A Timeline of the US Semiconductor Market in 2025

It has been a year full of events for the U.S. semiconductor industry, with significant developments shaping the landscape of the sector. From leadership changes at Intel to proposed export rules by the Biden administration, these events are crucial in understanding the current state of the U.S. semiconductor market in 2025.

July

Intel Continues to Look for Efficiency
On July 24, Intel announced its decision to scale back on manufacturing operations, with plans to consolidate test operations and reduce its workforce to around 75,000 employees by the end of the year.

Trump’s AI Action Plan
The Trump administration unveiled its AI Action Plan on July 23, focusing on the need for U.S. chip export controls and coordination with allies, although specific details on these restrictions were not provided.

Groundbreaking UAE AI Deal Reportedly on Hold
A significant deal between the United Arab Emirates and Nvidia to purchase AI chips worth billions of dollars was reportedly put on hold due to national security concerns and fears of smuggling chips to China.

Nvidia is a Bargaining Chip
On July 16, the U.S. Commerce Security Howard Lutnick announced the resumption of AI chip sales to China by semiconductor firms like Nvidia and AMD, tied to trade discussions between the U.S. and China on rare earth elements.

U.S. Chips Head Back to China
Nvidia filed an application to restart sales of H20 AI chips in China on July 14, with plans to introduce a new chip, the RTX Pro, tailored for the Chinese market.

Malaysia Fights Chip Smuggling
On July 14, Malaysia introduced trade permits for U.S.-made AI chips, requiring individuals or businesses to notify the government 30 days before exporting such chips.

June

Intel Appoints New Leadership
In June, Intel made four new leadership appointments to emphasize its engineering focus, with the goal of becoming an engineering-first company once again.

Intel to Begin Layoffs
Intel announced significant layoffs within its Intel Foundry staff in June, aiming to restructure the organization under the leadership of CEO Lip-Bu Tan.

Nvidia Won’t Report on China
Nvidia decided to exclude the Chinese market from its future revenue and profit forecasts in June, in response to the impact of U.S. export restrictions on its H20 AI chips.

AMD Acquires the Team Behind Untether AI
AMD made an acquisition in June, acquiring the team behind Untether AI to enhance its AI offerings.

AMD is Coming for Nvidia’s AI Hardware Dominance
In June, AMD acquired AI software optimization startup Brium to compete with Nvidia in the AI hardware market.

May

Nvidia Lays Out the Impact of Chip Export Restrictions
Nvidia reported significant financial losses due to U.S. licensing requirements on its H20 AI chips in May, projecting a considerable hit to its revenue.

AMD Acquires Enosemi
AMD announced the acquisition of Enosemi, a silicon photonics startup, in May to expand its semiconductor portfolio.

Tensions Start to Flare Between China and the U.S.
May witnessed escalating tensions between China and the U.S. over export restrictions on AI chips, leading to a potential conflict between the two nations.

Intel May Be Starting to Offload its Non-Core Units
In May, Intel hinted at spinning off its non-core business units to focus on core operations, indicating a strategic shift in its business model.

The Biden Administration’s AI Diffusion Rule is Officially Dead
The U.S. Department of Commerce rescinded the Biden administration’s Artificial Intelligence Diffusion Rule in May, signaling a shift in export policies.

A Last-Minute Reversal
A last-minute decision by the Trump administration to delay enforcement of AI chip export restrictions marked a change in policy direction.

April

Anthropic Doubles Down on its Support of Chip Export Restrictions
Anthropic reaffirmed its support for chip export restrictions in April, prompting a response from Nvidia on the need for innovation in the semiconductor industry.

Planned Layoffs at Intel
Intel announced plans for significant layoffs in April to streamline management and refocus on engineering capabilities.

The Trump Administration Further Restricts Chip Exports
In April, the Trump administration imposed additional export restrictions on AI chips, affecting companies like Nvidia, TSMC, and Intel.

Nvidia Appears to Talk its Way Out of Further Chip Exports
Reports surfaced in April suggesting Nvidia’s CEO may have negotiated an exemption for H20 AI chips from export restrictions.

An Alleged Agreement Between Intel and TSMC
Rumors of a joint chipmaking venture between Intel and TSMC in April hinted at potential industry collaborations.

Intel Spins Off Noncore Assets, Announces New Initiative
Intel’s strategic move to spin off non-core assets and focus on custom semiconductors was announced in April under new leadership.

March

Intel Names a New CEO
In March, Intel appointed Lip-Bu Tan as the new CEO, signaling a shift towards an engineering-focused approach.

February

Intel’s Ohio Chip Plant Gets Delayed Again
Construction delays on Intel’s Ohio chip plant in February pushed back the project timeline to 2030.

Senators Call for More Chip Export Restrictions
U.S. senators advocated for increased chip export restrictions in February, citing concerns over the use of AI chips in advanced models.

January

DeepSeek Releases its Open “Reasoning” Model
Chinese AI startup DeepSeek’s release of the R1 “reasoning” model in January sparked debate within the semiconductor industry.

Joe Biden’s Executive Order on Chip Exports
Former President Joe Biden proposed new export restrictions on U.S.-made AI chips in January, setting a tiered structure for chip exports.

Anthropic’s Dario Amodei Weighs in on Chip Export Restrictions
Anthropic’s CEO supported existing chip export controls in January, urging further restrictions to maintain U.S. competitiveness.

This overview provides a comprehensive timeline of key events shaping the U.S. semiconductor market in 2025, highlighting the industry’s dynamics and challenges.