The chip industry is booming again, but only for companies building AI infrastructure

Global silicon wafer shipments rose 13.1% year over year to 3,275 million square inches, signaling a rebound in semiconductor demand.

The recovery is being driven mainly by AI and data center infrastructure, not by consumer electronics.

Chipmakers and foundries are shifting capacity toward computing silicon, high-bandwidth memory, and related devices.

PC and smartphone demand remains soft, while wafer shipments still fell 4.7% sequentially due to seasonal effects.