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Decades-old conventions within the power semiconductor industry are facing unprecedented challenges as Omdia predicts a surge in innovative semiconductors driven by the electric vehicle (EV) revolution. The firm raises the question of whether the artificial intelligence (AI) boom will have a parallel impact.

Callum Middleton, senior analyst for semiconductor components, observes, "An industry traditionally reliant on silicon technologies is now encountering both challenges and opportunities with devices crafted from novel materials." Middleton notes that the development of gallium nitride (GaN) and silicon carbide (SiC) power devices commenced in the previous century, and their technological maturity aligns with the sustainability movement. Devices manufactured from these new materials promise significant efficiency gains in our energy-intensive world.

The initial integration of SiC devices into Tesla electric vehicles in 2018 propelled the technology from research laboratories and test designs into mainstream applications. Subsequently, the EV market has experienced substantial growth, prompting more manufacturers to consider incorporating these technologies into their vehicles due to their performance, charging speed, and range benefits.

This early adoption has allowed SiC to validate its performance and reliability in real-world scenarios, and a similar validation has been achieved for GaN through phone and laptop chargers. As the AI boom accelerates, it is expected to exert additional pressure on our energy supply and distribution systems, according to Omdia. To fully capitalize on the benefits of AI sustainably, efficiency must be maximized without compromising profitability, the firm emphasizes. The adoption of SiC or GaN solutions for power supplies in data centers, for instance, can significantly reduce energy consumption while simultaneously creating space for additional computing power.

Callum Middleton believes, "These groundbreaking devices, along with the decades of research, development, testing, and engineering that precede them, may not necessarily make headlines, but they will be instrumental in enabling the scale and potential of artificial intelligence."

Middleton will present the latest semiconductor research from the market research firm at the 2023 Omdia Korea Technology Conference in Seoul, South Korea (November 22–24).