At the 2026 Next Tech Forum, KAIST Professor Kim Jeong-ho outlined the critical factor that will determine the fate of semiconductor companies over the next decade: their ability to adapt to the AI-driven transformation of industries.
"The companies that win in semiconductors are those that pivot from serving traditional computing to powering the AI economy," Professor Kim stated, emphasizing that the shift is not optional but existential.
He argued that the semiconductor industry is entering a new phase where demand is no longer driven solely by smartphones and PCs, but by AI infrastructure—data centers, edge devices, and specialized AI accelerators. The key differentiator will be how quickly firms can develop and mass-produce chips optimized for AI workloads, such as high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and neural processing units (NPUs).
Professor Kim also warned that the window for catching up in AI chip technology is narrowing. Countries and companies that fail to invest now in advanced packaging, chiplet architectures, and energy-efficient designs will fall irreversibly behind.
The talk was part of the Next Tech Forum organized by Edaily, which focused on the theme of AI driving the next industrial revolution. The forum also featured opening remarks by Lee Ik-won, CEO of Edaily, who underscored that AI is no longer a niche but the primary engine of economic growth.
Professor Kim's keynote serves as a wake-up call for semiconductor players globally: adapt to the AI era or risk obsolescence.