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Emerging Technologies

Enable Growth of New Technologies

While semiconductors are commonly associated with well-established electronic devices like PCs, smartphones, and tablets, semiconductor technology also is giving rise to a range of newer technologies that hold tremendous promise to help address some of society’s most pressing challenges. These technologies – including artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), among many others – pose a unique set of policy challenges that must be addressed to unlock their full potential.

Official Comments and Letters >

All Emerging Technologies Resources >

Featured Emerging Technologies Resources

Decadal Plan for Semiconductors - Interim Report
Decadal Plan for Semiconductors - One-Pager
U.S. Semiconductor Leadership: A Policy Platform
SIA Letter to Congress Urging Tripling of Investments in Semiconductor Research
Semiconductors: A Strategic U.S. Advantage in the Global Artificial Intelligence Technology Race
National IoT Strategy Report
Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged in recent years as a potentially transformative technological leap forward, holding the potential to fundamentally change how individuals, societies, and nations interact.

AI refers to the ability of machines to perform cognitive functions associated with the human mind. Where computer systems once had to be programmed to execute rigidly defined tasks, they can now be given a generalized strategy for learning, enabling them to adapt to new data inputs without being explicitly reprogrammed. At the heart of all AI-related innovations is semiconductor technology.

While the United States maintains a leading role in AI technology, mainly through its dominant position in semiconductor technology, other countries are investing heavily in AI to close the gap. For the United States to maintain or expand its AI lead, the U.S. government and industry must deepen their partnership to enable breakthrough innovations.

SIA recommends the federal government: 1) fund precompetitive basic research for AI hardware; 2) develop the AI workforce; 3) promote open data policies; 4) mitigate potential undesirable impacts of AI; and 5) protect security and privacy of sensitive data. Taking action in these five areas will help ensure we unlock AI’s full potential and keep America at the tip of the spear in AI innovation.

A new SIA white paper outlines in more detail the critical role of semiconductor technology in enabling AI and the government policies needed to harness the potential of this emerging technology and ensure continued U.S. leadership in AI.

Download the White Paper >

The Internet of Things (IoT)

Semiconductors are increasingly integral to countless products we encounter in our day-to-day lives – household appliances, medical technology, cars, wearable devices, and many others. Due largely to advances in semiconductor technology, these products are often able to communicate with each other through a burgeoning network connected by the Internet that is referred to as the Internet of Things (IoT).

All IoT devices require semiconductors such as microcontrollers, sensors, and memory to connect to each other and perform their intended function. The infrastructure to connect these devices will also rely on continued innovations in semiconductor technology.

The promise of the IoT to transform our economy will be based, in large part, on the ability of the semiconductor industry to provide high-performing and efficient semiconductors that can connect billions of smart devices across government, industry and the consumer marketplace. This technology has the potential to result in dramatic benefits for the industrial, retail, healthcare, transportation, and other sectors of society.

The IoT poses a range of policy challenges and solutions. As governments consider policies to address the IoT, SIA urges the advancement of policies to accelerate IoT adoption and enable the cost-effective introduction of new technologies including, open standards efforts, targeted federal funding, and impactful public-private partnerships.

With these fundamental building blocks of a successful IoT ecosystem, policymakers will enable the proliferation of IoT technologies across markets and help our nation realize the significant economic and societal benefits that the IoT can deliver.

48%
The U.S. semiconductor industry is the worldwide leader with nearly half of global market share.
2M+
The industry directly employs over 307,000 people in the U.S. and supports more than 1.7 million additional U.S. jobs.
#5
Semiconductors are a top U.S. export after refined oil, crude oil, natural gas, and civilian aircraft.
1/5
The U.S. industry invests about one-fifth of revenue in R&D on average, among the most of any sector.

The Latest in Emerging Technologies

SIA Applauds Appointment of Industry Leaders to Advise Commerce Department on CHIPS R&D Implementation

Press Release : 09/29/22

Industry Facts

Brochures and One Pagers : 04/21/22

Stanford Professors to be Honored for Excellence in Semiconductor Research

Press Release : 11/12/21
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