Offering a little perspective on all the “GF is doomed” comments:
I understand the frustration. Layoffs, compensation, promotions, management decisions and uncertainty are legitimate things to discuss.
But I think we’re sometimes looking at GF through a very narrow lens: What is happening to me or my department right now?
Zoom out.
Semiconductors are being reshaped by AI and hyperscaler demand, geopolitical competition, U.S.-China tensions, tariffs and export controls, supply-chain regionalization, reshoring, government subsidies, national-security priorities, energy constraints, and the growing importance of domestic semiconductor capacity. This isn’t a normal semiconductor cycle. Governments are increasingly treating chips, advanced manufacturing, photonics and related technologies as strategic infrastructure.
And look at GF’s recent moves.
$375M in federal funding for quantum manufacturing. Expanded Marvell capacity tied to AI data-center optical connectivity. New silicon/indium-phosphide photonics capabilities. And just yesterday, GF announced a multiyear partnership with Xanadu to industrialize photonic quantum components on the 300mm Malta line.
That’s a pretty interesting strategic pattern.
None of this means employees shouldn’t criticize leadership or worry about layoffs. Those concerns are real.
But restructuring, cost pressure and employee frustration can coexist with a company positioning itself for strategically important growth.
So instead of only asking “Who’s getting cut next?”, maybe it’s worth asking:
What is GF becoming? What technologies and markets is it positioning itself around? What does the geopolitical semiconductor landscape look like 3–5 years from now? And what capabilities will GF need to compete in that environment?
You don’t have to be optimistic about everything to be curious about where the industry is going.
Maybe that’s a more useful conversation.