Robots and AI Drones to Drive Tech Innovation, Says TSMC Chairman

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) Chairman and CEO C.C. Wei has highlighted advanced robots and AI-powered drones as key drivers of future technological innovation, reports Nikkei Asia. Speaking at Taiwan's National Science and Technology Conference on Monday, Wei emphasized the growing need for integrated hardware and software to power next-generation AI devices.

"One area I would point out is multifunctional robots, which is the critical direction for the future," Wei said. "I just spoke to the richest man in the world a few days ago, and he told me that multifunctional robots are the most critical area and that he is dedicating great efforts to it, rather than to cars."

This "richest man" is likely referring to Tesla founder Elon Musk, with whom Wei recently met. Tesla, along with other major chip giants such as Nvidia, Apple, Amazon, and Qualcomm, are all TSMC clients. Musk's company is currently developing Optimus, a humanoid robot designed to interact with its surroundings.

Wei emphasized that creating robots with human-like flexibility requires sophisticated chip designs integrated with software. He believes Taiwan possesses the necessary capabilities, environment, and talent to excel in this area, although further improvements are needed.

Wei, based on conversations with top TSMC clients over the past two months, noted that AI and its applications are consistently at the forefront of their discussions.

He also pointed to Taiwan's competitive advantage in drone technology. "Drones are a sector we have a good advantage in, and we have to focus on how to integrate precision machinery and software in this," Wei stated. "It is a very critical area and has a wide range of applications to help people in the future do various measurements, conduct various services and carry products."

Wei further emphasized the crucial role of AI in developing advanced energy technologies and optimizing resource consumption. "At TSMC, we've successfully implemented AI to boost production efficiency, saving billions of dollars. This potential is immense, and all industries, including the government, should harness the power of AI," he said.

"Taiwan has a lot of good chip design capabilities. We have a good chip manufacturing and packaging sector, and we have lots of companies that have technologies for building AI servers," Wei added. "All of these can help Taiwan play a critical role in the next AI era."