Rashid Attar

Great OFC coverage by LightCounting. TeraSignal’s Intelligent Re-Driver in CMOS is changing the power, reliability and performance calculus between DSP and LPO modules.

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I wanted to share my vision on 6G via a new paper several years in the making, co-authored with my UT colleague Todd Humphreys and Tingfang Ji, who leads Qualcomm's 6G research efforts. The paper is structured around "20 Questions on 6G", and will appear soon in IEEE BITS the Information Theory Magazine, here is the preprint: https://lnkd.in/gqDgkMkU.

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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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For all the #verification folks be careful when you assume! https://lnkd.in/epRzdXKb 💡 Many ways to get assumptions wrong, check out our new #semiconductors #formalverification #vodcasts. https://lnkd.in/e-NszJYj

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In my two decades of recruiting, I've rarely seen the investment in hardware startups like that surrounding AI. Its rapid rise has brought many newcomers vying to make compute more efficient. But, this makes it tough for customers to separate the "signal from the noise". The harsh reality is that some offer little more than concepts—essentially, vaporware. This undermines years of work by patent-holding researchers but it’s the operating reality for startups like Ayar Labs, whose collective time invested in R&D can be measured in centuries rather than decades. What started in 2015 as the brainchild of Professor Milos Popovic, Alex Wright-Gladstein, and five eminent researchers soon evolved into a company that showed immense promise for integrating photonics and processors to accelerate computing. They took a deliberate path, ignoring hungry VCs and choosing strategic investors like GlobalFoundries, Intel, and Applied Materials, allowing them to focus on advancing their technology and mission. Under their first commercial CEO Charlie Wuischpard, he led them to a key design win in 2022 that fueled investor confidence and resulted in an additional $130M in funding. But if you ask any photonics engineer or architect, they’ll tell you using this technology to accelerate computing is BRUTAL. Combining photons and electrons requires a Herculean level of precision and deep insight into physics and engineering. Recognizing this, Ayar’s Board looked within and tapped co-founder and Chief Scientist Mark Wade to be their new CEO in 2023. This was a stroke of brilliance. Not only has Mark helped shepherd the company through their most painstaking technical developments, but he’s also been an evangelist for optical interconnectivity, attending what seems like every top conference to share its potential. Under Mark, Ayar has progressed to have not one, but two revenue-generating products and they’re shipping tens of thousands. BUT (and excuse me for framing it that way) in our industry, you’ve got to be in the “hundred million club” to make it; frankly, the clock is ticking and competitors are circling. Ayar turns ten next year and the game has changed. That AI gold rush I mentioned has made it harder to get in front of customers with a salient value proposition, and the same goes for attracting talented engineers and leaders. Those we recruit are leery of startups making big claims. My advice to Mark and the rest of the team is to go BIG or go HOME. Secure the next round of funding and expand the team swiftly and holistically. Do an entire team lift-out! You’ll save time and accelerate faster through a group with proven synergy rather than hiring piecemeal. I’ve said it before: 2025 is primed to be the year photonics revolutionizes the data center so make your moves now because you don’t want to be left on the sidelines when all the key players have already been picked. #semiconductorindustry #photonics #artificialintelligence

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Mivium, Inc., led by CEO Eric Tsai, is pioneering a new wave in semiconductor technology with gallium nitride (GaN), a material poised to replace silicon in a variety of applications. GaN not only increases efficiency but also reduces energy consumption in devices, a benefit that’s especially valuable as AI and data centers grow in demand. “Our process keeps our production output clean, and we don’t use toxic materials,” Eric explained. This shift addresses the environmental and health issues plaguing traditional semiconductor production. The company’s unique GaN production technique offers substantial benefits, from fast-switching properties to downsized device components. “GaN has a fast-switching property... and it can perform double as fast and better,” Eric said, adding that it’s currently being used in chargers, with plans to expand into data centers where it can dramatically cut energy usage. These advantages make Mivium’s gallium nitride a significant contender in the drive toward sustainable tech. In a promising move for both the business and potential investors, Mivium is raising capital through a regulated investment crowdfunding campaign on Equifund. This approach allows everyday investors to support groundbreaking tech, which Eric himself champions as a crowdfunding advocate. By sharing Mivium’s journey with the public, he aims to democratize early-stage investment opportunities, giving people a chance to invest in future tech with high social and environmental value. As Mivium’s crowdfunding progresses, it may inspire tech enthusiasts and impact investors alike to support a cleaner, more efficient semiconductor future. http://s4g.biz/14nov24 #ImpactCrowdfunding #DiverseFounders #SocialEntrepreneurs #CommunityCapital #ImpactInvestors #RIC #InvestmentCrowdfunding #SuperCrowd

