The Dutch company ASML, as basically the only company in the world that makes the lithography machines used to produce the most complex microchips, has again become a geopolitical pawn. The United States government is preparing to force the Netherlands to ban ASML from selling almost any chip-making machines to China, NU.nl reports.
  • poopkins@lemmy.worldEnglish
    61·
    10 days ago

    I think you’re equally dismissive of the extreme complexity of these machines.

    It’s built upon an enormously complicated and precise arrangement of processes and infrastructure that took them decades to iterate towards. Even if you knew a shortcut to the answer and had infinite resources to throw at it, sorting out all the kinks is a monumental effort that can’t be fixed within a few years by throwing more heads and hands at it.

    I can’t overstate how complex these machines are. They are arguably one of the most advanced things mankind has ever built.