Anyone in the market for a vehicle today is painfully aware of the role semiconductors play in their construction. Other than a cellphone or computer, it might have been difficult to believe before that something as small as a computer chip figures so prominently in our everyday lives. Or how the lack thereof could bring entire industries to a virtual standstill.
As this Forbes article explains, semiconductors power most of the electronics we use today. Perhaps even the device you’re using to read this article. They have made the explosive growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) possible. Our hardware demands them.
Semiconductors for good
But, to borrow a phrase from superhero lore: “with great power comes great responsibility.” That was the sentiment shared by Dipti Vachani, the Senior Vice President and General Manager of Automotive and IoT Line of Business at Arm, one of the world leaders in semiconductor chip design, during our recent conversation.
While the name might sound generic to those outside the industry, Vachani says that Arm touches more than 70% of the world’s population by powering technologies in industries such as automotive, IoT, mobile, and infrastructure. It is a large player in the vast collection of companies responsible for designing and creating semiconductor – or chip – technologies.
Vachani says the semiconductor industry is an exciting place, with the growing role of electronics in our lives accounting for a projection that the sector will expand to a $500 billion industry in 2021.
The sheer size of that industry means that chip companies and innovators have a collective responsibility to ensure the foundations of computing are secure, safe, and deliver the performance and efficiency required, says Vachani. Further, and what she finds really exciting, is the potential for this technology to power transformational innovations that positively impact the world. That is her focus at Arm.
To explain, she shared examples of companies using Arm chip technologies for environmental change. Hypergiant is using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve algae bioreactors that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Another, Rainforest Connection, is working with conservationists in Indonesia to deploy devices that listen for the tell-tale sound of heavy machinery and chainsaws in order to detect illegal logging activity.
Vachani is clearly proud to be part of a team ensuring powerful, reliable, and secure chip technologies so that these companies can attack real-world problems around the globe.
Building a diverse semiconductor workforce
Vachani’s path to a tech career was launched when her ninth-grade teacher suggested she sign up for a coding class. While coding was uncommon in high school at the time, the teacher’s enthusiasm was infectious and inspired her to give it a try. Vachani went on to earn her computer engineering degree and begin work in the field.
One of her first jobs was “working on AI before AI was cool.” She was part of a team that developed the first level of anti-lock braking systems and automatic transmission technologies. She remains a bit awed looking back today to realize how far these technologies have evolved even within such a short timeframe.
This idea of technology in application is what continues to inspire Vachani today. For while she did chart a more traditional path to her career in tech, she never imagined how the opportunities she’d encounter would touch the world around her in such impactful ways.
Vachani is adamant that we need more women in the technology field, but also acknowledges that we need more people of all types to consider the career choice. As she explains, technology touches all aspects of everyone’s lives in some way. So, we need a diverse workforce that represents people of all backgrounds, genders, and beliefs to ensure that technology operates responsibly for all of their needs.
Vachani is also quick to point out that even though she has more than two decades of experience in the tech sector and has been very successful, she still encounters microaggressions. She believes that a more diverse workforce and leadership teams will help change this unfortunate reality for other women and marginalized groups.
Looking ahead, Vachani is very excited about the potential for the use of AI. She sees a transition to a world where AI can analyze and learn in ways that help automotive, IoT, and other markets evolve and grow into innovations like fully autonomous vehicles and smart homes. To get there, she hopes to inspire and train a next generation of diverse technology leaders.