
41 segments available
Cristiano Amon is the CEO of Qualcomm, world-leader in 5G wireless communication and computation systems inside premium Android phones and other robots. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: - Scale: https://scale.com/lex - Truebill: https://truebill.com/lex - BiOptimizers: http://www.magbreakthrough.com/lex to get 10% off - Four Sigmatic: https://foursigmatic.com/lex and use code LexPod to get up to 60% off - Fundrise: https://fundrise.com/lex EPISODE LINKS: Cristiano's Twitter: https://twitter.com/cristianoamon Qualcomm's Website: https://qualcomm.com PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ Full episodes playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4 Clips playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOeciFP3CBCIEElOJeitOr41 OUTLINE: 0:00 - Introduction 1:26 - Football/soccer 2:21 - Smartphones 4:52 - 5G 21:09 - Snapdragon 27:28 - Apple and Google 32:02 - Future of Qualcomm 43:03 - Autonomous vehicles 44:47 - Robots 47:14 - Chip shortage 51:23 - Lawsuits 54:49 - Leadership 59:08 - Advice for young people 1:03:00 - Meaning of life SOCIAL: - Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman - Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman - Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/lexfridman - Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman
Cristiano Amon discusses the incredible capabilities of Qualcomm's Snapdragon processors, which power smartphones and even reach as far as Mars. He highlights the advancements in mobile technology, including the need for high-speed data and powerful processing in devices, while addressing concerns about the safety of 5G technology.
"talking about an exciting thing for an engineer the same snapdragon that goes to a phone and it can go to a galaxy phone for example samsung the same not a special one went all the way to mars you exp..."
In a light-hearted moment, Cristiano Amon shares his thoughts on the greatest football player of all time, revealing his preference for Ronaldo over Pele. This segment showcases Amon's Brazilian roots and the cultural significance of football in Brazil, setting a personal tone for the conversation.
"you are originally from brazil so let me ask the most important question the most profound question the biggest question who's the greatest football soccer player of all time look everybody's going to..."
Amon elaborates on Qualcomm's role in developing 5G technology, explaining its significance in connecting billions of devices and enabling a fully connected society. He discusses the evolution of mobile communication from 2G to 5G, emphasizing the transformative potential of 5G in everyday life.
"qualcomm is largely responsible for 5g and some of the greatest processors in our smartphones ever built so we got communication and computation tech that impacts probably billions of people so if you..."
Cristiano Amon explains how 5G technology is designed to eliminate data congestion and provide reliable connectivity for billions of devices. He compares the ubiquity of 5G to electricity, suggesting that it will become an essential part of modern infrastructure, enabling a fully connected world.
"what do you think they would notice so there's road networks there's all kinds of networks there's uh there's lights that keep popping up cities bringing up like from an alien perspective you're obser..."
Amon discusses the challenges and advancements in 5G technology, including the need for more spectrum and the differences between sub-6 GHz and millimeter wave 5G. He highlights the importance of building infrastructure to support the growing demand for connectivity and the future of wireless communication.
"years when we set ourselves to develop 5g and you know we look at this every generation of technology had a problem to be solved right so you mentioned 2g to g challenge the challenge of cdma was can ..."
In this segment, Amon explores the concept of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Qualcomm's vision for making everyday devices smarter and more connected. He provides examples of how technology is being integrated into various sectors, from retail to manufacturing, emphasizing the vast potential of IoT.
"is provide this fabric that will allow us as a society to look at things that are not connected and say that's the exception that's why we made uh comparison in the early days of 5g that that's going ..."
Amon addresses the challenges of deploying 5G technology, particularly the need for more spectrum and the differences in coverage between sub-6 GHz and millimeter wave. He discusses the importance of building dense networks to ensure widespread access to high-speed connectivity.
"technology because you can't really define everything right exactly it's a nice market because it keeps growing potentially exponentially in speed um what about coverage so how are we doing on the eve..."
Cristiano Amon highlights the critical infrastructure needed for 5G deployment, comparing it to building roads and ports. He discusses the regulatory challenges and the time required to build the necessary infrastructure to support the future of wireless communication.
"call the sub six but you needed more you needed to go to the millimeter wave so that's why five 5g is a technology that you can deploy from 450 megahertz as an example or 600 or 700 all the way to in ..."
