Shailesh Chitnis
@shaileshchitnis.bsky.social
Business writer, The Economist. Interested in chips, pills and innovation. Recovering entrepreneur.
How good is China's domestic AI chip capability? Depending on who you ask, the country is either hopelessly behind or already catching up. In the @economist.com I try to decode this. tl;dr: America’s dominance in AI chips is secure, for now. Export controls have worked. (1/n)
October 23, 2025 at 7:40 AM
How good is China's domestic AI chip capability? Depending on who you ask, the country is either hopelessly behind or already catching up. In the @economist.com I try to decode this. tl;dr: America’s dominance in AI chips is secure, for now. Export controls have worked. (1/n)
The AI race between China and America has hidden an interesting trend: the boom in AI in India.
Indians have embraced AI in a scale not seen in other countries. Culturally too, the country seems more optimistic about its impact than in other countries. (1/n)
www.economist.com/asia/2025/09...
Indians have embraced AI in a scale not seen in other countries. Culturally too, the country seems more optimistic about its impact than in other countries. (1/n)
www.economist.com/asia/2025/09...
AI is erupting in India
American firms are piling on users—and sucking up mountains of data
www.economist.com
September 19, 2025 at 8:06 AM
The AI race between China and America has hidden an interesting trend: the boom in AI in India.
Indians have embraced AI in a scale not seen in other countries. Culturally too, the country seems more optimistic about its impact than in other countries. (1/n)
www.economist.com/asia/2025/09...
Indians have embraced AI in a scale not seen in other countries. Culturally too, the country seems more optimistic about its impact than in other countries. (1/n)
www.economist.com/asia/2025/09...
There's just a lot happening with chips these days! Some time back it would have seemed wild that the US government could become the single largest shareholder of Intel. But here we are. This week's @economist.com
tries to make sense of it. (1/n)
#semiconductors #tsmc #intel
tries to make sense of it. (1/n)
#semiconductors #tsmc #intel
August 22, 2025 at 6:40 AM
There's just a lot happening with chips these days! Some time back it would have seemed wild that the US government could become the single largest shareholder of Intel. But here we are. This week's @economist.com
tries to make sense of it. (1/n)
#semiconductors #tsmc #intel
tries to make sense of it. (1/n)
#semiconductors #tsmc #intel
Last week I was in Taiwan as part of a profile on TSMC (coming soon!), a company now worth over $1trn. As an ex-chip designer, it was like a pilgrimage, visiting a country where "CoWoS" is not something only geeks know about. A few thoughts (1/n).
July 25, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Last week I was in Taiwan as part of a profile on TSMC (coming soon!), a company now worth over $1trn. As an ex-chip designer, it was like a pilgrimage, visiting a country where "CoWoS" is not something only geeks know about. A few thoughts (1/n).
India is a digital powerhouse—but not yet a technological one.
It leads the world in app downloads, digital payments, and ChatGPT usage.
But when it comes to building foundational tech, it lags far behind.
A thread based on two pieces in this week's
@economist.com
It leads the world in app downloads, digital payments, and ChatGPT usage.
But when it comes to building foundational tech, it lags far behind.
A thread based on two pieces in this week's
@economist.com
June 17, 2025 at 8:54 AM
India is a digital powerhouse—but not yet a technological one.
It leads the world in app downloads, digital payments, and ChatGPT usage.
But when it comes to building foundational tech, it lags far behind.
A thread based on two pieces in this week's
@economist.com
It leads the world in app downloads, digital payments, and ChatGPT usage.
But when it comes to building foundational tech, it lags far behind.
A thread based on two pieces in this week's
@economist.com
Interesting stat from JP Morgan. Cost of making an iPhone in India is only 2% more than in China.Most of the value is in individual components that are made by other firms (chips, display) the labour intensive assembly is at par. The harder part is recreating Apple's China supply chain in India.
May 14, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Interesting stat from JP Morgan. Cost of making an iPhone in India is only 2% more than in China.Most of the value is in individual components that are made by other firms (chips, display) the labour intensive assembly is at par. The harder part is recreating Apple's China supply chain in India.