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🔍It’s no mystery: there's no #AI without #hardware. As AI continues to help solve great mysteries from the ocean to space, here’s one I can help solve: custom chip #tech is mission-critical for the #future of AI. Unpack more insights in #ConnectingAI: https://lnkd.in/gw3jBcuJ #artificialintelligence #machinelearning

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As #AI scales across industries and use cases, understanding how to measure AI performance becomes key in developing solutions with sufficient head room. Like we say, "not all TOPs are created equal". At Qualcomm, we focus on running AI inferencing workloads on our super-efficient and powerful Neural Processing Units (NPUs). Highly recommend reading our latest article on how to measure AI workloads, performance and the right place to run them.  https://lnkd.in/gzV33PCa

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Great article with insights by Bernard Murphy at SemiWiki.com, "Arteris Frames Network-On-Chip Topologies in the Car." "... while there is plenty of complexity in evolving car architectures and the consequent impact on subsystem chip/chiplet designs, connected on-chip through both coherent and non-coherent networks, the intent behind these systems is quite clear. We just need to start thinking about total car system architecture rather than individual chip functions." #Arteris #NetworkOnChip #Automotive https://bit.ly/3UiKqls

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MODULAR SCALABLE Silicon Photonics GUARANTEED: INSIDE OpenLight WITH Adam Carter. We get many questions from young photonics companies trying to scale up production to serve new markets and increase their turnover. And that’s where Optica can help. We have access to the leading CEOs and CTOs in over 600 photonics businesses who have a wealth of experience and are willing to share their advice with others. NEW INTERVIEW SERIES In this long-form interview series hosted on our YouTube channel, we explore the business strategies being developed by industry leaders. I’m joined at the questioner's table by Michael Hochberg, an authority in the Silicon Photonics industry. https://lnkd.in/d9TPJexs For this edition, we sat down with Dr Adam Carter, the CEO at OpenLight. Formed as a joint venture between Juniper Networks and Synopsys Inc, the company has a proven ability to integrate lasers, optical amplifiers, DFBs, EA-modulators, and photodetectors on a single chip. They grant their customers access to a comprehensive library of photonics components that are heterogeneously integrated on the PASIC. OpenLight’s approach removes the need to source and package separate lasers on silicon photonics chips and improves device performance. In our interview, Adam explains that their approach will be key to producing next-generation, pluggable transceivers for datacenters and AI/ML applications. We discuss their partnership with Optica corporate member Jabil. This move is to meet the needs of the global Silicon Photonics market, which, according to some reports, is expected to grow in value to around US$8.3 billion by 2030. Earlier this year, they also announced strategic partnerships with Optica members like VLC Photonics (Hitachi Group), an end-to-end integrated photonics services firm, now part of the Hitachi group. VLC Photonics now offers design and test services using the OpenLight process design kit (PDK). The collaboration increases the number of designs that OpenLight can support at any one time on the Tower Semiconductor PH18DA process. We also spotted a similar agreement with Optica corporate member Spark Photonics in the US. Who is Adam? Dr Adam Carter has more than 25 years of experience at large and small companies. He is perhaps best known for being chief commercial officer at Foxconn Interconnect Technology (FIT), Cisco, and, earlier, at Oclaro at the time of its acquisition by Lumentum. Originally from the UK, we started by asking Adam to sketch what it was like when the Telecom Bubble burst at the start of this Millennium. I hope you enjoy this conversation. Feedback encouraged.

