1.1 Semiconductor Industry: Present & Future

Semiconductors are the foundation of today's digital economy and powering innovations that will shape the trajectory of human history. This paper highlights the latest progress of the semiconductor industry to support a vast spectrum of applications that have forever changed our lives. It gives insight into the paths of continued advanced technology scaling, the essential role of design-technology co-optimization (DTCO), and how system-level integration will elevate system performance to new heights. The advancements of semiconductors will enable many new innovations in artificial intelligence (AI), high-performance computing (HPC), wireless connectivity, and autonomous driving. The paper also provides the trend of technologies ranging from low-power and Edge AI devices to cloud based computing. By harnessing the new capabilities of semiconductors, these innovations will greatly improve productivity, efficiency, safety, as well as sustainability. The semiconductor industry is indeed experiencing a "golden era" in spurring remarkable economic growth and unleashing innovations to create a better future for society.