Moore’s Law states that the number of transistors on a microchip double roughly every two years, making the technology increasingly powerful, smaller, and cheaper.
This observation, made by Gordon Moore in 1965, explains why, for decades, computers, cell phones and other devices developed so quickly. Today, however, their pace is beginning to slow down due to physical and economic limits.
Transistors are now so small that they are almost the size of atoms, unfortunately, this has resulted in unwanted quantum effects and heating problems. Moreover, making ever-smaller chips is so expensive that only a few companies in the world can afford it. Still, this does not mean the end of technological progress, but rather the beginning of a new stage.
Instead of making smaller chips, the industry is betting on making them smarter. Specialized processors are emerging, that are designed for specific tasks, such as artificial intelligence or supporting networks – with their specialization offering greater efficiency.
The use of chiplets and 3D packaging is also gaining ground, allowing for stacking and combining several chips in a single module. At the same time, research is being conducted on new materials that can replace silicon and disruptive technologies, such as quantum computing. While the era of accelerated miniaturization is behind us, innovation lives on, now focused on better designs, greater sustainability, and system-level performances.