EDACafe Industry Predictions for 2024 – Semitech

By Zeev Collin, CEO, Semitech Semiconductor

Zeev Collin

Navigating the Tech Terrain: Trends and Transformations in 2024 and Beyond

Amidst the semiconductor industry’s ongoing recovery from the aftermath of Covid-19 and the surging demand from the automotive sector, the technology landscape in 2024 finds itself significantly influenced by recent geopolitics and the waning era of globalization’s golden age. The focus now extends beyond merely what technology accomplishes to where it originates. The growing divergence between China, the U.S., and to a lesser extent, Europe, presents fresh hurdles in terms of market accessibility and technology availability. However, notwithstanding these challenges, it also offers new prospects, particularly for regional startups that stand a better chance of capturing regional markets and gaining access to products that were previously out of reach. Both Chinese and U.S.-based chip companies exhibit resilience, evident in the projected 16.8% sales revenue increase for 2024 following a 10.9% decline in 2023 (as reported by research firm Gartner), with AI and automotive sectors being the primary catalysts for this revenue growth.

The recent geopolitical climate has led to the introduction of the CHIPS Act, aimed at re-establishing semiconductor manufacturing in the U.S. While substantial impacts from major companies will likely take years, if not decades, smaller firms and startups in 2024 are already making early strides by investing in their own “micro-fab,” focused on the more esoteric technologies like photonics and MEMS.

A comprehensive look at future technology trends in 2024 and beyond cannot overlook the AI boom as a pivotal force that rapidly reshapes the technological landscape with an ever-expanding array of applications. Government interventions and AI regulations dynamically steer companies and nations. As an example, in an effort to reduce reliance on foreign technologies, China is poised to continue embracing RISC-V over ARM (and x86) chip architectures. Varying approaches to AI governance among the EU, U.S. and China paint a complex picture, with China emerging as a global leader in AI application and innovation.

In general, every decade introduces a wave of new computational architectures. The current wave centers on AI-driven microprocessors, touted as a prime product opportunity. Numerous companies, both startups and industry giants, are introducing an abundance of new chip architectures tailored for Machine Learning (ML). However, as history suggests, many of these initiatives may fall by the wayside, revealing the few winners that will genuinely rival or complement established giants like Nvidia. Simultaneously, chiplets (and in-memory computing) emerge as a solution to Moore’s Law limitations. These small, specialized chips can be flexibly combined to bolster computing power and efficiency while safeguarding intellectual property from various sources.

While the industry’s attention gravitates towards enabling and accelerating generative AI, epitomized by the early success of ChatGPT, 2024 heralds the advent of new, exciting products utilizing ML algorithms in IoT (sometimes cleverly termed AIoT). These innovations enable natural and personalized control of devices with unparalleled accuracy via intuitive interfaces like voice or gestures, sans the necessity of cloud connectivity or significant battery drain.

The health and wellness technology is yet another sector experiencing a remarkable surge in innovation. Coupling of novel sensor technologies with ML systems is poised to revolutionize personalized, at-home health monitoring. This advancement promises increased affordability and a reduction in the necessity for frequent doctor visits and laboratory tests, offering continuous monitoring of symptoms and facilitating more effective disease management.

Lastly, the evolution of Smart Grid will gain further momentum in 2024 and beyond. Advancements in alternative energy sources and the surging adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) are transforming the electrical grid. While EVs escalate electricity demand, they also serve as mobile energy storage units. Smart Grids can tap into EV batteries to stabilize the grid during supply-demand fluctuations. Efficient integration of EV charging with renewable energy sources aims to maximize clean energy utilization and facilitate optimization through dynamic pricing. This integration promises enhanced grid efficiency, greater reliance on renewable energy, and a more sustainable and reliable energy future. However, achieving this premise necessitates proper instrumentation and interconnection of the various infrastructure components. Early implementations of AI-driven grid monitoring, load balancing, Vehicle-to-Grid, and Vehicle-to-Home concepts will be explored and conceptualized in 2024 before gaining global traction.

In summary, from the de-globalization trends to advancements in ML and its applications in AIoT and healthcare, to the revolution in Smart Grid technology, among other many trends, the upcoming years hold promise to be transformative in terms of adoption of new technologies and their impact on our lives. This is the one safe prediction in the realm of everchanging technology landscape.

About the author:

Zeev Collin, a technology executive and a serial entrepreneur, serves as the CEO of Semitech Semiconductor, which specializes in communication technologies tailored for IoT and automotive applications. Prior to Semitech, Zeev co-founded successful ventures in cellular M2M – Montage Systems and M-Labs Technologies, and led them to exits. He played a pivotal role in pioneering soft modem technology, leading to its acquisition by Conexant Systems, where he held VP positions in product development and business management. Presently, Zeev lends his expertise to various startups, contributing as a board member and advisor. He earned a BSc in Computer Engineering and an MSc in Computer Science from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology.

This entry was posted on Monday, January 22nd, 2024 at 2:29 pm. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.