Custom Silicon: How Tech Companies are Designing Their Own Chips

Semiconductors are the brains of modern technology, powering everything from smartphones to cloud computing. But as the demand for faster, smarter, and more energy-efficient devices grows, some of the world’s biggest tech companies are not satisfied with relying on standard chips from established suppliers. Instead, they are designing their own custom silicon to gain a competitive edge and achieve greater control over their hardware and software integration.

Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Tesla, and Baidu are among the tech giants that have announced or launched their chip projects in recent years, covering a range of applications such as artificial intelligence, data centers, mobile devices, and autonomous vehicles. For example, Apple has moved away from Intel’s processors to make its own MX chip, which now powers its iMacs and iPads. Tesla is building a “Dojo” chip to train AI networks in data centers, as well as its own AI chips for its self-driving cars. Baidu has released an AI chip for data processing and computing power enhancement.

These companies claim that their custom-designed chips can perform better, cost less, and consume less energy than the generic chips from their competitors. They also hope to reduce their dependence on the global chip supply chain, which has been disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions. China, in particular, has been pushing to develop its semiconductor industry as it faces U.S. sanctions and restrictions on its access to advanced chip technology.

However, designing one’s chips is not an easy feat. It requires a lot of investment, talent, and intellectual property. It also does not mean that these companies can do without foreign technology altogether. They still need to rely on tools, equipment, materials, and manufacturing services from other players in the chip ecosystem, such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), Samsung, and ASML. These companies have the expertise and capacity to produce chips at the leading edge of the market, using the most advanced nanometer processes.

Therefore, while the trend of custom silicon is a sign of progress and innovation in the tech industry, it is not a threat to established chip suppliers. Rather, it is an opportunity for collaboration and co-creation among different actors in the chip value chain. In short, the semiconductor industry is not a zero-sum game and there is room for everyone to grow together.