Pat Gelsinger’s bold plan to revive Moore’s Law: can federal support make it happen?

DCM Editorial Summary: This story has been independently rewritten and summarised for DCM readers to highlight key developments relevant to the region. Original reporting by Tech Crunch, click this post to read the original full article.

Pat Gelsinger, who was recently ousted from Intel, is now a general partner at Playground Global, where he focuses on ten startups, particularly xLight, a semiconductor company that has secured a preliminary deal for up to $150 million from the U.S. Commerce Department. This arrangement has drawn attention to a trend in Silicon Valley regarding government equity stakes in key companies, sparking concerns about the implications for free enterprise. Gelsinger, who serves as xLight’s executive chairman, is optimistic about the company’s potential to address significant challenges in the semiconductor industry, particularly in lithography, which is essential for chip manufacturing.

xLight is developing innovative “free electron lasers” that could transform the lithography process by generating extreme ultraviolet light at unprecedented precision. Gelsinger believes this technology could help sustain Moore’s Law, which predicts that computing power will double approximately every two years. While the deal with the Commerce Department is still in its early stages and details are subject to change, Gelsinger is confident in the long-term vision for xLight, which aims to produce its first silicon wafers by 2028.

The leadership of xLight includes Nicholas Kelez, who has a unique background in quantum computing and large-scale scientific facilities. Kelez explained that the timing for xLight’s technology is more favorable now than it was a decade ago when similar approaches were abandoned due to immaturity. The company’s strategy is to treat light generation as a utility, which could enhance efficiency and power in lithography.

Despite the competitive landscape, Gelsinger views potential rivals like Substrate not as threats but as future collaborators. His relationship with the Trump administration has also raised eyebrows, but he defends the partnership as necessary for national competitiveness in the semiconductor sector. Gelsinger emphasizes that the government’s investment in xLight comes with minimal strings attached, allowing the company to pursue its goals while contributing to the broader industrial strategy. Overall, he sees his role at Playground Global as an opportunity to influence a range of technologies while maintaining a focus on business objectives.