Brett Leonardo

Silicon Labs just announced the FG23L, the latest addition to our Series 2 portfolio. Dev kits are available now and full GA is set for September 30. FG23L brings long-range sub-GHz connectivity, ultra-low power, and built-in security at a fraction of the cost of comparable solutions. It’s designed for applications like industrial sensors, smart cities, and building automation where range, efficiency, and cost all matter.

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📉 As nodes shrink to 2nm and beyond, wiring challenges increase. Thinner wires and wires that are closer together can lead to slower, more power-hungry chips. But, here at Applied, we’ve introduced materials engineering innovations designed to increase the performance-per-watt of computer chips by scaling wiring at the 2nm logic node and beyond. Learn more about our Integrated Materials Solution technologies. #WeAreAppliedMaterials

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Processor Classifications: --------------------------- Ever feel overwhelmed by the alphabet soup of processors? 🤯 ARM, x86, RISC-V, Harvard, von Neumann, CISC, RISC, MCU, MPU... it's a lot! To make sense of it all, I recently mapped out the entire processor landscape. Here’s a visual guide that breaks down processors by: 🔹 Instruction Set (ISA): From the dominant x86 in your laptop to the power-efficient ARM in your phone and the open-source promise of RISC-V. 🔹 Memory Architecture: The classic von Neumann vs. the high-performance Harvard. 🔹 Execution Model: The sequential world of SISD vs. the parallel power of SIMD, MIMD, and GPUs. 🔹 Core Purpose: Microcontrollers (MCUs) vs. Microprocessors (MPUs) – knowing which to use is half the battle. But it doesn't stop at theory! The mindmap dives into the real-world ecosystems, connecting these classifications to the powerhouse families from: STMicroelectronics (STM32) Microchip (PIC, AVR) Texas Instruments (MSP430, Sitara) Infineon (XMC, AURIX) NXP (LPC, Kinetis, i.MX) Renesas (RA, RX) Silicon Labs (EFM32) ESP32 and Raspberry Pi RP2040 Whether you're an engineer choosing the right chip for your next project, a student trying to connect the dots, or just tech-curious, this map is for you. Check out the interactive mindmap here: https://lnkd.in/gc_uHGEt The goal? To have a single reference that connects fundamental concepts to the actual chips we use every day. What’s your go-to processor family for your projects, and why? Let’s discuss in the comments! 👇 #EmbeddedSystems #Microcontrollers #Microprocessors #Semiconductors #Hardware #Engineering #Technology #ARM #RISC_V #STMicroelectronics #Microchip #TexasInstruments #Electronics #IoT #Innovation

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“In recruitment, speed without clarity is wasted effort.” In semiconductor hiring, profile count is irrelevant. What truly matters is quality of profiles—engineers who match the exact node, tools, and responsibilities required. I’ve seen this consistently: the fastest closures don’t come from pushing hundreds of resumes. They come from well-defined requirements and technical alignment at the start. When clarity is in place, everything flows naturally—candidates feel respected, managers see precision, and recruiters earn trust as true partners. This isn’t a new lesson—it’s a principle I’ve carried throughout my career, and it has shaped how I lead teams and mandates globally. #Leadership #TalentAcquisition #Semiconductors #VLSI #RecruitmentExcellence #FutureOfWork

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NVIDIA picks Micron Technology for massive SOCAMM rollout 🤩 #Nvidia is preparing to enter a new phase in the memory market by planning to deploy between 600,000 and 800,000 SOCAMM modules in 2025. This initiative positions SOCAMM as a potential successor to high-bandwidth memory (#HBM). Although the initial deployment volumes are relatively modest compared to HBM, industry analysts suggest the move could trigger a wider transformation in the #memory and substrate sectors. According to reports from ET News and Wccftech, Nvidia has confirmed its intent to integrate SOCAMM into its next-generation #AI products, sharing projected order quantities with key #memory and substrate suppliers. The company's upcoming GB300 "Blackwell" platform will be among the first to adopt SOCAMM, alongside the AI PC Digits, unveiled during Nvidia's GTC 2025 conference in May. Nvidia initially tapped Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, and Micron Technology to co-develop SOCAMM. However, #Micron has emerged as the first memory maker to receive approval for volume production, outpacing its South Korean rivals in the race to support Nvidia's latest architectures. Thanks again to Amy Fan , Sherri Wang and DIGITIMES Asia for the full article with more background and insights via the link below 💡🙏👇 https://lnkd.in/eAjnXYQu #semiconductorindustry #semiconductors #technology #tech #innovation #usa #taiwan #geopolitics #datecenter #dram #ai #server #chip #ic #aiot

