The 2010s – Smartphones, data centers and the dawn of AI

Recap 

The 2000s ushered in the age of mobile computing, with smartphones and wireless broadband reshaping semiconductor demand. The collapse of the dot-com bubble led to early pricing struggles, but by mid-decade, surging demand for mobile processors and networking chips fueled industry growth. The shift from desktop to mobile required new pricing strategies, with premium SoCs commanding high margins while competition in commoditized segments drove costs lower. The rise of 300 mm wafers and sub-100 nm nodes cut manufacturing costs but required immense capital investment, reinforcing the industry's reliance on high-volume production to maintain profitability.