Former Intel CEO Touts Taiwan’s Manufacturing Amid New Investments
Former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger has announced new startup investments and collaborations in Taiwan with his venture capital firm Playground Global. The firm highlighted startups working on silicon photonics and power delivery for chips to tackle bottlenecks in performance and efficiency. Gelsinger also cautioned that Taiwan’s biggest challenge is energy, urging more capacity and greater resilience to sustain economic growth.
Former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger Announces New Startup Investments in Taipei
REPORTER (CHRIS GORIN):
Pat Gelsinger – the former CEO of US Chip giant Intel – is in Taipei with his new venture capital firm, announcing several new investments and collaborations here.
REPORTER (CHRIS GORIN):
Gelsinger, who ran Intel for 4 years, has visited Taiwan several times in recent years. He praised the country’s technological prowess during his speech.
Pat Gelsinger (PARTNER, PLAYGROUND GLOBAL):
There is no place like Taiwan. I sometimes joke that you can have an idea at breakfast, you can have a prototype by lunch and you can have manufacturing by dinner.
REPORTER (CHRIS GORIN):
Gelsinger’s new firm Playground Global publicly introduced two new portfolio companies, as well as Taiwan-based partnerships with startups it’s invested in.
Companies present included those working on silicon photonics and power delivery for chips – cutting edge technologies aimed at solving the main bottlenecks of computing speed and efficiency. Which analysts say is essential
Dylan Patel (FOUNDER, SEMIANALYSIS):
I’m most excited for various technologies in power delivery. Tha’ts an area that hasn’e been innovated on that much in the past 2 decades and many innovations can come.
The former tech boss also answered questions from the media. Asked about his thoughts on AI, he downplayed concerns over an investment bubble, and called AI a foundational technology. He also waded into the energy debate in Taiwan, warning the country would need to address its power supply issues to stay ahead of the curve.
Pat Gelsinger (PARTNER, PLAYGROUND GLOBAL):
The greatest issue in Taiwan, right, isn't in software or in architecture. It is energy, right? You are not in the position to have a resilient energy supply chain, and that I think puts your entire industry in a very precarious State.
REPORTER (CHRIS GORIN):
But those concerns haven’t slowed down investments in the country.
REPORTER (CHRIS GORIN):
Gelsinger’s announcements seem to be a vote of confidence in the future of AI and Taiwan’s tech manufacturing industry, from one of the biggest names in the business.