In this concluding segment, Amon shares his vision for the future of technology, including the potential for augmented reality to replace smartphones. He emphasizes the importance of 5G infrastructure in realizing this vision and the need for continued investment in connectivity.
"resistance is futile okay so uh for millimeter wave we need density of access points and what's the biggest resistance for qualcomm for human civilization is it uh politicians regulators federal regul..."
Amon reflects on the societal implications of rapidly advancing technology, particularly 5G. He acknowledges the excitement and fear surrounding these changes and emphasizes the importance of understanding how technology can affect human civilization as it becomes more interconnected.
"be a conversation with the ceo if i did not ask questions that make you nervous some people raise concerns about there not being enough studies about the effects of 5g on the human body is 5g safe loo..."
Amon discusses the evolution of digital rights as society becomes increasingly interconnected. He highlights the need for regulations that protect individual rights in the digital realm, drawing parallels to existing physical world rights and emphasizing the importance of privacy laws.
"required to close the radio link now also you have a number of organizations the fcc for example has rigorous programs which they do a lot of tests uh to validate uh you know the safety of those devic..."
Amon critiques the regulatory process, noting that regulators often lag behind technological advancements. He expresses frustration with the clumsiness of current regulations and advocates for better collaboration between tech companies and governments to foster innovation while ensuring safety.
"however the concern that people have is when you scale technology exponentially how would that change human civilization i mean that doesn't apply to 5g that applies to every technology how you said s..."
Shifting focus to Qualcomm's Snapdragon technology, Amon describes its significance as a system on a chip that powers billions of smartphones. He highlights the continuous innovation and the integration of various technologies into a single chip, showcasing Qualcomm's leadership in mobile computing.
"we're connected and then we're building digital twins of everything right so so when you look at that picture when you look at the picture of this connected society you started to have the following t..."
Amon shares insights into the design process of Snapdragon processors, emphasizing the need for collaboration among engineers and the importance of quality control. He discusses the challenges of integrating multiple technologies into a compact form factor while ensuring performance and efficiency.
"we believe there's incredible uh thought in to enable ability to regulate the digital markets so that there's innovation and competitions and not not a single company uh can control all the data and t..."
Amon elaborates on the complexities involved in creating mobile technology, including the need for seamless communication between various components like CPUs, GPUs, and NPUs. He stresses the importance of maintaining performance while ensuring user-friendly experiences in smartphones.
"of a technology we doubt that any downside yeah so when you say digital twin that's one of the other things you're excited about which is the metaverse are basically building worlds in the in the digi..."
Cristiano Amon discusses the intricate process of designing processors at Qualcomm, emphasizing the need for collaboration among various technologies like CPU, GPU, and NPU. He highlights the importance of quality and discipline in engineering, especially under tight deadlines, to ensure that all components work seamlessly together in mobile devices.
"the and you have to be good to everyone all of those technologies pack it all in and there's also pressure to make the thing faster and faster and faster and then there's more and more applications yo..."
Amon explains Qualcomm's strategy in the competitive landscape of mobile technology, particularly against companies like Google and Apple. He clarifies that Qualcomm's focus is on making Snapdragon synonymous with premium Android experiences, positioning itself as a key enabler of the Android ecosystem rather than directly competing with these tech giants.
"change christmas you cannot change black friday you cannot change all of the selling season so the phones are going to launch on time and every technology needs to be there the engineer needs to work ..."
In this segment, Amon elaborates on Qualcomm's role in the Android ecosystem, detailing how the company supports various OEMs like Samsung and emerging Chinese brands. He discusses the shift in market dynamics and how Qualcomm has adapted to maintain its leadership in mobile technology, especially as competitors like Huawei face challenges.
"like manufacture before you're not allowed to have any mistakes no wonder our name is quality communications oh i never even thought about the qual part quality so quality and there's a bar that's hig..."
Amon shares insights into the future of mobile technology, focusing on Qualcomm's commitment to innovation and the integration of advanced technologies in Snapdragon processors. He highlights the importance of collaboration with major players in the industry and how Qualcomm plans to continue leading in the mobile space.
"ecosystem so i'll give an example so you ask me the question how to compete with google it's not about competing with google we're the number one enabler of the google android ecosystem and uh the lar..."
