Why GlobalFoundries’ Chips Are So Important To The U.S.

In its short 14 year history, GlobalFoundries has risen to the world’s third largest chip foundry. Although it’s not manufacturing chips at the bleeding edge, or seeing tremendous gains from the generative AI boom like Nivida has, GlobalFoundries is quietly helping power nearly every connected device. Its chips are inside every high-end smartphone, cars, smart speakers and yes, the servers running generative AI. It’s also the only major chip foundry based in the U.S., giving it an edge as tensions with China cause concern over the world’s reliance on chips made in Taiwan by TSMC. Now it’s spending about $7 billion to expand production in parts of the world with lower risk: Singapore, Germany, France, and upstate New York. CNBC went to Malta, New York, for a firsthand look at the expansion and to ask how it plans to stay ahead while focusing on the older chips still essential for everyday devices. Chapters: 2:19 - Exiting the leading edge 5:45 - Global growth 9:48 - Making chips in America