The Circuit

Latest Episodes:

Episode 116: Earnings (AAPL, QCOM), Intel's Chiplet Bet, AI Factory Thesis May 05, 2025

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In this episode, Ben and Jay discuss the latest earnings reports from Apple and Qualcomm, focusing on the implications of tariffs, supply chain resilience, and the shifting landscape of semiconductor manufacturing. They explore Apple's confidence in its business despite uncertainties, the significant manufacturing shift to India, and Qualcomm's diversification strategy in the IoT and automotive sectors. The conversation highlights the challenges and opportunities both companies face in a rapidly evolving market. In this conversation, Jay Goldberg and Ben discuss the current state of the semiconductor industry, focusing on cost management strategies, Intel's advancements in foundry technology, and the competitive landscape with TSMC. They explore the implications of new technologies like Power Via and the shift towards chiplet architecture. Additionally, they delve into the concept of AI factories and how they represent a new approach to data center infrastructure, transforming it from a cost center to a profit center.

Episode 115: Intel Earnings, TSMC Symposium, Tariff Updates... Apr 28, 2025

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In this episode, Ben and Jay discuss Intel's recent earnings report, the implications of leadership changes, and the market's reaction. They delve into the challenges of workforce reductions, the need for cultural shifts within the company, and the importance of empowering engineers. The conversation also covers Intel's AI strategy, foundry developments, and the impact of global tariffs on the semiconductor industry.

Episode 114: More Semi Tariff Chaos, Lip Bu's Plan, TSMC Earnings Apr 21, 2025

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In this episode, Ben and Jay discuss the current state of the semiconductor market, focusing on the impact of tariffs, the upcoming earnings season, and the potential for sector rotation amidst economic uncertainty. They explore how companies are navigating these challenges, particularly in relation to AI demand and capital expenditures, while also considering Nvidia's position in the market. In this conversation, Ben and Jay discuss the implications of tariffs on various sectors, particularly focusing on AI and the analog chip industry. They explore how supply chains may need to adapt to new tariff regulations and the potential impact on consumer electronics prices. The discussion also delves into Intel's organizational changes and the anxiety surrounding potential layoffs, as well as TSMC's earnings and its position in the semiconductor market amidst changing demand dynamics.

Episode 113: Talking DSPs with CEVA CEO Amir Panush Apr 14, 2025

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In this conversation, Jay Goldberg interviews Amir Panoush, CEO of CEVA, discussing the evolution of the company, its role in the semiconductor industry, and the importance of digital signal processing (DSP) technology. They explore Siva's market segments, customer base, and the company's value proposition compared to competitors like ARM. The discussion also covers the integration of AI at the edge, new customer partnerships, and the emerging satellite market. Amir shares insights on management strategies in an IP-focused company and outlines future directions for CEVA.

Episode 112: Talking x86 and Intel's Future With Intel Product CEO Michelle Johnston Apr 07, 2025

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In this episode, Ben Bajarin and Jay Goldberg are joined by special guest Michelle Johnston, CEO of Intel products. They discuss the new culture shift at Intel, how Intel can use this new approach to compete and innovate in AI, how to invigorate x86 and Intel Architecture, and the opportunity for both product and foundry in the chiplet era.

Episode 111: Talking Chips and Wafers with Chips and Wafers Mar 30, 2025

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In this episode, Ben Bajarin and Jay Goldberg engage with Simi Sherman and Chaim Eisenberg from Chips and Wafers to explore the intricacies of the semiconductor industry. They discuss the importance of both qualitative and quantitative analysis in understanding market trends, the challenges of data collection, and the unique insights their company provides. The conversation delves into the competitive landscape of ASICs versus GPUs, the significance of tracking various data points, and how this information can be leveraged for predictive analysis in investments. In this conversation, Simi Sherman and Ben Bajarin delve into the intricacies of investment data, emphasizing the importance of using the right data points for informed decision-making. They discuss specific company examples, the predictive power of data, and the evolving landscape of the semiconductor industry, particularly the shift towards disaggregated designs and chiplets. The conversation highlights the gap between investor expectations and company performance, and concludes with insights into how analysts can leverage data to build a clearer picture of future trends.

Episode 110: NVIDIA's Identity Crisis Mar 24, 2025

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In this episode, Ben Bajarin and Jay Goldberg discuss the recent GTC event, highlighting its shift from graphics technology to a focus on AI and robotics. They share their emotional responses to the keynote, the crowded atmosphere, and their disillusionment with the lack of new AI demos. The conversation delves into Jensen Huang's defensive stance during the keynote, Nvidia's identity crisis, and the company's significant investments in R&D. They conclude by reflecting on the growing influence of GTC and its importance in the tech industry.

Episode 109: Unpacking the Nuances of Deep Seek with Austin Lyons Mar 16, 2025

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In this conversation, Jay Goldberg and Austin Lyons delve into the emergence of Deep Seek, an AI lab that has gained attention for its innovative models and unique approach to AI development. They discuss the origins of Deep Seek, its self-funded nature, and the implications of its advancements in the context of geopolitical constraints. The conversation highlights the lab's offerings, including its reasoning models and mixture of experts, and explores how Deep Seek has managed to innovate despite hardware limitations. The discussion also touches on the future of AI scaling and the ongoing debate about the effectiveness of simply increasing computational resources. In this conversation, Austin Lyons and Jay Goldberg discuss the advancements in AI, particularly focusing on Deep Seek's contributions to scaling AI models, improving training efficiency, and the implications of these innovations on the market dynamics. They explore how Deep Seek has demonstrated that there are still many avenues for enhancing AI capabilities, despite the prevailing belief that the field has plateaued. The discussion also delves into the technical aspects of training and inference efficiency, the challenges faced by AI labs, and the importance of hardware optimization. Ultimately, they conclude that while Deep Seek is making significant strides, it does not pose a direct threat to established players like OpenAI.

Episode 108: MWC Observations, MRVL and AVGO Earnings, Apple's new Devices Mar 10, 2025

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In this episode, Ben Bajarin and Jay Goldberg discuss the recent Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, reflecting on its relevance in the current tech landscape, particularly in the telecom and semiconductor industries. They explore the shift in focus from traditional mobile technologies to AI and data centers, the challenges faced by telecom operators, and the evolving role of software in the industry. The conversation also touches on Qualcomm's positioning, the dynamics of network processors, and humorous observations about the latest innovations, including humanoid robots and AI avatars. Finally, they tease an upcoming discussion about Apple's modem technology and its implications for the market. In this conversation, Ben Bajarin and Jay Goldberg discuss the recent earnings reports of Marvell and Broadcom, analyzing the competitive dynamics in the semiconductor market. They delve into Marvell's challenges with customer relationships and market positioning, contrasting it with Broadcom's strategic advantages. The discussion also touches on the implications of Apple's product updates and the overall market sentiment regarding capital expenditures and technology investments.

Episode 107: NVIDIA Earnings and Peak Nvidia? (Sentiment Wise) Mar 02, 2025

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In this episode, Ben Bajarin and Jay Goldberg discuss Nvidia's recent earnings report, market reactions, and the implications for the future of AI and the company's stock performance. They analyze the current state of Nvidia's business, including product segmentation, enterprise demand, and geopolitical factors affecting the market. The conversation also touches on the volatility of Nvidia's stock and the behavior of retail investors in the context of AI advancements.

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