hit a technical wall. Now what? It is all over, right? WRONG! We go UP, baby! The results are astonishing. 3D NAND is perhaps the most scalable semiconductor product ever mass produced. In today's video, we talk 3D NAND. Get all episodes of Asianometry, Sharp Tech, Sharp China, Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Greatest of All Talk, and Dithering as part of Stratechery Plus for $15/month or $150/year. Listen to Stratechery. Listen to Dithering. Listen to Sharp China. Listen to Sharp Tech. Listen to Greatest Of All Talk.

A recent visit to the Bay Area unveils the invigorating AI boom, marking a turning point in industry perceptions. The discussion spotlights innovations from the Hot Chips event, particularly in photonics and chip manufacturing. AI's transformative impact on the Software as a Service model is explored, with caution against market saturation. The challenges of materials discovery and robotics innovations highlight the boundary-pushing efforts of tech startups. Finally, the changing investment landscape reveals intriguing dynamics for the future of AI in Silicon Valley.

In the 1970s, a tiny agency in Washington aimed high, attempting to build five nuclear power plants at once. The ambitious project turned into a financial disaster with the nation's largest municipal bond bankruptcy at the time. The debacle involved mismanagement, ballooning costs, and abandoned facilities. As power demands clashed with environmental concerns, the rise and fall of these nuclear projects revealed the obstacles of nuclear energy development amidst a shifting political landscape.

Delve into the fascinating history of steelmaking, where mini-mills rise up against traditional giants. Discover how electric arc furnaces and continuous casting revolutionized production techniques, giving these new players a competitive edge. The narrative covers the dynamics of the integrated mills' dominance and their strategic responses during turbulent times. Explore the challenges and triumphs of mini-mills as they reshape the American steel landscape, redefining efficiency and market strategies in a globalized industry.

The discussion dives into Intel's current struggles as its monopoly wanes. It considers the U.S. government's potential financial backing through the CHIPS Act. A bold proposal emerges: Intel could collaborate with Nvidia to rejuvenate its technological edge. The conversation explores how this partnership might spark innovation and reshape the semiconductor industry. Tune in for insight into the fluid dynamics of tech alliances and government intervention!

Discover the fascinating origins of a unique hybrid of database software and operating system from the 1960s. Explore its user-friendly design and military applications, contrasted with more mainstream technologies like SQL. Uncover the story of an independent tech pioneer whose vision led to innovative developments but ultimately struggled after his passing. The rise and fall of this pioneering system reveal compelling lessons about adaptability and the ebbs and flows of the tech world.

Explore the incredible journey of flash memory, witnessing its price plunge from $80,000 to just two cents per gigabyte. Discover how the floating gate transistor revolutionized storage and how NAND flash technology emerged as a dominant player. Learn about the structural differences between NOR and NAND, and how these distinctions shape efficiency and scalability. Highlights include key milestones and innovations that propelled NAND into the spotlight, transforming both the storage industry and consumer technology.

Dive into the intriguing world of China's bottled water industry! Discover how Nongfu Spring rose to prominence amidst scandals and health myths. Learn about the impact of urbanization and pollution on bottled water's popularity. Uncover the challenges faced by major players like Wahaha and Master Kong, including fierce competition and smear campaigns. This exploration highlights the unexpected drama and marketing strategies that shape the thirst for bottled water in China.

The podcast dives into the impressive advancements in the semiconductor industry, highlighting the massive leap in GPU performance over the decades. It examines the critical bottlenecks that hinder full utilization of this power, particularly the emerging issues with IO bandwidth. Co-packaged optics is introduced as a promising solution, poised to revolutionize data transfer efficiency in server setups. The discussion also touches on how these developments impact AI applications and the future of semiconductor technology.