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If you ask me, the biggest challenge in semiconductor hiring isn’t finding smart people. It’s knowing how there skills fit into the sequence of design, verification, and tape-out. And understanding where their skills have the biggest impact. Through many conversations with semiconductor engineers, design experts, and hiring managers, I’ve come to appreciate over time just how complex the world of chip design really is. Turning an abstract idea into a working microchip takes far more than technical skills. It’s a team effort. Involving planning, coordination, and collaboration across multiple disciplines. From a hiring and workforce planning perspective, I’ve realised how important it is to actually understand the chip design flow. For me it’s the foundation for recognising the specific skills, mindsets, and teamwork needed to bring a chip to life. I’m not a technical expert myself, so in my latest article, I’ve tried to break down the design flow in a simple and practical way. Specifically focusing on how it works in real life, and why it matters when building teams. https://lnkd.in/dK_Uid8C ..

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📡 AI is transforming the #telecom landscape beyond connectivity. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to share with Data Center Dynamics how NVIDIA is collaborating with global telecom leaders to: ✅ Enhance customer care ✅ Optimize network operations ✅ Build sovereign AI factories ✅ Develop AI-native wireless networks These initiatives are driving a fundamental shift in how networks are built and operated — with #AI as the new engine of transformation. 📰 Explore the news in Data Center Dynamics.

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𝗧𝗼 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝘀 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗻 ➖ "𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗪𝗮𝗿" 𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗖𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝗔𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀 I just finished Chris Miller’s Chip War, and it hit differently when you’ve spent years chasing timing closure, debugging DRCs, or optimizing for PPA. We often see our work as purely technical, but this book reframes it entirely. It reminds us that we’re not just designing circuits; we’re building the foundation of global power. 🌍 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗢𝗶𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝘆 In a world increasingly reliant on technology, the importance of semiconductors cannot be overstated. Every smartphone, car, satellite, and defense system depends on these tiny pieces of silicon the invisible engines driving our digital age. After diving deep into Chris Miller's "Chip War," I've come to realize: whoever controls chip manufacturing controls the future. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗬𝗼𝘂'𝘃𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗢𝗳 Two companies. Two countries (Netherlands & Taiwan). One irreplaceable partnership. Without ASML's $350 million EUV lithography machines the most complex devices ever built advanced chips simply cannot exist. Only one company manufactures them. Without TSMC's manufacturing mastery, those machines are useless. Only one company can turn silicon into 3nm miracles at scale. Here's the reality: Every AI breakthrough, every smartphone, every advanced weapon system passes through these two companies. Not Google. Not Apple. Not even America or China can bypass them. 90%+ of the world’s advanced logic chips (<7nm) come from a single company on a single island. the quiet powerhouse that fabricates world’s most advanced chips. Whether your design’s at 5nm, 3nm, or the upcoming 2nm GAA odds are, it’s going to TSMC. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 India’s story feels different this time: 𝗙𝗮𝗯𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 (Micron ATMP, Tower partnership, Tata proposals) 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 is already World Class 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗶𝗽𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 is deep we just need manufacturing scale This could redefine local tape outs, reduce timezone bottlenecks, and open global opportunities from Indian soil. India's immediate success is not about competing with TSMC at the 2nm edge. It is about establishing resilient domestic capacity in crucial mature and specialty nodes for automotive, power, communications and industry automation. which currently accounts for the bulk of India’s import demand while simultaneously investing heavily in the R&D and talent needed to close the advanced node gap over the next decade. 💭 I’d like to hear your thoughts. #ChipWar #SemiconductorIndustry #VLSI #TechGeopolitics #SemiconIndia #SiliconPower #ChipDesign #FutureOfTech

