AI is the most impactful tech I have ever seen: AMD CEO Lisa Su

She has orchestrated one of the most remarkable turnarounds in Silicon Valley history. Lisa Su has transformed AMD from a struggling company into a leader in high-performance computing since taking over as CEO in 2014, just two years after joining the firm. Her achievements include driving innovations like the Zen CPU architecture and spearheading advancements in GPUs, which now power a range of applications from gaming to AI.

A graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), with a PhD in electrical engineering, Su’s contributions to highperformance computing have earned her numerous accolades during her illustrious career, but she says nothing can compare with the technological disruption humanity is going through right now.

“I’ve been in the semiconductor industry for over 30 years, and in all that time, I believe AI is the most impactful and high-potential technology I’ve ever seen. It’s an exciting time to be in tech.”
Su described AI as “the next logical step in high-performance computing”, and that while AI has existed for decades, she noted that recent advancements like generative AI and large language models (LLMs) have made the technology more accessible. “What’s exciting is that AI, once reserved for experts, is now something everyone can touch and feel. Natural language processing has unlocked computing capability for all,” she said.

Su envisions a future where advanced AI systems empower individuals, enhances productivity, and drives scientific discovery. “We are just at the beginning of what AI can do,” she said.

But for this long-term vision to come to fruition, Su said open and accessible ecosystems will be crucial. She described AMD’s strategy to bridge the gap with Nvidia, the dominant player in the AI hardware space, as focusing on opensource software frameworks and hardware-agnostic solutions. This approach, she explained, aligns with the broader industry need to simplify programming and foster innovation.

“CUDA, Nvidia’s ecosystem, is somewhat legacy AI. No one wants to pro gram to the low level of hardware anymore. Instead, we’re investing in higher-level frameworks like PyTorch and TensorFlow, making it easier for developers to innovate without worrying about the underlying hardware.”

AMD’s vision extends to making AI more energy-efficient and accessible across devices too, including laptops. “We consider AI an end-toend opportunity,” Su said. “From the cloud and enterprise at the high-end to edge AI and client AI, we want to enable AI in every form. Imagine a future where everyone has their own AI PC, running models locally and privately,” she said.

On India’s ambitions
Su also expressed optimism about India’s role in shaping the AI revolution. She noted that a significant chunk of the company’s workforce – around 8,000 engineers, or about 25% of the total – is based in India.

Asked about India’s ambitious semiconductor plans under the India Semiconductor Mission, Su offered a pragmatic perspective, and said that semiconductor manufacturing is a long game. “It’s not something that can be rushed. Building the ecosystem takes years, even decades.”

She added that India’s current focus on starting with assembly and test facilities and progressing to mature nodes before advanced nodes is the right approach. “No single nation can own the entire supply chain, but having some capability in-country is invaluable.”

Su also praised India’s efforts to develop talent and infrastructure, stressing that these foundational investments would position the country as a critical player in the global semiconductor landscape over the next two decades.

Advice for youngsters
For students grappling with the implications of AI, Su underscored the value of embracing challenges. “Run toward problems, tackle the hardest challenges – it’s where you’ll learn the most and be recognised for your work,” she advised.

She also recalled her early fascination with engineering, sparked by fixing her brother’s broken remote-controlled car. “That moment taught me that engineering could solve problems. Since then, I’ve always been curious about how things work,” she said.

And when she was done with engineering, like most youngsters, Su was eager to get out into the real world and work, but her parents advised her to pursue a PhD instead, which according to Su, was invaluable advice.

For young women debating whether to get into the technological domain as a profession, Su had this to say: “The beauty of technology is that it’s black and white – your program works or it doesn’t. It’s a merit-based field, and the best technologists excel.”

She also thinks that women should seek diverse experiences early in their careers. “I was fortunate to work at IBM, where I could explore different assignments every few years. It helped me discover what I loved and where I excelled,” she said. Sticking to technical roles for as long as you can is another good idea, she added. “They’re foundational for understanding the industry.”