Brought to you by Micron Technology
By Koen De Backer
Over the past decade, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a pivotal term, driving significant technological advancements and operational efficiencies, cutting across various sectors.
As a catalyst for Industry 4.0, AI has revolutionised industry innovations with highly efficient human and machine interactions.
Particularly for chipmakers, AI has brought unprecedented transformations in time-to-market requirements, optimisation of production processes, enhanced flexibility, ensuring workforce quality and safety and boosting overall efficiency.
Building on the challenges and achievements, industries are gradually yet steadily advancing to the next generation, known as Generative AI (GenAI).
While both are subsets of machine learning, GenAI is characterised by its capacity to innovate and generate new ideas, as opposed to AI features that limit decision-making based on the vast data sets it has.
Application of GenAI in the semiconductor industry, specifically, is expected to be revolutionary as it can assist in dealing with challenges of complex chip design and manufacturing.
Implementing Gen AI in semiconductor operations will significantly increase productivity and efficiency by enabling ML/AI to identify patterns, classify information, and uncover insights from large amounts of existing data.
It will provide users with recommendations, automate decisions, optimise processes and outcomes, and prescribe actions. The semiconductor industry is exploring ways to leverage GenAI, which will be a huge productivity driver, empowering engineers, as well as businesses across the sectors.
Likewise, at Micron, the use of ML/AI solutions was implemented at scale in our operations — and it’s been transformative across all departments.
We use it with image, sound and temperature analysis in the front-end manufacturing process, but we’re also applying AI automation in engineering functions and in assembly and testing.
We are also starting to embed GenAI capabilities in our solutions. One of the major applications of GenAI is in Micron’s “smart searches”, which ensures smart functionality in its manufacturing processes with staggering efficiency.
Micron is also playing a crucial role in supplying critical GenAI memory and storage solutions. It serves as an agent for industries and consistently improves efficiency in their manufacturing processes by leveraging GenAI.
Micron technologies like HBM3E, high-density DDR5 DRAM, and multi-terabyte SSD storage enable the speed and capacity required for generative AI training and inference in the cloud so that industries can leverage the full benefit of GenAI.
According to Deloitte, 86 per cent of manufacturers believe that smart factories will be the main driver of competition within the next two years. There are over 15 billion connected IoT devices, and it is expected to be 29 billion by 2030.
Big machines using big data are transforming the industrial market, relying on complex generative AI workloads to manage the rapidly growing sensor data.
With it, engineers can go beyond just finding a problem’s root cause and can acquire tangible, proactive actions in a quantifiable way. The output of GenAI can be in the form of text, images, music and computer code, and it can even “prescribe” actions to team members.
Our teams are excited about what this new technology is enabling. Being freed up from mundane tasks to think more creatively opens a world of possibilities. Gen AI is where the big wave of innovation is coming from.
Demonstrating unwavering dedication to the semiconductor industry, Micron is actively propelling its evolution through strategic initiatives.
In a significant move, Micron has allocated a US$200 million AI venture fund aimed at fostering collaboration with startups. This fund serves as a testament to Micron’s commitment to innovation, facilitating the development of cutting-edge technologies within the semiconductor space.
Additionally, Micron is also moving ahead with the establishment of a joint data science program in partnership with key equipment and material suppliers. The collaborative effort is designed to harness the collective expertise of industry stakeholders, fostering a dynamic environment for advancements in data science.
Micron recognises the challenges inherent in this rapidly evolving landscape and has formulated a robust plan to address them. By proactively engaging with emerging technologies and fostering partnerships, Micron positions itself at the forefront of the semiconductor industry, poised to overcome challenges and drive continuous progress.
Koen De Backer is the corporate vice president of Smart Manufacturing and Artificial Intelligence at Micron Technology.
To learn more about Micron’s innovative solutions, please click here.