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BREAKING:Nokia's Strategic Acquisition of Infinera: A Game-Changer for Optical Networks as two Optica Corporate Members merge. In a significant move to bolster its network infrastructure business, Nokia has announced its acquisition of optical networks company Infinera, valuing the deal at $2.3 billion. This acquisition marks Nokia's second major shake-up in its Networks Infrastructure division within a single day. Nokia anticipates that the acquisition of Infinera will be a crucial driver towards achieving a double-digit operating margin for its Optical Networks business, which is one of three units in the revamped Networks Infrastructure division. The deal is expected to enhance Nokia's operations in North America, a region that underperformed in Q1. The acquisition offer stands at a 28% premium on Infinera's closing share price as of June 26, comprising at least 70% in cash and up to 30% in stock. Nokia emphasized that 60% of Infinera's revenue is generated from North America, with the acquisition expected to strengthen Nokia's position in the optical sector across APAC, EMEA, and Latin America. Pekka Lundmark, President and CEO of Nokia, remarked, "Now is the right time to take a compelling inorganic step to grow our optical capabilities, following our commitment to organic growth in 2021. The combined businesses have a strong strategic fit given their highly complementary customer, geographic, and technology profiles." Federico Guillén Moñino, President of Network Infrastructure at Nokia, added, "We have long respected Infinera as a competitor, but now we find the logic of combination irresistible." Nokia projects that the acquisition will expand the scale of its Optical Networks business by 75%, providing opportunities to accelerate product development and enhance its competitive edge. Key benefits expected include an expanded digital signal processor development team, expertise in silicon photonics, indium phosphide-based semiconductor materials, and advanced photonic integrated circuit technology. The acquisition is slated to close in the first half of 2025, pending approval from Infinera shareholders and regulatory authorities. With all this in mind watch Light Reading Video analyst Sterling Perrin and Infinera CEO David Heard discussing at the recent OFC Conference how the AI traffic boom is already driving optics in data center interconnect, subsea and terrestrial telecom networks, and also open new opportunities for Infinera’s chips inside the data center itself. Interesting numbers in that interview. https://lnkd.in/dKBz57Pa

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The use of coherent transceiver technology helps edge networks span longer reaches with higher capacity, but it also comes with the trade-off of increased latency due to more signal processing from the DSP. What the different boundary conditions are and what it means for DSP building blocks is the topic of this weeks article. Enjoy the read. #dsp #latency #transceiver #photonics #ai #cluster #cloud #coherent #transceivers #effectphotonics

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For those interested, I just did a podcast on Catalyst with Shayle Kann this week. The topic is "Can chip efficiency slow down AI's energy demand?" and can be listened to here: https://lnkd.in/gGPmPnnu

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At MWC Shanghai last week, I had the pleasure of speaking with Qualcomm's CFO and COO, Akash Palkhiwala.  Qualcomm is on a roll, dominating the premium smartphone market with its Snapdragon chips and making significant strides in the PC space. Our conversation highlighted Qualcomm's strategic diversification. Akash emphasised how their expertise in multiple technologies (cellular, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, cameras, displays, AI) is being leveraged to transform industries beyond smartphones. During the interview we spoke about: 🔘 AI-Powered PCs: Qualcomm's entry into the PC market is gaining momentum, driven by their "AI-first" approach. Their chips enable powerful on-device AI processing, offering enhanced privacy, security, and lower latency. 🔘 The Future of AI: Akash envisions AI transforming various sectors in stages. Smartphones are already experiencing AI advancements, followed by the automotive industry. He predicts XR will be the next significant beneficiary, with AI assistants revolutionising user experiences. 🔘 Real-World AI Applications: Akash shared a compelling example of how AI is already transforming the automotive sector: Imagine your car's dashboard warning light comes on. Instead of vague alerts, an AI model, trained on the car's repair manual, could diagnose the problem, communicate with you, and even help you schedule a repair appointment. This simple yet powerful application demonstrates AI's potential to enhance user experiences in unexpected ways. I'm grateful to Akash for his insights. The future looks bright for Qualcomm, and I'm excited to see how they continue to drive innovation across various industries. #MWCShanghai #Qualcomm #AI #Semiconductors #Innovation #Telecoms CCS Insight

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The end of an era. We wait to see how the story moves forward for a great technology company. The PC and Data Center market needs the scale that Intel brings. Intel Announces Retirement of CEO Pat Gelsinger. David Zinsner and Michelle Johnston Holthaus named interim Co-CEOs. Holthaus also appointed to the newly created position of CEO of Intel Products. Frank Yeary named interim executive chair. SANTA CLARA, Calif., Dec. 2, 2024 – Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC) today announced that CEO Pat Gelsinger retired from the company after a distinguished 40-plus-year career and has stepped down from the board of directors, effective Dec. 1, 2024.  Intel has named two senior leaders, David Zinsner and Michelle (MJ) Johnston Holthaus, as interim co-chief executive officers while the board of directors conducts a search for a new CEO. Zinsner is executive vice president and chief financial officer, and Holthaus has been appointed to the newly created position of CEO of Intel Products, a group that encompasses the company’s Client Computing Group (CCG), Data Center and AI Group (DCAI) and Network and Edge Group (NEX). Frank Yeary, independent chair of the board of Intel, will become interim executive chair during the period of transition. Intel Foundry leadership structure remains unchanged. The board has formed a search committee and will work diligently and expeditiously to find a permanent successor to Gelsinger. Yeary said, “On behalf of the board, I want to thank Pat for his many years of service and dedication to Intel across a long career in technology leadership. Pat spent his formative years at Intel, then returned at a critical time for the company in 2021. As a leader, Pat helped launch and revitalize process manufacturing by investing in state-of-the-art semiconductor manufacturing, while working tirelessly to drive innovation throughout the company.” Yeary continued, “While we have made significant progress in regaining manufacturing competitiveness and building the capabilities to be a world-class foundry, we know that we have much more work to do at the company and are committed to restoring investor confidence. As a board, we know first and foremost that we must put our product group at the center of all we do. Our customers demand this from us, and we will deliver for them. With MJ’s permanent elevation to CEO of Intel Products along with her interim co-CEO role of Intel, we are ensuring the product group will have the resources needed to deliver for our customers. Ultimately, returning to process leadership is central to product leadership, and we will remain focused on that mission while driving greater efficiency and improved profitability.” #intel #nvidia #amd #tsmc #semiconductors #ai #succession #CPU #x86 #chipsact #leadership #innovation

