How real is America’s chipmaking renaissance?
As the CHIPS Act turns one, semiconductor firms have mixed feelings
AMERICAN CHIPMAKERS account for a third of global semiconductor sales. They design the world’s most sophisticated microprocessors, which power smartphones, data centres and, increasingly, artificial-intelligence (AI) models. But neither the American firms nor their Asian contract manufacturers make any such leading-edge chips in America. Given chips’ centrality to modern economies—and, in the age of AI, to war-fighting—that worries policymakers in Washington. Their answer was the CHIPS Act, a $50bn package of subsidies, tax credits and other sweeteners to bring advanced chipmaking back to America, which President Joe Biden signed into law on August 9th 2022.
This article appeared in the Business section of the print edition under the headline “Let the chips rise where they may ”
More from Business
TikTok’s time is up. Can Donald Trump save it?
The imperilled app hopes for help from an old foe
The UFC, Dana White and the rise of bloodsport entertainment
There is more to the mixed-martial-arts impresario than his friendship with Donald Trump
Will Elon Musk scrap his plan to invest in a gigafactory in Mexico?
Donald Trump’s return to the White House may have changed Tesla’s plans
Germany is going nuts for Dubai chocolate
Will the hype last?
The year ahead: a message from the CEO
From the desk of Stew Pidd
One of the biggest energy IPOs in a decade could be around the corner
Venture Global, a large American gas exporter, is going public