Shantanu Bhalerao

🔍 AMD’s Strategic Acquisition of ZT Systems: A Game-Changer for AI and Data Centers AMD’s recent $4.9 billion acquisition of ZT Systems isn’t just about expanding our chip business—it's about transforming how we deliver AI and data center solutions. Here's why this move matters: 1️⃣ World-Class Expertise: By acquiring ZT Systems, AMD gains 1,000 top-tier design engineers with deep expertise in motherboard, power, thermal, networking, and rack design. This strengthens our ability to create comprehensive, high-performance AI systems that go beyond just chips. 2️⃣ Staying Focused: While we’re acquiring ZT Systems, we’re divesting their manufacturing business. This ensures we stay aligned with our core strengths and avoid competing with our valued customers like Dell Technologies and Supermicro. 3️⃣ Enhanced AI Capabilities: This acquisition boosts AMD’s ability to serve a wider range of AI use cases, helping us close the gap with industry leaders like Nvidia. Our AMD Instinct MI300 system is already driving strong growth in data centers, and with ZT Systems, we’re poised to do even more. 4️⃣ Sustaining Strong Margins: By focusing on design and leaving manufacturing behind, AMD can maintain our strong profit margins, even as we bring on new talent and expand our AI offerings. 💼 The Bottom Line: This acquisition is a strategic move that positions AMD as a stronger competitor in the AI space, enhancing our ability to deliver full-system solutions that meet the evolving needs of data centers. We’re not just thinking outside the box—we’re redesigning it. ▶️ Want to dive deeper? Read the full The Wall Street Journal article on the acquisition, "AMD Deal Shows AI Chip Business Isn’t Just About Chips" here: https://lnkd.in/gFjtSpAv #AMD #ZTSystems #AI #DataCenters #Innovation #Leadership

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And the winning spree continues!!! Yet another feather on the cap - showcasing the presentation selected as "Best Paper" at the same prestigious DVCon Japan 2024 - "Optimizing UPF Integration Efficiency through Enabling Automation with UPVM for Unified Power Verification". Silicon Interfaces

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What can the automotive industry learn from the PC industry to improve system efficiency and maximize customer satisfaction with electric vehicles (EVs)? Breaking down silos and taking a whole-vehicle approach has the potential to significantly reduce power consumption and make EVs more affordable. Jack Weast, Intel Fellow and General Manager of Intel Automotive at Intel, shares his insights and ideas for improving the world of EVs. Worth a read! #IAmIntel https://bit.ly/3A0fRJO

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In this bonus episode - "Free Gold - Understand the value you represent ... The Power of Impenetrable Confidence" in my Semiconductor Leadership Podcast Series. We are close to 1,500 subscribers in just under 3 months. I think we can do 2,000 by the summer. Please subscribe if it is of value to you: https://lnkd.in/diktXgVg In this exclusive bonus episode of the Semiconductor Leadership Podcast, we delve into the often underestimated power of confidence in the high-stakes world of BUSINESS. Discover how to have that impenetrable confidence to shape perceptions, influence decisions, and drive innovation in this fiercely competitive industry. We’ll explore a real-world scenario whereby someone experiments by handing $2,000 worth of gold for free to the random public and where confidence has been a game-changer where you can discuss strategies to build and project this essential quality, and analyze its impact on perceived value both within a company and in the market at large. Tune in to gain insights that could redefine how you lead and succeed in the semiconductor realm. Robert Quinn Ksenia V. Mia Chen

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MediaTek Aims To Become A Player In Huge Markets 💡 #MediaTek #mobilephone #SoCs have historically been considered a) Asian, and b) low end. Thats all about to change with their Dimensity 9300 #chip, which also enables entry into markets like the #IoT and #automotive, where the company is partnering with NVIDIA for Advanced Driver Assistance. Karl Freund As an industry analyst, focused on #AI #hardware, from #DataCenters to the #edge to #EDA tool providers. So there has never been a reason for him to spend time on #MediaTek, whose mobile #chips are favored for low-end #phones, especially in Asia, and have not been known for their AI prowess. That has all changed now, as the company positions itself to grow in the flagship phone market that need AI to be competitive, with new features users demand. And last year MediaTek began selling their platform to #automotive companies, teaming with Nvidia for state of the art #ADAS alongside the #infotainment space. A big thank you again to my friend Karl Freund and Forbes for the full article with more background , insights and charts via the link below 🫶💡🙏👇 https://lnkd.in/e-jwMrut