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My article on SuperComputing Architecture Shift in EFY's Aug Magazine. "The silicon chipset, which is procured from Intel as of today, is the most crucial component in the high-performance compute server. Everything involved in making a supercomputer like the motherboard, the rack, cooling systems, and the software stack, depends on the architecture and features of the silicon chipset. " Electronics For You #Aum #Supercomputing #HPC

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Managing data with the speed of DRAM, but with instant, reliable persistence in the event of system failure, and none of the drawbacks of batteries – it sounds like IMDS nirvana, at least for that sub-set of embedded applications that require data durability. And, happily, McObject can confirm that it works exactly as described. Learn more in the white paper, “Database Persistence, Without The Performance Penalty”. https://bit.ly/4eZt6ZR #IMDS #embeddedsystems #eXtremeDB #database

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WHO KNEW THIS WAS HAPPENING? This press release triggers so many questions, especially considering the critical role that photonics will play in next generation AI infrastructure. From my experience with Optica meetings, so many important players/countries seem to be absent. What am I missing here? https://lnkd.in/d96FxPCW The (EuroHPC Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU))  has just selected seven proposals to establish and operate the first "AI Factories" across Europe. They will be deployed by 2025-2026. The EU says it is one step closer to realising President Ursula von der Leyen's commitment to setting up the first AI Factories. The first AI Factories will represent a €1.5 billion investment, combining national and EU funding. The EU will fund half of this through the Digital Europe Programme for AI infrastructure and Horizon Europe for AIF services. The selected AI Factories will be hosted at leading research and technology hubs across Europe: Barcelona, Spain: “BSC AIF” at the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre Bologna, Italy: “IT4LIA” at CINECA - Bologna Tecnopolo Kajaani, Finland: “LUMI AIF” at CSC Bissen, Luxembourg: “Meluxina-AI” at LuxProvide Linköping, Sweden: “MIMER” at the University of Linköping Stuttgart, Germany: “HammerHAI” at the University of Stuttgart Athens, Greece: “Pharos” at GRNET The seven AI Factories involve 15 Member States and two EuroHPC participating States. Portugal, Romania and Türkiye have joined the BSC AIF; Austria and Slovenia have joined the ITA4LIA; and Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Norway and Poland have joined the LUMI AIF. Five of the selected hosting sites will deploy new world-class AI-optimised supercomputers in Finland, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and Sweden. The AI Factory in Spain will result from the upgrade of the existing EuroHPC system, MareNostrum 5. In Greece, an AI Factory will be established and operated, associated with the DAEDALUS supercomputer, a EuroHPC supercomputer currently under deployment in Greece. The AI Factories in Spain and Finland will also feature an experimental platform, providing a cutting-edge infrastructure for developing and testing innovative AI models and applications and fostering collaboration across Europe. These AI Factories will more than double EuroHPC computing capacity, addressing specific need and boosting the European capabilities in AI.

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Read this report about CEO Pat & Intel. Does not pay a gloomy picture. I hope Intel does make it but they will probably have a further harder time in 2025 and they need to get their shit together in all markets they play in. They need to start to realize that they are _NOT_ number #1 and start to become a bit humble and realize they are in a fight for their life and there will be futher cuts needed both in personel and pay. Look how long time it took AMD to finally come back after their miss with the bulldozer architecure, hint: it took years to get to zen architecture right and many painfull cuts. On the other hand OpenAI has now decided to build their own chips, does this mean that AiX will do the same?

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