Could you give us an overview of RISC-V's mission and why it's expanding so rapidly, with over 4,500 members across 70+ countries?
RISC-V's rapid growth aligns with the increasing demand for more flexible and customizable processors in the semiconductor industry. The explosion of embedded and IoT devices, requiring smaller, lightweight processors, has created a need for more freedom in design. This flexibility wasn’t feasible with proprietary models like Arm or Intel, which imposed certain constraints. RISC-V, with its open and composable architecture, allows designers to tailor processors for specific workloads, unleashing innovation and spurring its growth. Our mission is to make RISC-V the most prolific architecture in history. The industry is gravitating toward open standards that allow flexibility, and RISC-V is at the forefront of this movement.
Why does RISC-V matter now, especially with the rise of generative AI and other technologies?
RISC-V matters because it represents a shift in how we approach semiconductor architecture, much like how Ethernet revolutionized networking, RISC-V is democratizing the layer between proprietary hardware and software. In the past, data centers were locked into single vendors, but with open standards like Ethernet, they could plug and play different servers and hardware. Similarly, RISC-V allows for the creation of processors that can be customized to meet various needs without the limitations of proprietary architectures. This flexibility is essential in today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape, including in generative AI. RISC-V’s open architecture allows companies to mix and match components, integrating their differentiation on top of standard building blocks. This enables faster innovation and customization for AI workloads, smart devices, and other advanced technologies, accelerating the competitive edge in various industries.
RISC-V is growing quickly, but what key challenges have you faced, especially from stakeholders resistant to change?
There’s always resistance to change, especially from organizations with significant legacy investments. Large multinationals, governments, universities, and startups are eager to adopt RISC-V because they see its potential to push the boundaries of semiconductor design. However, businesses that are more entrenched in older models and have limited scope find it harder to engage with disruptive technologies like RISC-V. This resistance is natural when disruptive technologies emerge, as seen across multiple industries. In semiconductors, where the status quo has dominated for years, some companies may be reluctant to adopt RISC-V because it challenges their traditional business models. However, the advantages of open collaboration and innovation, especially for companies willing to push the envelope, are too significant to ignore.
RISC-V is expanding globally, even in regions with geopolitical challenges, such as APAC. How do you navigate this, and what opportunities arise from such global expansion?
RISC-V’s ability to foster collaboration across geographies is one of its key strengths. By removing vendor lock-in, it opens up opportunities not only for businesses but also for national economies to invest in their own digital futures. For example, countries like India and Brazil are heavily investing in RISC-V as a foundational element of their semiconductor strategy, integrating it into their local digital economies while engaging globally. This global expansion creates a unique opportunity for countries to build their talent, manufacturing, and IP around RISC-V while contributing to the larger ecosystem. Governments are recognizing the importance of having open, flexible architecture that allows them to participate in the global semiconductor race without being restricted by proprietary technologies, enabling them to develop their own strengths while still engaging in the global market.
In the automotive sector, how does RISC-V add value, particularly with the rise of autonomous driving technologies?
In the automotive sector, safety and security are paramount, and RISC-V is playing a critical role in advancing these areas. Many RISC-V members, like Andes and SiFive, are working to ensure that the architecture meets stringent ISO certification standards, which are essential for the automotive industry.
The flexibility of RISC-V allows manufacturers to customize microprocessors for different automotive applications while maintaining security and reliability. One notable development is the adoption of Automotive Grade Linux on RISC-V, which provides a robust ecosystem for autonomous driving technologies.
With hundreds of microprocessors needed in a vehicle, RISC-V enables companies to create customized, secure solutions tailored to different parts of the car. Mobileye and MIPs are partnering to accelerate innovation in autonomous driving technologies and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). Companies like NXP are already using RISC-V for specific functions like discrete security modules, showing how RISC-V is becoming a key player in the future of automotive innovation.
Community seems to play a significant role in RISC-V’s growth. Are there any specific semiconductor hubs in the US that have surprised you with their adoption of the RISC-V standard?
During the past five years, RISC-V growth has remained evenly distributed across North America, Europe, and Asia. The surprise has not been who is engaging, but rather the rapid proliferation we’re seeing across the compute spectrum. At RISC-V International, our community thrives on open collaboration, with more than 80 working groups dedicated to various extensions and standards, including those relevant to AI and machine learning. These communities are essential for driving innovation and building partnerships, allowing companies to not only develop new technologies but also form strategic relationships for future growth. The ecosystem we're fostering is crucial for both startups and established multinational companies to collaborate and accelerate their development.
What keeps you up at night as RISC-V continues to grow so rapidly?
The rapid expansion of RISC-V is exciting but brings challenges, particularly in optimizing workloads across various sectors. We’re focused on ensuring a smooth on-ramp for developers who are adopting RISC-V, making it easy for them to port and optimize their designs efficiently. With the fast pace of adoption, we need to ensure that our ecosystem can scale without compromising quality, so we’re working hard to keep up with demand while streamlining the process for our stakeholders. Our goal is to make the transition to RISC-V as seamless as possible, ensuring that developers not only adopt it but also continue to invest in it for the long term. We’re seeing an increasing number of companies making that commitment, and our challenge is to support this growth while maintaining the flexibility and efficiency that have made RISC-V so appealing.
As someone with a bird’s eye view of the industry, where do you see the U.S. in three years, especially considering its focus on digital transformation and semiconductor growth?
The U.S. is heavily investing in its digital economy, with initiatives like the CHIPS Act driving both IP development and manufacturing. The country's long-standing strength in fostering startups and innovation will continue to be a key driver of growth, from university-level research to collaboration between companies. We’ll likely see continued growth in the startup ecosystem, alongside some natural consolidation through acquisitions and competition. At the same time, the U.S. is prioritizing its role in global standards, recognizing that leadership in open standards is essential for future growth.
Where do you see RISC-V in the next few years, and are there any key milestones you’d like to share?
RISC-V’s traction in the semiconductor industry has been immense, and I believe it will be a part of every semiconductor within the next five to ten years. A few years ago, analysts reported that RISC-V was present in nearly a quarter of all design starts. Today, it’s hard to find any design start that doesn’t include RISC-V. This shows just how much momentum we’ve gained, and we’re already seeing RISC-V embedded in microcontrollers and moving steadily into primary processors. Looking forward, we’re focused on ensuring consistency and coherence across the base building blocks of RISC-V. We're developing a certification program around profiles and platforms to provide users with greater control and avoid vendor lock-in.
