Today’s conversation is all about TSMC. We go deep into the chip development process from start to finish, the fabs they’re constructed in, TSMC's business model, the competitive landscape, and what the future may hold.

My guest today is Jon from Asianometry (@asianometry), creator of the hugely popular Asianometry YouTube channel where he posts video essays on business, technology, and history within Asia.

I hope you enjoy my conversation with Jon from Asianometry on TSMC.

 

(For reference, this episode was recorded January 25, 2021)

 

For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page on  https://compoundingpodcast.com/ep30 

 

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Show Notes:

[00:00:31 ] - [First question] - Some background on TSMC

[00:03:44 ] - The chip development process

[00:05:36 ] - The science behind it

[00:08:52 ] - What do the fabs look like?

[00:11:19 ] - Why do fabs need so much water?

[00:13:26 ] - Why are fabs getting bigger?

[00:14:46 ] - Apple and TSMC’s relationship

[00:16:24 ] - ASML and TSMC’s relationship

[00:20:41 ] - CAPEX, Competition and a potential glut?

[00:24:47 ] - Taiwan and TSMC’s relationship

[00:27:05 ] - Would Apple ever compete with TSMC?

[00:30:43 ] - TSMC Q4 Results and future plans

[00:35:48 ] - Why is TSMC so secretive around their fabs

[00:37:37 ] - Can the US feasibly compete in the semiconductor space?

[00:40:15 ] - Is Moore's law really dead?

[00:42:33 ] - Anything else that's consequential about TSMC's future?

 

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Connect with Asianometry:

Asianometry’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Asianometry/featured 

Follow Asianometry on Twitter: https://twitter.com/asianometry

Asianometry Newsletter: https://asianometry.substack.com/ 

Asianometry Podcast: https://anchor.fm/asianometry 

 

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Mentioned/Recommended Content:

How TSMC Came to Taiwan's South: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x02pq2HeKQY 

TSMC is more than just Taiwan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCnF-i1XDiU 

How Taiwan Created TSMC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fVrWDdll0g 

ASML: TSMC's Critical Supplier, Explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFsn1CUyXWs 

 

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If you’ve read this far down, I appreciate you :)