Early this month, US President Joe Biden signed the Chips and Science Act into law, directing US$53 billion towards rebuilding American dominance in making computer chips.
Intel and AMD are probably the names that spring to mind when you think of computer chips; their semiconductors power the majority of Windows-based computers on the market.
But although they are American brands, the US now produces only 12% of the world’s computer chips. Most are actually manufactured in Taiwan and Korea, where massive fabrication plants churn out chips for the world’s largest electronics makers. China is ramping up its own production, with the aim of being 70% self-sufficient in chip production.
The rise of electric cars has massively boosted demand for chips because they have more complicated control systems than cars with combustion engines. Each Tesla electric car, for instance, contains more than 3000 computer chips.
Denne historien er fra September 3 - 9, 2022-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
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Denne historien er fra September 3 - 9, 2022-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
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First-world problem
Harrowing tales of migrants attempting to enter the US highlight the political failure to fully tackle the problem.
Applying intelligence to AI
I call it the 'Terminator Effect', based on the premise that thinking machines took over the world.
Nazism rears its head
Smirky Höcke, with his penchant for waving with a suspiciously straight elbow and an open palm, won't get to be boss of either state.
Staying ahead of the game
Will the brave new world of bipartisanship that seems to be on offer with an Infrastructure Commission come to fruition?
Grasping the nettle
Broccoli is horrible. It smells, when being cooked, like cat pee.
Hangry? Eat breakfast
People who don't break their fast first thing in the morning report the least life satisfaction.
Chemical reaction
Nitrates in processed meats are well known to cause harm, but consumed from plant sources, their effect is quite different.
Me and my guitar
Australian guitarist Karin Schaupp sticks to the familiar for her Dunedin concerts.
Time is on my side
Age does not weary some of our much-loved musicians but what keeps them on the road?
The kids are not alright
Nuanced account details how China's blessed generation has been replaced by one consumed by fear and hopelessness.