Cristiano Amon reveals his personal smartphone preferences, specifically mentioning the Samsung Galaxy S22. He discusses the significance of Snapdragon technology in enhancing user experiences across various devices, showcasing Qualcomm's impact on the smartphone market.
"business we do have an apple relationship we provide modem technology to apple to multi-year relationship apple has been very public that they are uh investing to develop their own modem uh but the qu..."
Amon discusses the changing nature of personal computers, emphasizing how Qualcomm's technology is evolving to meet new demands. He highlights the importance of connectivity and processing power in PCs, especially in light of the pandemic's impact on work and communication.
"okay so excellent can qualcomm also let's take a brief step away from mobile and take on intel and apple and other such companies in the laptop and desktop space so the nature of what a computer is se..."
In this segment, Amon explores the role of 5G in transforming computing experiences. He discusses how high bandwidth and connectivity are essential for cloud computing and remote work, positioning Qualcomm at the forefront of this technological shift.
"with it and expanding to a number of different addressable markets some of those markets is is the pc as you talk about it the the conversions of mobile and pc and the reason i'm excited about this be..."
Amon outlines the features of next-generation PCs powered by Qualcomm technology, such as long battery life and enhanced connectivity. He discusses the collaboration with companies like Lenovo to create devices that meet the evolving needs of users in a post-pandemic world.
"that's now the number one uh use case on a pc so now think about that for a second personal computers now their technologies that people when they're going to buy a pc they didn't care much about it n..."
Amon highlights the integration of AI in enhancing communication experiences, particularly in video calls. He discusses how Qualcomm's Snapdragon technology supports features that improve user interaction, showcasing the potential for better connectivity between physical and digital spaces.
"i'll just give an example uh back in uh mobile congress uh recently lenovo they have a line of uh of uh enterprise laptops called the thinkpad i'm sure you're familiar with it so they announced the th..."
Amon explores the integration of AI in enhancing virtual communication, such as ensuring eye contact during video calls. He reflects on the challenges of improving remote interactions and the potential of the metaverse to create more engaging experiences, addressing the common frustrations with current telecommunication technologies.
"and let me go uh one step more microsoft talking about some of the features they're doing now using on windows 11 using snapdragon remember we talked about a snapdragon has an ai processor inside ther..."
Amon speculates on Qualcomm's future role in the automotive and robotics industries, emphasizing the company's commitment to connectivity and intelligence at the edge. He discusses the potential for Qualcomm to be recognized as a leader in providing computational capabilities for autonomous vehicles and smart devices.
"opportunity think about it it starts with the pc making the pc giving you a better experience for teams but then it goes right back into this trend of connecting physical and digital spaces and all th..."
Amon explains the concept of edge computing, detailing how Qualcomm aims to connect and enable a vast array of devices beyond traditional computing. He highlights the importance of bringing computational power closer to devices to enhance AI capabilities and improve user experiences across various applications.
"computation might you be become a robotics and car company um i will argue we're already an automotive uh company today and uh but let me tell what i what i would like qualcomm to be remember recogniz..."
Amon discusses Qualcomm's strategy in the automotive sector, positioning the company as a key technology partner for car manufacturers. He outlines how Qualcomm's Snapdragon technology is integral to the development of connected vehicles, enhancing driving experiences and enabling autonomous features.
"qualcomm to be recognized for so by the way for people who are not familiar there's some technical jargon but people use the word edge like edge computing it's by the way that's probably changing what..."
Amon shares insights into Qualcomm's involvement in robotics, highlighting applications in industrial settings and consumer products like Amazon's Astro. He emphasizes the role of Snapdragon technology in powering innovative robotic solutions and the potential for widespread adoption in various sectors.
"can make decision in real time provide context information to the cloud to make the models more accurate and as well compare and contrast with the cloud so there's going to be an exponential developme..."
Amon analyzes the global semiconductor chip shortage, attributing it to the accelerated digital transformation across industries. He explains how the pandemic exacerbated existing trends, leading to increased demand for semiconductors and the challenges faced by Qualcomm in meeting this demand.
"all that's happening at the end does qualcomm want to be the brain of a lot of autonomous vehicles in the future of different you said brands like mercedes-benz i don't know whatever just whatever car..."
