So, I’ve read all the Executive Forecasts and read them again. Using my newfound knowledge, if I had to compare the electronics industry in 2025 with an internal combustion engine it would be a performance V8 with ‘artificial intelligence powered’ super charger, yet it would also be misfiring on a cylinder and suffering from an annoying intermittent fault. All in all, the industry is poised for significant activity but hamstrung by uncertainty caused by variables beyond any company’s direct control.
Strangely, I simultaneously feel both certain and uncertain about the future. I have complete confidence that human ingenuity and resulting innovation will always drive manufacturing industry forward. However, how we get there could be a rocky road with unexpected twists and turns, creating an element of uncertainty. For companies ready to take this challenge on the nose, this mixed state can be empowering and full of opportunities.
I referenced AI earlier because my own desk research on the subject has resulted in some almost unbelievable numbers. I could be wrong but my understanding is that the cost of training the latest AI models has reached nearly $200 million. Again, I could be wrong but digging deeper the numbers suggest the hardware contribution to those costs could be up to 60 per cent..
Given that, in reality, AI is still in its infancy and that industrial AI will probably be dominated by predictive AI at the edge, then the potential for future growth is huge.