Elon Musk Given CHIPS Act & AI Oversight – Mulls Relocation of Taiwanese Fabs

Elon Musk Given CHIPS Act & AI Oversight – Mulls Relocation of Taiwanese Fabs
by Robert Maire on 04-01-2025 at 8:00 am

Trump Elon Doge

– Trump gives CHIPS Act & AI oversight to DOGE/Musk-“Tech Support”
– CHIPS Act to switch from incentive based to tariff/punitive based
– Musk to be responsible for US AI policy & security- Will rule ChatGPT
– Talks underway to relocate Taiwan fabs & staff to avoid China threat… Read More


Semiconductor CapEx Down in 2024 up in 2025

Semiconductor CapEx Down in 2024 up in 2025
by Bill Jewell on 03-30-2025 at 8:00 am

Mar 2025 capex 793x1024

Semiconductor Intelligence (SC-IQ) estimates semiconductor capital expenditures (CapEx) in 2024 were $155 billion, down 5% from $164 billion in 2023. Our forecast for 2025 is $160 billion, up 3%. The increase in 2025 is primarily driven by two companies. TSMC, the largest foundry company, plans between $38 billion and $42 billion… Read More


CHIPS Act dies because employees are fired – NIST CHIPS people are probationary

CHIPS Act dies because employees are fired – NIST CHIPS people are probationary
by Robert Maire on 02-23-2025 at 6:00 am

Donald Trump CHIPs Act Cancelled

– NIST to lose 100’s of mainly CHIPS Act people
– If no people are left to administer CHIPS Act it dies by default
– Following USAID play book to kill an unwanted program
– Using the “probationary” clause as excuse to fire recent CHIPS hires

Trump will kill CHIPS Act by gutting NIST employees
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Trump whacking CHIPS Act? When you hold the checkbook, you make up the new rules

Trump whacking CHIPS Act? When you hold the checkbook, you make up the new rules
by Robert Maire on 02-16-2025 at 10:00 am

Robert Maire Semiconductor Advisors
  • News reports that Trump will change CHIPS Act to suit his views
  • We specifically predicted this months ago as deals closed 11th hour
  • Blue states, enemies list & foreign entities likely to get cut
  • Big changes/cuts likely to a program Trump roundly criticized

Reuters: Exclusive: Trump prepares to change US CHIPS Act conditions,Read More


Podcast EP269: A Broad View of Semiconductor Market Dynamics with Rajiv Khemani

Podcast EP269: A Broad View of Semiconductor Market Dynamics with Rajiv Khemani
by Daniel Nenni on 01-10-2025 at 10:00 am

Dan is joined by Rajiv Khemani, a serial entrepreneur and an industry leader with 25 years of experience in building and scaling businesses. He is currently co-founder & CEO of Auradine. He is also an investor and board member in the data infrastructure, AI and software/platforms space. Previously, Rajiv was co-founder &… Read More


AMAT has OK Qtr but Mixed Outlook Means Weaker 2025 – China & Delays & CHIPS Act?

AMAT has OK Qtr but Mixed Outlook Means Weaker 2025 – China & Delays & CHIPS Act?
by Robert Maire on 11-17-2024 at 8:00 am

Applied Materials

– AMAT has OK QTR but outlook below expectations as 2025 weakens
– Strength in AI cannot offset weakness in the rest of the market
– Increasing headwinds going into 2025 dampen overall outlook
– Weakness combined with regulatory uncertainty reduce valuations

Quarter and year are just OK but outlook is
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The Chips R&D Program Seeks to Accelerate Innovation

The Chips R&D Program Seeks to Accelerate Innovation
by Joseph Byrne on 11-13-2024 at 10:00 am

chips timeline

The CHIPS and Science Act has allocated $11 billion for semiconductor R&D, including for advanced packaging and AI-driven design. Companies should apply now.

In 2022, the United States signed the $50 billion Chips and Science Act. Under the act, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which is part of … Read More


Samsung Adds to Bad Semiconductor News

Samsung Adds to Bad Semiconductor News
by Robert Maire on 09-16-2024 at 6:00 am

Samsung Layoffs Intel
  • Samsung follows Intel in staff reductions due to weakness in chips
  • Chip industry split between haves & have nots (AI & rest of chips)
  • Capital spend under pressure – Facing Eventual China issues
  • Stick with monopolies, avoid commodities

Samsung announces layoffs amid weak chip business and outlook
Samsung announced… Read More


LRCX Good but not good enough results, AMAT Epic failure and Slow Steady Recovery

LRCX Good but not good enough results, AMAT Epic failure and Slow Steady Recovery
by Robert Maire on 08-04-2024 at 6:00 am

Chips Act 2024
  • Lam reported good numbers with slightly soft guide
  • Investors are figuring out the up cycle will be slower than thought
  • Looks like AMAT won’t get CHIPS act money for Epic facility
  • Steady improvement but stocks still ahead of themselves-Correction?
Lam reports good numbers (as usual) but guide not good enough

Lam reported… Read More


SEMICON West- Jubilant huge crowds- HBM & AI everywhere – CHIPS Act & IMEC

SEMICON West- Jubilant huge crowds- HBM & AI everywhere – CHIPS Act & IMEC
by Robert Maire on 07-12-2024 at 6:00 am

Semicon West SF

– We just finished the most happy SEMICON West in a long time
– IMEC stole the show- HBM has more impact than size dictates
– Has Samsung lost its memory mojo? Is SK the new leader?
– AI brings new tech issues with it – TSMC is still industry King

Report from SEMICON West

The crowds at Semicon West were both… Read More