Big dialect: Former Intel CEO Pat Gailinger has suspected TSMC’s effectiveness of investment of $ 100 billion in US chip manufacturing, claiming that it would not restore the US leadership in the semiconductor industry. In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Gellinger emphasized the important role of research and development in maintaining a semiconductor leadership.
“If you do not have R&D in the US, you will not have a semiconductor leadership in the US,” he told the publication. Gelsinger reported that the main research and development activities of TSMC are concentrated in Taiwan, with no announcement to transfer these tasks to the United States.
Accepting that TSMC’s investment would increase American semiconductor production capacity, Gelsinger argued that the creation alone is insufficient to achieve technical leadership again. “You do not have leadership in America until you are designating the next generation transistor technology in the US,” he said.
Gelsinger admitted that President Donald Trump’s tariff threats were “incrementally beneficial” in encouraging companies such as TSMC to establish features on US soil. However, he said that it would not address the original issue of technical leadership alone.
Former Intel chief’s comments come in the United States in view of TSMC’s plans to invest an additional $ 100 billion in the United States, leading to the total planned US investment to $ 165 billion. The expansion includes three new construction plants, two advanced packaging facilities and the construction of a major R&D center in Arizona. According to TSMC CC Wei, investment is expected to drive thousands of high-blessings, high-technical jobs and over $ 200 billion in indirect economic production in the United States in the next decade.
On a large scale of TSMC’s investment, Gelsinger’s criticism highlights a significant difference between manufacturing capacity and technological innovation. The TSMC has indicated that its American development will focus on refining existing processes, while its main research and development will be in Taiwan. This system, according to jayinger, eliminates American dependence on foreign-developed technologies.
Geller’s comment reflects widespread concerns about the American Semiconductor industry’s ability to compete globally. Despite large -scale investment and government support through initiatives like the Chips Act, the questions remain on whether these efforts will be sufficient to stop the difference with industry leaders.
In addition to its criticism of TSMC’s investment, Gelsinger touched other industry developments. He rejected the achievements of Chinese AI Startup Deepsek as “good engineering”, but lacked “major successes”.
He also emphasized the need for new techniques to significantly reduce the cost of estimated AI’s estimate, arguing that the current AI solutions are “very expensive” for broader deployment.
Gellinger’s comments come when he transitions to a new role as a general partner in Playground Global, a silicon Valley venture capital firm that specializes in deep tech investment. His departure from Intel in December 2024 marked the end of a term to revive the company’s manufacturing capabilities and challenge TSMC’s market dominance.
