

The Circuit
Ben Bajarin and Jay Goldberg
A podcast about the business and market of semiconductors
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 20, 2025 • 30min
Episode 101 Part 2: Digging into TSMC Earnings
Ben Bajarin and Jay Goldberg dive into TSMC's impressive earnings, spotlighting its surge in AI-driven revenue and a shift towards custom chip solutions. They highlight Intel's changing dynamics with TSMC and explore the ripple effects of AI on the semiconductor landscape. The conversation touches on challenges faced by NVIDIA amid rising demand and production complexities, alongside speculation about acquisitions in the industry. The duo paints a vivid picture of the evolving tech ecosystem and the exciting future of silicon demand.

15 snips
Jan 20, 2025 • 43min
Episode 101 Part 1: Discussion with Jordan Schneider (ChinaTalk) on New Semi Regulations
Jordan Schneider, founder of ChinaTalk and expert in U.S.-China technology relations, dives into the intricate world of semiconductor regulations. He sheds light on recent U.S. restrictions aimed at curbing China's tech advancements and the motivations behind them. The discussion unveils potential workarounds by Chinese firms and examines the implications for AI innovation. Schneider also tackles the global competition between the U.S. and China and explores the future landscape shaped by these regulatory challenges.

Jan 14, 2025 • 43min
Episode 100: CES 2025 - Applied AI, Applied Robotics, AR/MR Tipping Point
In this episode, Ben Bajarin and Jay Goldberg reflect on their experiences at CES, discussing the varying levels of AI integration and the prevalence of AI washing. They explore the future of robotics, emphasizing a turning point in humanoid robotics and the potential for AI to enhance these technologies. The conversation shifts to the advancements in AR/VR technologies, highlighting the impact of the Chinese ecosystem on innovation and affordability. Finally, they delve into the semiconductor investment landscape, stressing the importance of technical understanding in evaluating companies within this sector.

22 snips
Jan 5, 2025 • 43min
Episode 99: Semis Outlook for 2025 - Bullishness Remains
The hosts dive into bold predictions for 2025, spotlighting market trends and the burgeoning role of AI. They examine the semiconductor landscape, expressing optimism for companies like NVIDIA while questioning AMD's trajectory. Excitement builds around augmented reality innovations and the evolving consumer electronics market. Additionally, spending in aerospace and military sectors reveals new opportunities. A tantalizing discussion emerges on the potential for Apple's foldable smartphone, weighing challenges against consumer anticipation.

14 snips
Dec 21, 2024 • 37min
Episode 98: 2024 Semi Recap and Outlook Into 2025
The podcast dives into the shifting dynamics of the semiconductor market as it heads into 2025. It highlights Nvidia's impressive growth and contrasts it with the struggles of AMD and Intel. The hosts explore the growing significance of AI in shaping market trends, including the rise of custom ASICs. Insights on Google's TPU technology reveal its cost advantages in AI workloads. The conversation also touches on the broader implications of these changes for tech investment strategies and the evolving landscape of corporate partnerships.

14 snips
Dec 13, 2024 • 52min
Episode 97: Accellerated Infrastructure - Marvell Analyst Day, Broadcomm Earnings - Infra!!
This discussion dives into accelerated infrastructure and its pivotal role in modern data centers. The hosts analyze Marvell's strategic moves in light of AI advancements and the competition with Broadcom. Highlights include the significance of custom High Bandwidth Memory in enhancing performance and a focus on the shift from training to inference workloads. They also cover Broadcom's stock surge driven by AI optimism and the growing necessity of effective networking in a rapidly evolving semiconductor landscape.

7 snips
Dec 6, 2024 • 46min
Episode 96: The State of Intel Post Pat G, Product Roadmap focus, Foundries Strategic Value
The surprising retirement of a key Intel figure sets the stage for a deep dive into the company's uncertain future. The hosts discuss the implications of leadership changes and the need for a solid growth strategy. They analyze Intel's challenges in chip production and the potential restructuring to enhance its foundry capabilities. Additionally, the conversation touches on the impact of TSMC's dominance in the semiconductor landscape, raising concerns about pricing power and competition among the industry's giants.

Nov 25, 2024 • 40min
Episode 95: QCOM Financial Investor Day, and NVIDA Earnings (age of Nvidia is over)
The discussion begins with Qualcomm's pivot to automotive and IoT markets, addressing challenges in the saturated smartphone sector. The hosts analyze Qualcomm's growth strategy and its potential in electric vehicles. Moving on to NVIDIA, they contemplate the company's transition to steady growth amid a competitive landscape. Highlights include technical issues with the Blackwell product and the changing dynamics in the data center processor market. The humorous take on investor relations adds a lighthearted touch to the serious tech talk.

Nov 18, 2024 • 35min
Episode 94: Chatting Apple Silicon with Apple's Tim Millet and Tom Boger
In this enlightening conversation, Ben Bajarin hosts Apple executives Tom Boger and Tim Millet to discuss the significance of Apple Silicon in the company's product ecosystem. They delve into the relentless pursuit of performance per watt, the integration of hardware and software, and Apple's unique approach to AI and on-device intelligence. The discussion also covers how Apple manages to push performance boundaries in a landscape where Moore's Law is slowing down, emphasizing the importance of architecture, design, and technology in their strategy.

Nov 11, 2024 • 38min
Episode 93: Arm/QCOM Earnings, Trump Presidency Impact on Semis, NVDA Preview
Recent earnings from Arm and Qualcomm take center stage, revealing intricate market responses and ongoing lawsuits. Qualcomm's shift towards automotive markets unveils new revenue streams amidst supply chain challenges. The potential impact of a second Trump presidency on semiconductor policies raises eyebrows, especially regarding trade dynamics. The discussion also highlights Nvidia's soaring demand amidst supply constraints, showcasing the cyclical nature of the semiconductor landscape and the hurdles that lie ahead.


