Who Actually Owns the Blueprints for the World’s AI Chips?

In this episode of the Semiconductor Leadership Podcast, host Salah Nasri interviews Deven Haria, Managing Partner of Boltchip, a Singapore-based consulting firm. The conversation centers on the shifting landscape of semiconductor innovation, emphasizing that competitive advantage now lies in owning intellectual property (IP) and design capabilities rather than just manufacturing. Haria explains the concept of Innovation Capability Centers (ICCs) as a strategic approach for companies to build their own R&D teams and co-create IP, contrasting with traditional outsourcing. He highlights Singapore’s potential as a design and IP hub, despite its higher costs, due to its ecosystem and neutrality. The discussion covers the importance of collaboration, the ROI of innovation, and the need for a clear roadmap. Haria shares his background in robotics, automation, and stock exchange systems, which informs his perspective on building technical teams. He also touches on future trends like AI-specific LLMs and quantum computing with photonics. The episode provides insights into how companies like Tesla and Google are developing custom chips and the role of ICCs in this transformation.