President Trump's latest order wants to set drug prices based on other countries. Seems a good idea, But In this week's @economist.com I argue that the fix proposed by Trump will not work. And it will probably leave patients worse off. (1/n)
May 14, 2025 at 5:57 AM
President Trump's latest order wants to set drug prices based on other countries. Seems a good idea, But In this week's @economist.com I argue that the fix proposed by Trump will not work. And it will probably leave patients worse off. (1/n)
As a former chip designer, this one was especially interesting to write. My latest piece for @economist.com investigates the shadow supply chains keeping China in the AI race—despite increasingly strict U.S. export controls.
May 7, 2025 at 8:41 AM
As a former chip designer, this one was especially interesting to write. My latest piece for @economist.com investigates the shadow supply chains keeping China in the AI race—despite increasingly strict U.S. export controls.
Last week it was good to meet and talk to Christophe Fouquet, @ASML boss, on the company's plans. A few weeks back I had written about ASML's seemingly unshakable lead in chipmaking tools. (1/4)
www.economist.com/business/202...
www.economist.com/business/202...
ASML’s boss has a warning for Europe
Christophe Fouquet says the continent’s champions could move elsewhere if they are not better protected
www.economist.com
March 27, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Last week it was good to meet and talk to Christophe Fouquet, @ASML boss, on the company's plans. A few weeks back I had written about ASML's seemingly unshakable lead in chipmaking tools. (1/4)
www.economist.com/business/202...
www.economist.com/business/202...
It's quite predictable to hear about China making a breakthrough in EUV every so often. But how realistic is this? tl;dr - not very. (1/7)
March 13, 2025 at 9:18 AM
It's quite predictable to hear about China making a breakthrough in EUV every so often. But how realistic is this? tl;dr - not very. (1/7)
What to make of the latest @tsmc announcement? A few thoughts:
It's clear that CEOs have cottoned on to the idea that Trump likes big round numbers. Any investment has to be in tens of billions for it to move the needle. TSMC's latest announcement is in that vein. (1/5)
It's clear that CEOs have cottoned on to the idea that Trump likes big round numbers. Any investment has to be in tens of billions for it to move the needle. TSMC's latest announcement is in that vein. (1/5)
March 4, 2025 at 8:00 AM
What to make of the latest @tsmc announcement? A few thoughts:
It's clear that CEOs have cottoned on to the idea that Trump likes big round numbers. Any investment has to be in tens of billions for it to move the needle. TSMC's latest announcement is in that vein. (1/5)
It's clear that CEOs have cottoned on to the idea that Trump likes big round numbers. Any investment has to be in tens of billions for it to move the needle. TSMC's latest announcement is in that vein. (1/5)
What to make of the latest @tsmc announcement? A few thoughts:
It's clear that CEOs have cottoned on to the idea that Trump likes big round numbers. Any investment has to be in tens of billions for it to move the needle. TSMC's latest announcement is in that vein. (1/n)
It's clear that CEOs have cottoned on to the idea that Trump likes big round numbers. Any investment has to be in tens of billions for it to move the needle. TSMC's latest announcement is in that vein. (1/n)
March 4, 2025 at 7:59 AM
What to make of the latest @tsmc announcement? A few thoughts:
It's clear that CEOs have cottoned on to the idea that Trump likes big round numbers. Any investment has to be in tens of billions for it to move the needle. TSMC's latest announcement is in that vein. (1/n)
It's clear that CEOs have cottoned on to the idea that Trump likes big round numbers. Any investment has to be in tens of billions for it to move the needle. TSMC's latest announcement is in that vein. (1/n)
#openai rant. For possibly the most intelligent software on the plant, the fact that it cannot choose the best model on its own is very underwhelming. The descriptions are not much help either ("best at reasoning, "uses advances reasoning", "fast at advanced reasoning"....)
February 28, 2025 at 8:50 AM
#openai rant. For possibly the most intelligent software on the plant, the fact that it cannot choose the best model on its own is very underwhelming. The descriptions are not much help either ("best at reasoning, "uses advances reasoning", "fast at advanced reasoning"....)
A lot has been said and written about China's rise in AI. Equally impressive, but much less covered, has been the country's emergence as a source of innovative medicines. My piece in this week's @economist.com (1/4)
https://buff.ly/416dYFj
https://buff.ly/416dYFj
February 18, 2025 at 7:15 AM
A lot has been said and written about China's rise in AI. Equally impressive, but much less covered, has been the country's emergence as a source of innovative medicines. My piece in this week's @economist.com (1/4)
https://buff.ly/416dYFj
https://buff.ly/416dYFj
A pretty wild chart from Blackrock on the scale of AI buildout by the biggest companies. Sensible investment or a game with only a few winners?
