The war of technologies
Hello, friends. My intention today is to talk to you about a technology that is everywhere, in every corner of our society, and perhaps we don't even realize it. I am talking about microchips, those tiny components that make the modern world work. We may not realize it, but without them, life as we know it would not be possible.
Microchips are in all areas of our lives, from our cars to our indispensable and necessary cell phones. The island of Taiwan is like the world capital of this tiny technology. By far the largest producer of microchips on the planet. This is why it generates geopolitical tensions. Globalization is a question of labor costs, which are lower on this island. Whoever manufactures microprocessors controls part of the global industry. So they become the target of the great powers.
For the last five decades, geopolitics has been based on oil, but we seem to be moving into a new era where the real question is: who controls the microchips? So in the next 5 decades it will be crucial, where the microchips are manufactured.
The production of these tiny electronics requires cutting-edge technology and a large amount of silicon. A common chemical element found in sand that would undoubtedly go unnoticed by many, but turns out to be essential for our digital life, as it is the main element used in the construction of microchips.
Taiwan, with 50% of the world's production of microchips, has become the epicenter of this technological revolution. The dependence on microchips became evident in 2021, when the automotive industries had to stop their productions because these small components were missing. During the coronavirus the automotive industry had to shut down like many others, so they had to cancel their orders. Microchip production did not cease, so they turned to other markets. After the pandemic ended, the automotive industry restarted and placed new orders, at this point demand exceeded supply. This moment was enough to demonstrate to the world, mainly to the great powers, their dependence on them and the need to be self-sufficient.
Suddenly, microprocessors have become a strategic resource, something like the gold of the 21st century. The great powers, in the year 2022, presented their master plans to mitigate the consequences of shortages and reduce their technological dependence. A fierce competition to see who is ahead in the chip race, it is as if we were in a kind of technological war. In my opinion, yes, although it should be clearer in a few years, when the waters run their course.
We are in the presence of the chip war, and many of the movies we used to label as science fiction have begun to become reality. After all, microprocessors will be, or perhaps already are, the most important resource in our digital lives in the future. Who would have thought it? It seems that Taiwan knew it. So the next time we look at our phone, we should take a moment and reflect that we are all, absolutely all, active participants in this technological revolution.
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📷 Xiaomi Redmi 9A | 💻 Asus Celeron N4020
Original Spanish text: Translated and formatted with Hive Translator by @noakmilo.
Twitter @bluisdey
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