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Big news from Micron today—this marks a pivotal moment in our mission to advance U.S. semiconductor leadership. We’re expanding our U.S. investments to approximately $200 billion, reinforcing our long-term commitment to domestic memory manufacturing and R&D. This includes: - A second leading-edge memory fab in Boise, Idaho—complementing the high-volume fab already under construction - Expansion and modernization of our Manassas, Virginia facility - Plans to bring advanced HBM packaging capabilities to the U.S. - A $50 billion investment in domestic R&D - Continued progress toward our planned megafab in New York These initiatives are expected to create around 90,000 direct and indirect jobs and will help us meet the surging demand for AI-driven innovation. As someone closely involved in our U.S. expansion strategy, I’m incredibly proud of what this means for our communities, our workforce, and the future of American-made memory. This is about more than just scale—it’s about building resilience, driving innovation, and securing leadership in a critical industry. Thank you to our federal, state, and local partners for your support—and to the Micron team, whose dedication makes this possible. Read more about the announcement: https://lnkd.in/gqGUNQRX See the scale of our Idaho construction: https://lnkd.in/g_Cd4FXA

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👉 Learn how MathWorks and Altera have joined forces to harness AI to drive faster development of 5G & 6G wireless systems! The collaboration enhances efficiency and reduces the costs of wireless systems by using AI-based autoencoders to compress Channel State Information (CSI) data. 📡 Read more ➡️ https://spr.ly/60480VQs4

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Is VLSI Talent Acquisition still seen as a cost center in 2025? Let’s change that. Every chip company wants the best ASIC, SoC, and Firmware talent. But not every company treats hiring as a strategic function. Too often, I see: 🔸 Hiring plans driven by urgency—not roadmap alignment 🔸 Recruiters chasing unrealistic timelines without clear JD-to-skill mapping 🔸 Interviewers chosen by availability, not capability 🔸 Offers made before stakeholder calibration is complete But when hiring works—it changes everything: 💥 Execution speed 💥 Team morale 💥 Retention 💥 Tapeout timelines So why are TA leaders still fighting for a seat at the table? If 2025 is the year of GenAI and semiconductor resurgence— It must also be the year TA becomes a business partner, not a backend service. What I believe: ✅ Every headcount should tie back to silicon delivery KPIs ✅ TA should sit with engineering leadership—not behind them ✅ Interviews should be structured like design reviews: consistent, data-backed, and outcome-driven Talent drives silicon. TA should drive strategy. If you're in TA, HR, or leadership in the VLSI space—what’s still holding us back from making this shift? Let’s start the conversation. 💬 #VLSI #Semiconductor #TalentAcquisition #HiringStrategy #Leadership #GenAI #TapeoutSuccess #RecruitingReimagined

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Silicon Labs is extending our sub-GHz portfolio with the new FG23L SoC. This “Lite” variant is optimized for long-range, ultra-low-power IoT devices that need secure, cost-effective connectivity. Get the full details on FG23L here: https://lnkd.in/gMuHp6A4 

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the Lip-Bu Tan became Intel Corporation’s CEO this year, known for leading a huge turnaround at Cadence. He is now applying his strategies to revive Intel’s fortunes. Lip-Bu Tan, Intel’s new CEO, is leading a major transformation focused on streamlining operations, enhancing core engineering, and positioning the company for growth in #AI, #quantum, and #robotics. At Cadence, Tan grew the stock from about $5.50 to $186—a 3,200% gain over 12 years. Intel’s shares currently trade near $20, showing room for growth. Tan has already cut jobs, reduced layers of management, and refocused Intel on its core engineering strengths. He plans to sell off non-core assets and improve customer focus, aiming to boost performance over time. Intel is also pushing forward in AI with new hardware and software projects led by Chief Technology and AI Officer Sachin Katti. Their quantum computing efforts and partnerships with major tech firms could strengthen Intel’s position. Intel is also betting big on its #18A process node. Find my simple video explainer for Intel18A in the comments section. Additionally, Intel may benefit from U.S. manufacturing policies and the growing humanoid robot market, which Goldman Sachs projects to reach $38 billion by 2035. Intel’s processors and cameras could become essential in these robots. For a deeper understanding of the latest semiconductor technologies, check out my new book, Semiconductor for All. It covers developments like these in detail and their real-world impact. Get your copy now on Amazon Kindle! https://lnkd.in/gzVV2fJm , For more updates and insights on AI and semiconductor, check out my blog, https://lnkd.in/gUmGrQh4 #semiconductor #ai #chips #manufacturing #semiconductorforall

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