February 13, 2025 at 11:40 AM
A pretty wild chart from Blackrock on the scale of AI buildout by the biggest companies. Sensible investment or a game with only a few winners?
The DeepSeek sell-off has barely budged the share of top 10 companies in overall S&P.
February 6, 2025 at 10:56 AM
The DeepSeek sell-off has barely budged the share of top 10 companies in overall S&P.
It is interesting how the tech sphere has suddenly become so knowledgeable about Jevons paradox.......
January 28, 2025 at 9:21 AM
It is interesting how the tech sphere has suddenly become so knowledgeable about Jevons paradox.......
Contrary to popular belief, Nokia was not asleep at the wheel when the iPhone was launched. They knew what it meant. Same with Intel, who knew that the mobile chip was a big deal. But organisational inertia and revenue from legacy products was too much to overcome.
January 22, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Contrary to popular belief, Nokia was not asleep at the wheel when the iPhone was launched. They knew what it meant. Same with Intel, who knew that the mobile chip was a big deal. But organisational inertia and revenue from legacy products was too much to overcome.
"India is not for beginners". It is hard to explain the country to someone who has never been here before. A bus I saw outside Kolkata perfectly summed up the chaos, colour and creativity that one sees all around.
January 21, 2025 at 9:09 AM
"India is not for beginners". It is hard to explain the country to someone who has never been here before. A bus I saw outside Kolkata perfectly summed up the chaos, colour and creativity that one sees all around.
In the 2010s it seemed like American tech firms would rule over consumers globally. The picture is now very different. My piece in this week's @economist.com on why America’s internet giants are being outplayed in the global south.
https://buff.ly/406VjZr
https://buff.ly/406VjZr
January 14, 2025 at 8:31 AM
In the 2010s it seemed like American tech firms would rule over consumers globally. The picture is now very different. My piece in this week's @economist.com on why America’s internet giants are being outplayed in the global south.
https://buff.ly/406VjZr
https://buff.ly/406VjZr
A "a 200+ page regulatory morass". Nvidia's description of the new AI chip restrictions seems apt. The timing + convoluted design of the new policy makes it highly likely that the new admin may not follow through.
NVIDIA Statement on the Biden Administration’s Misguided 'AI Diffusion' Rule
For decades, leadership in computing and software ecosystems has been a cornerstone of American strength and influence worldwide. The federal government has wisely refrained from dictating the…
buff.ly
January 13, 2025 at 1:43 PM
A "a 200+ page regulatory morass". Nvidia's description of the new AI chip restrictions seems apt. The timing + convoluted design of the new policy makes it highly likely that the new admin may not follow through.
Outperformance of American equity markets is still predicated on selling overseas. Interesting chart from Apollo.
January 13, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Outperformance of American equity markets is still predicated on selling overseas. Interesting chart from Apollo.
Will 2025 be the year when software gets back to outperforming semis? Interesting chart from Morgan Stanley
January 10, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Will 2025 be the year when software gets back to outperforming semis? Interesting chart from Morgan Stanley
With the Champions Trophy coming up, Afghanistan’s men’s team might deliver some surprises. But their success glosses over the condition of Afghanistan's women players. I tell the story of a group whom much of the cricketing world has forgotten.
The incredible story of Afghanistan's exiled women’s cricket team
The Taliban would kill them for daring to play “the gentlemen’s game”
buff.ly
January 8, 2025 at 6:15 PM
With the Champions Trophy coming up, Afghanistan’s men’s team might deliver some surprises. But their success glosses over the condition of Afghanistan's women players. I tell the story of a group whom much of the cricketing world has forgotten.
Our diet is not just about what we eat. That is what makes finding causal links between food and health outcomes so hard. I looked at the science of ultra-processed foods and came away more convinced than skeptical .
https://buff.ly/3CNe8Ja
https://buff.ly/3CNe8Ja
December 2, 2024 at 6:29 PM
Our diet is not just about what we eat. That is what makes finding causal links between food and health outcomes so hard. I looked at the science of ultra-processed foods and came away more convinced than skeptical .
https://buff.ly/3CNe8Ja
https://buff.ly/3CNe8Ja