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In the fiercely competitive semiconductor industry, companies are in a constant battle to retain top talent because in the heart of every good engineer is a passionate problem solver, looking for their next challenge. For them, innovation is the currency of success. Yet companies like Qualcomm, Intel, and Broadcom attract tens of thousands every year by dangling lucrative compensation packages to lure them from competitors. Startup leaders don’t have those resources, so they have to work harder to attract the best talent and then fight like hell to retain them. But some of the most successful startup leaders I know take a different approach. Rather than viewing attraction and retention as a fight, they leverage the inherent qualities of their companies as their advantage. They use their nimbleness, bias toward innovation, and their collaborative cultures like superpowers to attract the right people and those usually end up being the reasons why people stay. Take Richard Fung, CEO of The Six Semiconductor, for example. I had a conversation with Richard and asked him to share his approach to motivating his team. His response was like a mini-masterclass on the topic of talent attraction and retention. Richard emphasized that a culture that encourages engineers to dive deep into the intricacies of their craft, understand the systems they’re building, and connect with the end customer is a successful culture. Richard has been using this approach and it's been paying dividends for The Six Semiconductor so in his honor, here are his six key concepts for creating this type of organization: 1. Foster a Learning Culture: Support ongoing learning and skill development beyond employees' core responsibilities. 2. Prioritize Customer Focus: Embed a customer-centric mindset, and encourage employees to enhance user experiences through their work. 3. Champion Problem-Solving: Empower employees to creatively solve challenges with a focus on customer needs. 4. Promote System-Level Understanding: Encourage employees to grasp the bigger picture of the company's offerings and their role within it. 5. Break Down Silos: Promote collaboration to ensure a comprehensive understanding of projects across teams. 6. Offer Meaningful Challenges: Provide intellectually stimulating projects that make a tangible impact on the company's success. What Richard highlighted is that success goes much deeper than getting great people to join. It's about unleashing the full potential of every individual on your team to drive innovation and help shape the company, and ensuring your team heads in the right direction together. I’m thrilled I got to learn Richard’s perspective and believe other leaders can benefit from hearing it, so I shared the video below. My "challenge question" to other startup leaders is this: what are you doing to foster this type of culture in your organization? Either share below or, feel free to DM me. #semiconductorindustry #startup #leadership

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KIOXIA Group ends production cutting strategy — 3D #NAND prices could stabilize or decline 💡 After more than 1.5 years of underutilization #Kioxia has resumed full production after 20 months of cuts. Improved market conditions are behind the changes, reports Nikkei. This potentially means that the world's fourth-largest maker of 3D NAND is back to competing for market share, which could mean price drops for #flashmemory. The company has also secured refinancing of ¥540 billion ($3.424 billion) and a new line of credit worth ¥210 billion ($1.332 billion) from its lenders. In June, Kioxia increased production to full capacity at its #Yokkaichi and #Kitakami plants, which produce NAND #flash #memory, the report says. The production cuts, which began in October 2022, were a response to declining demand for Kioxia's 3D NAND memory designed for #smartphones, with reductions exceeding 30% at their peak. Additionally, the launch of a new fab at the Kitakami site has been delayed from 2023 to at least 2025. Thanks again to Anton Shilov and Tom's Hardware for the full article with more background and insights via the link below 💡🙏👇 https://lnkd.in/ecT8nEy2 #semiconductorindustry #semiconductors #semiconductor #technology #tech #informationtechnology #chip #chips #ic #japan #geopolitics #ai

