Arm CEO Rene Haas has a unique perspective on the tech industry, given that his company’s chip designs are found in the majority of devices used daily, from smartphones to cars. The SoftBank-backed company he leads is valued at almost $150 billion, surpassing Intel. With Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger’s recent departure and Intel exploring options for a spinoff or sale, Haas shared his thoughts on the situation. There were rumors of Arm considering purchasing a significant portion of Intel before Gelsinger’s exit. Additionally, Arm is rumored to be considering expanding into producing its own chips, not just licensing designs. Haas discussed these topics and more in an exclusive interview, set to air on a future episode of Decoder. Here are some highlights from the conversation:
– on Intel’s dilemma between vertical integration and being fabless, Haas believes vertical integration could be a powerful strategy if executed correctly.
– Haas suggested that licensing Arm’s technology could benefit Intel due to Arm’s volume capabilities.
– Arm’s potential move into building AI chips could offer closer integration between hardware and software, leading to better design tradeoffs.
– The ongoing lawsuit with Qualcomm is proceeding to trial soon, with the principles behind the claim remaining unchanged.
– Haas shared thoughts on the advancement of AGI and ASI, noting a shift in timelines.
– Regarding David Sacks’ appointment as AI and crypto czar for President-elect Donald Trump, Haas sees it as a positive development, providing tech industry representation in policy discussions.
In other tech news, Samsung underwent significant leadership changes, with North America CEO KS Choi being replaced. Amazon’s Jeff Bezos emphasized a focus on AI, with the company unveiling its Nova family of foundational AI models at AWS re:Invent. The AI race among tech giants continues to evolve rapidly, with Amazon making strides in the field. Additionally, TikTok faces a potential ban in the US, prompting speculation about potential acquisition bids from major tech players.