Semi Doped

The hosts dive into NVIDIA's CES 2026 keynote, highlighting the revolutionary DGX Spark, which brings server-class architecture to desktops. They explore the implications of on-prem AI and the historical evolution from mainframes to minicomputers. Discussions on the Vera Rubin platform showcase its integrated architecture and the rising importance of CPUs for agentic workloads. The Rubin GPU is designed for efficiency, with cutting-edge HBM4 technology. They also analyze market reactions to NVIDIA's announcements and competitive dynamics with AMD.

Austin and Vik explore groundbreaking insights from the IEDM conference. They discuss innovations like penta-level NAND flash memory, which could disrupt the SSD market, and the power efficiency enhancements of GaN-on-silicon chiplets. The future of transistors shines bright with expectations of further advancements. The challenges in scaling silicon photonics and the vital role of complementary FETs in creating denser logic layouts are also highlighted. True to the nature of such gatherings, networking and collaboration opportunities take center stage.

The discussion dives into Nvidia's unconventional acquisition of Groq and the confusion it sparked. Expectations around GPUs and HBM are challenged as the hosts explore Groq's ultra-low latency architectures and the realities of SRAM versus HBM. They highlight unique use cases for LPUs, from ad personalization to real-time translation in robotics. Insights into Nvidia's strategy reveal an expanding focus on workload-specific optimizations, affirming that while GPUs aren't obsolete, LPUs serve a distinct purpose in inference technology.