Is Moore's Law Finally Dead?
End of Moore’s law
The end of Moore's Law is an inevitable reality that the semiconductor industry will eventually face. Moore's Law, which states that the number of transistors on a chip doubles every two years, has been a driving force in the rapid advancement of technology. However, as we approach the physical limits of miniaturization, it becomes clear that this trend cannot continue indefinitely. The fundamental obstacles identified by Moore himself, the speed of light and the finite size of atoms, will inevitably create a bottleneck for further progress.
Companies working on miniaturization
2012: 19 companies
2023: 4 companies
In the past, each new chip tech wave has required roughly 10 to 20 billion dollars per factory. For major manufacturers like TSMC and Global Foundries, investing that much money has been tough. For smaller companies, it’s been impossible. This is why fewer and fewer companies are left to push forward with the miniaturization game. Back in 2001, 19 companies were manufacturing chips with cutting-edge transistors. Fast forward to today, and we’ve only got four left standing: GlobalFoundries, Intel, Samsung, and TSMC.Those other 15 companies? They’ve made a strategic shift to churn out older, so-called “legacy” chips, that are still widely used but can be produced more cost-effectively.