Each year, Semiconductor Digest turns to industry leaders and analysts to get their viewpoints on what they expect to see in the coming year in terms of critical tech and business trends.
AI
2025: Navigating Shifts in Semiconductor Demand
I would expect numbers for wafer fab equipment (WFE) to be between 5% and 10% growth, reaching the low $100 billions for 2025.
2025: AI, Device Complexity Will Continue to Drive Packaging and Test Demands
The products used to power today’s AI/ML applications are far more complex than anything our industry has seen before.
2025: Energy-Efficient, High-Performance AI Inference is Essential
The pressing need for seamless, real-time processing calls for solutions purpose-built for continuous, energy-efficient inference workloads. Metrics like inference-per-second-per-dollar-per-watt (I/S/D/W) are emerging as key indicators of value, underscoring efficiency and sustainability.
2025: MRAM’s Path Forward in a Demanding Landscape
Spin-transfer-torque magnetoresistive random access memory (STT-MRAM) continues to stand out by meeting critical demands for high endurance, non-volatility, and low latency, particularly in applications at the far edge.
2025: MEMS Mirrors Will Fix Automotive LiDAR
Driven by advancements in the MEMS mirrors used in light detection and ranging (LiDAR), Tier 1 suppliers and automakers will begin to design more accurate, resilient, and affordable perception systems in automotive vehicles.
2025: The Increasing Importance of High-Performance Power Management
Power management devices, which include voltage regulators and power converters, are critical components that ensure optimal energy consumption and performance in the most advanced electronic systems, including artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning.
2025: AI Momentum Continues
The optical interposer, which POET pioneered, is gaining traction as a platform technology that can meet the high-volume production requirements of AI clusters while reducing cost and power consumption.
2025: Expanded GEM300 Standard Usage and Cybersecurity
As we look toward 2025, one trend we observe gaining momentum is the increased adoption of GEM300 standards for wafer sizes smaller than 300mm.
2025: Optimizing Automated Test Equipment for the Era of AI and Beyond
The role of advanced ATE systems will become even more critical; smaller geometries increase test sensitivity requirements, demanding ATE systems with higher precision and accuracy.