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#Memory Production Utilization Near Full Capacity, Surpassing Mature Nodes Foundries 💡 As memory prices and demand rise, memory manufacturers Nanya Technology and Winbond have resumed normal production, no longer reducing output as they did last year. TrendForce Corporation and industry sources cited in a report from Liberty Times Net also indicate that memory shipments will continue to recover in the third quarter. Reportedly, memory manufacturers’ utilization rates have reached 90% to 100%, surpassing the 60% to 70% utilization rates of mature process foundries. Last year, in response to market conditions, #Winbond adjusted its inventory and reduced production at its Taichung plant by up to 30-40%. This year, as market demand has rebounded, production has resumed, with capacity now at full utilization, producing 58,000 #wafers per month. Moreover, Winbond’s #Kaohsiung plant has introduced new capacity equipment, increasing monthly production from 10,000 to 14,000 wafers and upgrading processes from 25nm to 20nm. #Nanya Technology adjusted production levels dynamically last year, reducing output by up to 20%. However, production has gradually increased this year. Thanks again to TrendForce 集邦科技 for the full article with more background and insights via the link below 💡🙏👇 https://lnkd.in/eKPUUCis #semiconductorindustry #semiconductors #dram #datacenter #pc #it #ai #smartphone #notebook #mobile #taiwan #industrial #technology #tech

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#HBM4 set to land sooner than expected 💡 Suppliers and JEDEC are bringing their HBM4 plans forward as they suspect the forecasted Gen #AI boom means incoming NVIDIA GPUs will need it sooner. High bandwidth memory (#HBM) bypasses #X86 socket-connected #DRAM capacity and bandwidth limits by having #memory dies stacked on top of a logic layer, with interconnecting TSV channels, all linked to a #GPU via an interposer component providing higher bandwidth than X86 sockets. The Joint Electron Device Engineering Council (JEDEC) confirms and issues HBM standards, with the current one being its fifth, HBM3E (extended). JEDEC has said it will issue a completed HBM4 spec by the end of this year – just few months ago the schedule was for a 2025 delivery. Preliminary HBM4 characteristics are emerging already. Thanks again to Chris Mellor and Blocks and Files for the full article with more background and insights via the link below 💡🙏👇 https://lnkd.in/eZp_wyHB #semiconductorindustry #semiconductors #semiconductor #technology #tech #innovation #semiconductormanufacturing #it #chip #chips #ic #it

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Sales of #Galaxy #foldables drop heavily, a cause for concern for #Samsung Samsung Electronics had the first movers advantage in the foldable #smartphone segment. Its Galaxy Z #smartphones were way ahead of the competition, but that isn't the case anymore. The company is falling behind in terms of #hardware improvements, and that has started to show up in sales charts. The sales of Samsung's foldable smartphones dropped sharply this year. According to the latest figures from market research firm Counterpoint Technology Market Research Research, the shipments of Samsung's Galaxy Z series foldable #phones dropped 42% in Q1 2024 compared to last year. Samsung dropped from the first rank to the second position in the list of top foldable smartphone brands. Huawei overtook Samsung and reached a market share of 35%. The shipments of the #Chinese brand's foldable phones rose by 257% (2.57x) compared to Q1 2023. Thanks again to Asif Iqbal Shaik and SamMobile for the full article with more background and insights via the link below (Special thanks also to Counterpoint Technology Market Research 😉) 💡🙏👇 https://lnkd.in/e3KDJRa3 #semiconductorindustry #semiconductor #semiconductors #technology #tech #innovation #foundry #mobile #southkorea #china #it #ic #chips #motorola #honor #samsung #honor

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MediaTek, airtel and Nokia set a new benchmark in 5G performance with uplink speeds of 300 Mbps. Using our Dimensity 5G platform, this trial showed how aggregating the frequency bands of 3.5 Ghz and 2.1 Ghz uses TDD and FDD bands more efficiently for uplink transmission, offering faster data speeds for high-demand applications like video conferencing and live streaming.    This milestone is just one example of how MediaTek is pushing the limits of what’s possible with 5G. Read more at Telecoms.com: https://bit.ly/47brOsz

