AI was a big focus on The ConFab and 2018 and we will continue that theme in 2019 with a keynote talk by IBM’s Jeff Welser.
The ConFab 2019 will return to The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on May 14-17. In 2018, AI and other leading technologies were discussed by speakers from IBM, Google, Nvidia, HERE Technologies, Silicon Catalyst, TechInsights, Siemens and Qorvo, among many others.
AI, which represents a market opportunity $2 trillion on top of the existing $1.5-2B information technology industry, is a huge game changer for the semiconductor industry. In addition to AI chips from traditional IC companies such as Intel, IBM and Qualcomm, more than 45 start-ups are working to develop new AI chips, with VC investments of more than $1.5B. Tech giants such as Google, Facebook, Microsoft,
Amazon, Baidu and Alibaba are also developing AI chips.
As Vice President and Lab Director at IBM Research – Almaden, Dr. Welser oversees exploratory and applied research. Home of the relational database and the world’s first hard disk drive, Almaden today continues its legacy of advancing data technology and analytics for Cloud and AI systems and software, and is increasingly focused on advanced computing technologies for AI, neuromorphic devices and quantum computing. After joining IBM Research in 1995, Dr. Welser has worked on a broad range of technologies, including novel silicon devices, high performance
CMOS and SOI device design, and next generation system components. He has directed teams in both development
and research as well as running industrial, academic and government consortiums, including the SRI Nanoelectronics
Research Initiative.
Dr. Welser will describe how making AI semiconductor engines will require a wildly innovative range of new materials, equipment, and design methodologies. To get to the next level in performance/Watt, innovations being researched at the AI chip level – at IBM and elsewhere — include:
low precision computing, analog computing and resistive computing.
Additional industry experts adding to The ConFab 2019 Agenda will be announced soon.
About The ConFab
The ConFab, now in its 15th year, is the premier semiconductor manufacturing and design conference and networking event that brings notable industry leaders together to connect and collaborate. For more information, visit www.theconfab.com. To inquire about participating, if you represent an equipment, material or service supplier, contact Kerry Hoffman, Director of Sales at khoffman@extensionmedia.com; contact Sally Bixby at sbixby@extensionmedia.com about attending as a guest.