Cover Story: How the Global Semiconductor Industry Turned Into a Free-for-All

The global semiconductor industry is getting increasingly crowded as newcomers pour in from all fronts seeking to gain a foothold in advanced chips to power new technologies. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has fueled demand for high-capacity chips as tech companies and device makers race to deliver smarter services and products. The global chip shortage throughout 2021 prompted many of them to rely more on themselves.