

The Circuit
Ben Bajarin and Jay Goldberg
A podcast about the business and market of semiconductors
Episodes
Mentioned books

11 snips
Oct 20, 2025 • 51min
EP 138: Talking GPU Depreciation, OCP Takeaways
The debate around GPU depreciation takes center stage, with insights on how AI might shorten GPU lifecycles. Jay highlights the physical versus economic lifespan of GPUs, emphasizing profitability trends in their early years. The duo also discusses NVIDIA's capacity to meet growing demand and the implications for future data centers. Networking advancements and the rise of neoclouds reveal new opportunities for vendors. Finally, they dive into the potential AI infrastructure bubble and its impact on financing and power constraints.

33 snips
Oct 13, 2025 • 48min
EP 137: OpenAI + AMD, Intel Tech Touch, QCOM buys Arduino
A new alliance between OpenAI and AMD could reshape the AI compute market, sparking debates on funding and scale. Meanwhile, Intel showcases its advanced semiconductor manufacturing at Fab 52, emphasizing its competitive edge. Finally, Qualcomm's acquisition of Arduino aims to enhance its Internet of Things strategy, potentially standardizing IoT software tools. This dynamic landscape is filled with uncertainties and fierce competition, driving innovation in AI and IoT sectors.

15 snips
Oct 6, 2025 • 48min
EP 136: WE DON'T HAVE THE POWER!
Ben and Jay dive into the world of hyperscalers and Neo clouds, discussing how power contracts have become crucial in the AI landscape. They trace the shift from Bitcoin mining to AI infrastructure, highlighting the storage challenges that come with it. The implications of OpenAI's new app Sora raise concerns about privacy and storage demands. With power scarcity becoming a bottleneck for tech expansion, the duo explores how hyperscalers may treat neoclouds as real estate investments. Their insights paint a vivid picture of the future of AI and infrastructure.

26 snips
Sep 29, 2025 • 42min
EP 135: Talking Semiconductor Recruiting
Michael Cunningham, a recruiter and partner at Lonergan Partners specializing in semiconductor and deep-tech talent, shares insights on the evolving recruitment landscape. He discusses the impact of AI on talent demand and the challenges of reshoring manufacturing. Michael highlights the skills in high demand, emphasizing the resurgence of analog expertise and the importance of soft skills. He offers advice for entry-level engineers on gaining experience and outlines the qualities CEOs should seek in new hires to foster effective leadership.

27 snips
Sep 20, 2025 • 46min
EP 135: INTEL AND NVIDIA!! Meta Connect and Ray Ban Display, Watch Huawei/China
Dive into the surprising partnership between NVIDIA and Intel, with a monumental $5B investment aimed at revolutionizing CPUs and GPUs for AI. Unpack the implications for AMD and the silence surrounding Intel's Foundry strategy. Explore Meta's ambitious, yet faltering, Ray-Ban AR glasses, tackling everything from translation to user experience quirks. Plus, discover Huawei's unexpected strides in semiconductor technology and their push for advanced manufacturing capabilities. A riveting discussion filled with insights on the future of tech!

12 snips
Sep 14, 2025 • 1h 4min
EP 134: Apple iPhones and Tensor Cores, Synopsis Earnings, Hock's Comments at Goldman
Innovation takes center stage with Apple's latest iPhone launch, showcasing the integration of tensor cores for enhanced AI capabilities. The hosts dive into Synopsys's disappointing earnings, exploring market reactions and the impact on their future. Discussions of Nvidia's new CPX system reveal the intense competition in AI processing. Additionally, the shift towards in-house connectivity chips highlights Apple’s strategy to reduce supplier reliance, all while navigating an increasingly volatile semiconductor market.

16 snips
Sep 8, 2025 • 44min
EP 133: Broadcom Earnings, More on ASICS vs. GPUs, Google Selling TPUs?
The discussion kicks off with Broadcom's impressive earnings, sparking excitement in the semiconductor market. The hosts analyze the competitive landscape, noting how new customers could reshape industry dynamics. They dive into the showdown between ASICs and GPUs for AI workloads, raising concerns about the sustainability of investments. The evolving definitions of processors are also explored, suggesting GPUs be rebranded as AI accelerators. Finally, Google's strategy for selling TPUs unfolds, highlighting challenges amid fierce competition.

37 snips
Aug 31, 2025 • 55min
EP 132: NVIDIA Earnings + Ben's Thesis Time and Those Lumpy ASICs
The podcast dives into Nvidia's recent earnings, highlighting mixed reactions and future guidance amidst geopolitical tensions, especially relating to China. Discussion centers on the complexities of ASICs in the AI landscape and the competitive positioning of major players like Dell and Marvell. They analyze the emerging importance of tokens in NDA’s earnings calls and the hurdles of integrating advanced AI systems. Insights on CapEx spending reveal the need for strategic clarity from companies, while exploring the shifting dynamics in the semiconductor industry.

31 snips
Aug 24, 2025 • 48min
EP 132: Offical Gov. Stake in Intel, NVIDIA's New Scale Across Fabric, NVIDIA Earnings Preview
The U.S. government now owns a 10% stake in Intel, which signifies strong confidence in the company’s future. This investment raises questions about the semiconductor industry and Intel's strategy moving forward. Nvidia’s new Spectrum XGS Ethernet technology is set to revolutionize GPU scalability, impacting major players like Google and Microsoft. Additionally, discussions around the analog devices market reveal mixed signals, particularly in automotive and robotics. Anticipation builds for Nvidia's upcoming earnings call amid varying market dynamics.

30 snips
Aug 17, 2025 • 46min
EP 131: NVIDIA/AMD Export Tax Unconstitutional? AMAT Earnings, Talking NeoClouds, Another Week for Intel!
Dive into the complexities of the semiconductor industry as experts explore new export tax proposals that may challenge competition between AMD and Nvidia. Hear about the struggles of cloud computing firms, including skepticism surrounding NeoCloud’s sustainability. The demand for GPU capacity is rising, but so are the electricity constraints. The discussion also touches on government involvement in Intel and the future landscape of technology, including the exciting potential of AI and cloud infrastructure.


