TSMC Declares Moore’s Law Irrelevant in Modern Semiconductor Industry

TSMC Declares Moore's Law Irrelevant in Modern Semiconductor Industry

TSMC's Stance on Moore's Law

TSMC, a leading semiconductor manufacturer, has declared Moore's Law irrelevant in today's market. The company has shifted its focus to efficient methods of technology scaling, moving away from the traditional principles set by Moore's Law.

Innovation Beyond Moore's Law

The semiconductor industry has evolved significantly, with companies like TSMC pioneering new ways to drive innovation. Moore's Law, which emphasizes continuous node shrinking for performance improvements, is no longer the sole path to progress. TSMC has developed sustainable and superior workarounds that enhance technology scaling.

Insights from Dr. Kevin Zhang

In an interview with Ian Cutress, Dr. Kevin Zhang, SVP and Deputy Co-COO of TSMC, highlighted the company's departure from Moore's Law. He emphasized that the influx of AI has massively scaled compute power, thanks to TSMC's advancements in semiconductor products. When asked about Moore's Law, Dr. Zhang stated:

"Well, my simple answer is - I don't care. As long as we can continue to drive the technology scaling, I don't care if Moore's Law is alive or dead."

Dr. Zhang pointed out that Moore's Law has been narrowly defined based on two-dimensional scaling, which is no longer the case. TSMC continues to integrate more functions and capabilities into smaller form factors, achieving higher performance and power efficiency.

TSMC's Technological Advancements

TSMC's technology roadmap demonstrates significant improvements. The transition from 5nm to 3nm nodes has resulted in a 30% increase in energy efficiency. Dr. Zhang also discussed TSMC's CoWoS supply status, highlighting the company's focus on rapidly upscaling production lines. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) stands at 60%, with further growth potential. CoWoS is described as the "workhorse for AI accelerators," indicating exciting future prospects.

The Future of Semiconductor Innovation

Moore's Law, once a benchmark for the industry, is gradually being replaced by new techniques. One notable example is Huang's Law, which has driven a 1000-fold performance increase in computing chips over the past decade.

Conclusion

TSMC's innovative approach and technological advancements signify a new era in the semiconductor industry, where Moore's Law is no longer the defining factor. The company's focus on technology scaling and integration of advanced functionalities ensures continued progress and exciting developments in the future.