TIME’s Editor-in-Chief, Sam Jacobs, engaged in a wide-ranging discussion with Lisa Su, AMD’s chair and CEO and TIME’s 2024 CEO of the Year, at a New York City dinner on December 11th.
This “Year in TIME” event, coinciding with the release of TIME’s Person of the Year issue, also included a conversation with the 2024 Athlete of the Year and a performance by the 2024 Icon of the Year.
Semiconductors, or chips, are fundamental components powering computers, phones, vehicles, internet services, and AI applications. From emails to online shopping, streaming, and AI interactions, AMD chips likely contribute to many computing processes.
During Su’s decade leading AMD, the company’s value surpassed Intel’s for the first time, and its stock price increased nearly fiftyfold. While the implications of President Trump’s second term for her industry remain uncertain, Su expressed cautious optimism, stating, “We are optimistic about business.”
Su expressed stronger confidence in AI’s transformative societal impact, calling it “the most important technology that I’ve certainly seen in my career.” Despite AI being in its early stages, she anticipates remarkable advancements within the next year.
Jacobs noted that many advanced chips are currently manufactured overseas. When asked about US-based manufacturing, Su projected a timeframe of three to five years. She attributed the recent surge in political attention to chips to the supply chain disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to increased investment in the sector.
Jacobs then broached the subject of competitors, Nvidia and Intel. Following Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger’s recent departure, Su, while declining to name a successor, expressed respect for Gelsinger and acknowledged the demanding nature of the role. She also denied any encouragement from the Biden administration to merge AMD with Intel.
Despite industry competition, Su highlighted the collaborative nature of the semiconductor industry, stating that “there are multiple winners in this market” and emphasizing the need for partnerships: “We’re partnering with many of the companies in the semiconductor industry because no one company has all of the good ideas. It is a place where we absolutely have to come together. There are places where we’re going to compete, and there are places where we’re going to collaborate.”
Jacobs concluded by asking about crucial decisions involving inaction. Su cited instances where her board questioned AMD’s absence from smaller device markets like phones and tablets. She defended AMD’s focus on its core strength—underlying technology— adding, “Big computers were not sexy 10 years ago, but they’re kind of sexy now.”
Jacobs concluded, “Well, Lisa Su, thank you for making supercomputers sexy.”
A Year in TIME was presented by American Family Insurance, Absolut, Land O’Lakes, and Nike.