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Great CNBC interview from our CEO, Vince Roche, discussing our earnings today! I'm very proud of #teamADI for managing this cycle so well while preparing for a brisk future. ADI holds such a privileged position at the physical/molecular edge, architecting the intelligent edge together with our customers. Our earnings this morning (https://ow.ly/2ENv50RQPA6) provide some highlights of our journey in shaping the future together: - Improving Healthcare: We are gaining momentum in the fast-growing surgical robotics market, where our precise signal processing and connectivity products make a big difference for people around the world. - Advancing Industrial: We’re working with our customers to build the Digital Factory of the future, moving to higher bandwidth industrial Ethernet that can connect up to 10 times more devices on the factory floor. - Using AI: We’re adding AI to our technology to meet customer needs faster. For example, we’re using AI in our power management platform to adjust power trees for changing consumption patterns in data centers. Our solutions make it easier and quicker for power engineers, saving money and time. There were many more examples, such as optical connectivity infrastructure for AI, neural networks for audio, GMSL for ADAS, BMS in Europe.... too many to count! To my team: you know who you are and should enjoy this proud moment! A heartfelt thank you to our brilliant customers. Through our impactful partnerships – with trust, ambition, and courage - we are able to stay ahead of what’s possible and unlock breakthroughs that positively impact people and the planet! Chris W. Shalini Palmer Jerry Fan Katsu Nakamura Jim Mollica Jodi Dahlgard Elise Heffelfinger https://lnkd.in/e7Sf3Nrx

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Here’s some good context from CNET on why on-device AI matters for #Snapdragon. It all comes down to three P’s: performance, personalization and privacy. https://lnkd.in/gFyx-CSd

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Qualcomm has approached Intel Corporation for a potential acquisition, which could lead to one of the largest M&A deals in history, though it is still uncertain if an agreement will be reached due to possible antitrust scrutiny. Intel's shares rose following the report of Qualcomm's interest, despite the company facing significant challenges, including a 37% decline in stock value over the past year and ongoing restructuring efforts led by CEO Pat Gelsinger. Qualcomm is engaging with U.S. regulators in hopes that an all-American merger could alleviate regulatory concerns, while Intel is also exploring various options and has received a boost from recent announcements, including a deal with Amazon Web Services (AWS). #semiconductor #technology #Intel #Qualcomm #Amazon #chipmaker

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Intel Corporation CEO Pat Gelsinger Steps Down Amid Challenges and Restructuring Efforts Intel has announced the immediate retirement of CEO Pat Gelsinger, who also steps down from the board of directors. CFO David Zinsner and Michelle Johnston Holthaus have been named interim co-CEOs as the company searches for a new leader. Gelsinger, a 40-year Intel veteran who returned in 2021, led the company through a tumultuous period marked by a 61% stock price decline, the largest layoff in Intel’s history (up to 17,475 employees), and efforts to regain process leadership via its IDM 2.0 strategy. Despite some progress, challenges persisted, including delays in product launches, declining competitiveness against AMD and Arm, and a limited presence in the booming AI market. While Gelsinger’s tenure stabilized manufacturing with a roadmap for five nodes in four years, Intel’s fortunes now hinge on the success of its upcoming 18A node, which shows promising early signs. The leadership transition signals continued restructuring, with a focus on product leadership and process innovation. The industry will watch closely as Intel navigates this pivotal moment in its 56-year history. Thanks again to Tom's Hardware for the full article with more background and insights click the source link in the comments below. #Semiconductors #Intel #LeadershipTransition #TechIndustry

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Tackling Data Retention in SSDs (by Anil Burra from Intelligent Memory) 🤩 "SSDs have conquered the market due to their speed, durability, energy efficiency, and small form factor. However, write endurance and data retention are concerns in #embedded and #industrial applications, especially as the technology moves to ever smaller nodes." (Anil Burra) With the scaling of #NAND #flash #technology to higher densities (e.g., Triple-Level-Cell or Quad Level-Cell) and smaller process nodes, data retention becomes more challenging due to increased cell-to-cell interference and reduced margins for charge storage. Therefore, newer #technologies may have shorter specified data retention periods compared to older, more robust #SLC (Single-Level-Cell) or #MLC (Mul ti-Level-Cell) #NAND products. Two key factors affect data retention, the period over which #flashmemory can store #data without loss or corruption, in #NANDflash cells: program/erase (P/E) cycling and operating temperature. A very big thank you to Anil Burra from Intelligent Memory for this insightful article via Electronic Specifier Ltd with more background and insights via the link below 💡🙏👇 - A very good read to an important TOPIC 🤩 https://lnkd.in/eqdH7-N2 #semiconductorindustry #semiconductormanufacturing #innovation #it #ai #ssd #datastorage #automotiveindustry #embeddedsystems #ic #computer #computing #iot #memory #chip #chips #technology #tech