Amon clarifies that while the pandemic aggravated the chip shortage, the root cause lies in the long-term growth of digital technologies. He discusses the increasing complexity of modern devices and the need for a robust semiconductor supply chain to support future innovations.
"the car companies huh the core companies need a technology partner uh they will provide the digital chassis for them and that's what we're doing so if you look at qualcomm we talk about a snapdragon d..."
Cristiano Amon discusses the root causes of the semiconductor chip shortage, emphasizing that the pandemic merely aggravated a long-term trend of digital transformation across industries. He explains how the demand for semiconductors has surged due to the increasing complexity of devices, particularly in the automotive sector, where new models require significantly more chips than before.
"in this in in the future things like it okay that's a that's a a big topic of conversation and we only have five minutes so i'll try i'll try to be as objective as i can so first let's talk about what..."
Amon outlines the industry's response to the chip shortage, highlighting significant investments in semiconductor manufacturing capacity. He mentions initiatives like the U.S. and European Chips Acts, which aim to bolster local manufacturing and ensure a stable supply chain for semiconductors, crucial for meeting the growing demand in various sectors.
"main issue the main issue is it's actually a a long-term growth of digital so what i'm hearing you say is the pandemic was not the cause it was an aggravation it's an aggravation so is there a way we ..."
Amon explains Qualcomm's unique licensing model, which has been pivotal in the company's success. He discusses how Qualcomm's standard essential patents in mobile technology have been validated across various jurisdictions, contributing to the stability of their licensing business while also emphasizing the importance of innovation in semiconductors.
"with a geographic distributed way which that's how you play in supply chain so those those i think are good things so if anything we learn through the crisis is the semiconductor uh it's important my ..."
Cristiano Amon reflects on his experiences and lessons learned during his first year as CEO of Qualcomm. He emphasizes the importance of building trusted relationships, aligning with a long-term vision, and navigating the complexities of leading a major technology company in a rapidly evolving industry.
"semiconductor space and the semiconductor so licensing is you come up with a pretty good idea you have a bunch of smart people coming up with cool ideas and then once you come up with that idea you se..."
Amon discusses the challenges and rewards of fostering partnerships in the tech industry. He shares insights on the importance of collaboration, both with external partners and internally with employees, to drive innovation and align on Qualcomm's vision for the future.
"a company that's involved with a lot of fascinating technologies and it's touching the lives of billions of people a lot of complicated stuff because like i said licensing technologies you have to col..."
Cristiano Amon offers valuable advice for young people starting their careers. He emphasizes the importance of having a clear plan, understanding one's strengths and weaknesses, and surrounding oneself with talented individuals. Amon encourages young people to pursue their dreams and be proactive in their personal and professional development.
"is there a burden because of so much what you said is uh partnerships and you know almost like friendships connections with other human beings uh me as an introvert that has a lot of social anxiety th..."
Amon reflects on his journey from Brazil to Japan, sharing how his background and family influenced his career. He expresses pride in his achievements as a Brazilian CEO and acknowledges the responsibility he feels to inspire others in the Latino community.
"uh what was the whole why did you end up in japan you know i've been uh fortunate enough to work in cellular and wireless my entire career so i i always like communications when i went to engineering ..."
In a deep discussion about life's meaning, Amon shares his belief in living with purpose. He discusses his Christian faith and the importance of making a positive impact during one's lifetime, emphasizing the role of technology in creating a better future.
"father's an electrical engineer uh do you think what you're doing now makes your father proud i think he's very proud i think uh especially you know um he tells me that uh you know i'm still the same ..."
Amon discusses the essential role of love in the human experience and its integration with technology. He highlights the need for compassion and humanity in technological advancements, advocating for tools that empower and connect people positively.
"absolutely and that some of these technologies some of these ideas are kind of a different kind of immortality as well because they they propagate through time and have impact on people in the best po..."
In closing, Amon reflects on the transformative power of communication and technology. He shares a quote from Stephen Hawking about the importance of dialogue in achieving human progress and encourages listeners to continue fostering conversations that lead to innovation and connection.
"of us i'm a big believer that technology is at the end the force for good and if just look if you just look you know not trying to move away from a deep discussion to a more uh specific technical one ..."