AI's Unstoppable Rise as a Key Driver

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5 Views November 6, 2024

The world is witnessing an unprecedented technological transformation propelled by artificial intelligence (AI) and the rising digital economyThis revolution is not just a trend; it has become a consensus across various industries that smart technologies are foundational to future developmentsExperts in the field assert that AI is the principal driving force behind industrial evolution and that architectures like RISC-V are poised to fundamentally reshape computing in the AI era.

Industry leaders and experts are increasingly vocal about the all-encompassing embrace of intelligent technologiesLiu Weiping, the Vice Chairman of the China Semiconductor Industry Association and Chairman of BGI Technology, underscores this sentiment, affirming that the advent of AI is revolutionizing countless application scenariosThe design logic of products and their production methodologies are transforming, necessitating that companies stay abreast of these advancements to launch new products and services that resonate with the intelligent trend

Just as the rise of the Internet revolutionized how businesses operate and connect with consumers, AI is now at the forefront of ushering in a new era of digital innovation.

Furthermore, as articulated by the General Manager of Micron's China Division, Wu Mingxia, the rapid advancements in digital transformation and generative AI present fresh opportunities for the semiconductor industryThis surge in technological capabilities is intensifying the demand for memory and storage solutions, accelerating the growth trajectory of the industry itselfThe role of semiconductors in powering AI-driven applications, such as data centers and intelligent automotive solutions, is not just significant; it is essential.

In the midst of this seismic shift, the semiconductor market is projected for explosive growthAccording to Julu, the Global Vice President of SEMI and President of the China Division, the industry's sales could soar to a trillion dollars by 2030, driven predominantly by AI technologies

He anticipates a remarkable growth rate of 15% to 20% in global semiconductor revenue this year alone, pushing the market past the $600 billion markBy 2030, more than 70% of all chips manufactured are expected to feature AI functionalities, firmly entrenching AI technology within the fabric of our digital economy.

The recent past saw the semiconductor sector navigate a downturn characterized by inventory adjustments and the budding development of AI inference applicationsHowever, optimism reigns as the industry emerges from this cyclical lowJi Liyun, Chief Operating Officer of the Global Semiconductor Alliance, notes a strong rebound in demand anticipated for the second half of 2024, with an average revenue growth projected at around 21%. Notably, the focus of this growth will be heavily concentrated in high-performance computing (HPC), AI, and memory sectorsHe further states that global corporate IT expenditures will reach $15 trillion from 2025 to 2028, with AI platforms alone expected to surpass a $300 billion valuation, culminating in a projected global economic impact of $19.9 trillion attributable to AI by 2030.

Adding to this narrative, Song Jiqiang, Vice President of Intel Research Institute and Director of Intel China Research Institute, emphasizes the rapid growth of parameters within large language models, signaling a shift towards greater collaboration in sustainably integrating these powerful models into diverse sectors

This accessibility will extend AI’s reach from smart devices like smartphones and PCs to integral infrastructures, including hardware design and operating systems—all coalescing into a vibrant, AI-empowered ecosystem.

Intel's ambitious roadmap includes plans to equip all personal computers with AI capabilities by 2030, having already shipped 20 million AI-enabled PCs globallySuch advancements signify not just technological innovation but also a holistic approach to making AI an indispensable tool in everyday life.

Moreover, the emergence of RISC-V architecture is set to redefine computing frameworks in this AI-dominated landscapeMeng Jianyi, the rotating president of the RISC-V committee and CEO of Zhihua Computing, points out that the RISC-V ecosystem is accelerating its growth trajectory and is poised to alter the competitive landscape of chip architecture significantly

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This open-source approach allows for flexible and customized computing frameworks, which are increasingly critical as AI applications become diverse and complexThe advantage of open-source RISC-V lies in its capacity to foster innovation while being adapted to meet evolving market demands.

Renowned Chinese Academy of Engineering academician, Ni Guangnan, recognizes the strategic importance of chip technology in the overarching domain of information technologyHe argues that nurturing the development of open-source RISC-V can furnish unique opportunities for growth in the global semiconductor landscape, marking China as a significant player in the open-source movement and promoting collaborative development practices on a worldwide scale.

Looking ahead, Meng Jianyi outlines four pivotal directions for the future of RISC-V: First, innovations in architecture specifically tailored for AI; second, enhancements in the performance metrics of RISC-V processors, aligning them with mainstream expectations; third, a continual improvement of the functionality of general-purpose RISC-V CPUs; and finally, leveraging RISC-V’s extensibility for AI acceleration and diverse applications based on vector and matrix processing.

As Ni Guangnan aptly observes, China's unique national system, coupled with its vast market potential and a rich talent pool, can harness the momentum of open-source innovation

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