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#Electronics Turns Positive 🤩 Unit shipments of both #PCs and #smartphones versus a year ago have turned positive. According to IDC, #PC shipments in 1Q 2024 were up 1.5% from 1Q 2023, the first positive year-to-year change since 4Q 2021. #Smartphone year-to-year growth turned positive in 4Q 2023 at 8.5%. The growth continued in 1Q 2024 at 7.8%. 4Q 2023 was the first positive year-to-year smartphone change since 2Q 2021. Despite the positive trend in 1Q 2024, IDC projects modest year 2024 growth of 2.4% for PCs and 2.8% for smartphones. Electronics production for most key countries in #Asia is on an upward trend. #Taiwan electronics production was the strongest, with three-month-average versus a year ago (3/12) change in February 2024 at 19.7%, the strongest growth since November 2022. #China electronics returned to double-digit 3/12 increases in January at 11.6% after declines in early 2023. March 3/12 growth was 13.3%. #Vietnam electronics production 3/12 change increased 3.0% in March, the sixth consecutive positive month after eight months of declines. #Japan and #SouthKorea were the weakest countries. Japan had a 3/12 decline of 1.4% in January, the second consecutive monthly decline following 14 months of increases. South Korea electronics production 3/12 change decreased 4.2% in February after slightly positive growth in December 2023 and January 2024. A big thank you again to Bill Jewell and Semiconductor Intelligence, LLC for the full article with more background and insights via the link below 💡🙏👇 https://lnkd.in/eMpHZWev #semiconductorindustry #technology #foundry #chip #chips #ic #ai #it #geopolitics #electrification #electronicmanufacturingservice #ems #iot

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We’re one day into DAC, and there have already been announcements that will shape the future of semiconductor design. One startup that I've followed closely for two years shared groundbreaking news that promises to revolutionize chip development and democratize accessibility to chiplets. Baya Systems emerged from stealth mode last week, and CEO and co-founder Sailesh Kumar has done a remarkable job of staying under the radar since founding the company, choosing the perfect moment to unveil updates. Baya revealed not only WHAT they’re working on but also HOW they plan to tackle some of the most pressing challenges faced by SoC architects and designers, and it’s inspiring. The complexity of system design, high costs, and long time-to-market for advanced SoCs often means that a chip can be nearly obsolete by the time it reaches customers. The rapid pace of innovation, especially in AI chips, creates an unforgiving environment where promising startups might only have one shot at success. Baya’s solutions, WeaverPro and WeaveIP, aim to accelerate the design and performance of complex single-die and multi-die SoCs and chiplets. By leveraging a software-centric architecture, Baya simplifies development and accelerates data movement between chiplets and dies. This approach reduces the overall costs associated with advanced AI and CPU acceleration and speeds up time-to-market. WeaverPro and WeaveIP have already received the best kind of acclaim, customer adoption, and Baya announced this week that chiplet technology advocate Tenstorrent will license their WeaveIP fabric to scale their AI and RISC-V chiplet solutions. Chip design icon Jim Keller, who sits on Baya’s Advisory Board, praised the company, saying: “Baya makes great, comprehensive fabric tools that start with top-level architecture and allow us to plan at a detailed level… this, coupled with their visualization tools, enables designers to build next-generation chips, chiplets, and IP.” Adding to their momentum, Baya announced a partnership with Blue Cheetah Analog Design, Inc. yesterday at DAC and introduced a combined chiplet-optimized Network on Chip and PHY interconnect IP solution that simplifies the design and architecture of chiplet-based systems. Sailesh said, “In partnership, we provide system architects with a state-of-the-art platform and powerful tools to create the most innovative and cost-effective chiplet-based products.”   I've mentioned before that enabling development is key to unlocking the door to innovation. For founders without deep pockets or connections to investors, gaining access to better tools and proven intellectual property allows them to move faster and at a lower cost, ultimately helping to bring new designs to life. I’m impressed that Baya, a small yet mighty startup, has created this accessibility and fostered partnerships to help proliferate it. My encouragement to the community - watch them closely. #semiconductorindustry #ai #chiplets

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