Top stories from April

Tech: Broken out into 2 industries –
1. Tech/IT
2. Semiconductors

Tech/IT/Cybersecurity

Apple: Devices exposed unless updated with iOS fixes (CompTIA, 4/17)

AI hallucinations beget new cyberthreat: slopsquatting (CompTIA, 4/15

Eye on the sky: Drones emerging as a major cyberthreat (ISACA, 4/11)

AI reshapes cybersecurity career paths  (ISACA, 4/1)

AirPlay bug lets hackers move among Wi-Fi networks (CompTIA, 4/30)

Top trend

Key force shaping the industry with implications and context

At RSAC Conference in April, AI (particularly agentic AI) and non-human identities were a big focus. How to secure these autonomous AI agents given worries about data breaches or misuse access credentials. Several companies emphasized the need for identity management systems that are designed to safeguard against NHIs through continuous monitoring and kill switches. 

Additional trends

AI tools to enhance threat response (Cisco and Splunk)

Cloud Security Alliance and tech giants tackle compliance automation (Google, Oracle, Salesforce, and Deloitte Italy)

Semiconductors

MediaTek's Dimensity Auto leverages 3nm tech (JEDEC, 4/23)

Cadence releases 12.8Gbps HBM4 memory IP for AI, HPC (JEDEC, 4/23)

Green data centers redefining digital infrastructure  (JEDEC, 4/23)

JEDEC releases HBM4 standard for enhanced computing  (JEDEC, 4/17)

White House: Taiwan tariff to spare semiconductors (JEDEC, 4/3)

Top trend

The industry is gearing up for advancements in 2-nanometer and sub-2nm chip technology. The technology is expected to improve performance and energy efficiency and support AI, 5G mobile devices and HPC. TSMC will lead with production planned in the second half of this year. Samsung will use 2nm process for its Exynos 2600, which it will use in the Galaxy S26 line of phones.

Inetl is not expected to move to 2nm, deciding istead to stick with 18A node for its Arrow Lake processors.

Additional trends

Supply chain and political tensions: The trade war between the US and China has sparked several trends, including China's efforts to become more independent and rely less on US-made chips, especially in the automotive space. The second trend is an increase in semiconductor investments, particularly in Europe, as it looks to also onshore more chip production.