Microprocessors: From Transformative to Pervasive—and What’s Next

Microprocessor technology has enabled us to transition from a world with only a small number of computers, designed and used for specific missions and purposes, to a world seemingly awash in microprocessors—in data centers and cloud computing facilities, in laptops and smartphones, in smart devices and game consoles in our homes, in our cars and vehicles, in urban infrastructure and sensors of all types, and embedded in devices of all types—if you look (and count) closely enough. In fact, the amazing technological devices are so common that we even throw them out, when newer, better, cooler devices come along. What exactly are they, and how did they become so essential and ubiquitous—and disposable? How are they designed and made—and where? Why are we seeing a global supply shortage now, affecting availability and shipping times of computers, consoles, cars, and more? What does the global supply chain really look like, how fragile is it, and what are the risks? What does this future of this technology look like, how will it evolve, and what may alter, augment, or supplant silicon microprocessor technologies?