Mind-Bending
Feats of Engineering
—Performed Daily.

Material Innovation and Physical AI

Ever increasing demand for AI is driving the need for high-performance, energy efficient computing. AI is reshaping the semiconductor roadmap and changing the way chips are designed and manufactured.

Physical AI refers to AI systems in machines that can sense, reason, decide, act and learn in the physical world. These can be humanoid robots, autonomous vehicles or other devices like cameras or other wearables.

In particular, physical AI and humanoid robots represent a transformative wave in robotics, merging digital intelligence with physical action. Humanoid robots push the semiconductor industry forward by requiring new innovation in chip architectures, new materials and power devices that are capable of continuous operation. For Applied Materials, this transformation is directly tied to the accelerating demand for advanced semiconductor materials technologies that enable autonomy, sensing, and real-time intelligence.

Humanoid robots, as part of the physical AI phenomenon, are a reflection of the convergence of AI, advanced materials in one efficient system. They require high-performance compute, power electronics like GaN and SiC, and memory solutions. Each of these components is built on materials technologies that Applied Materials develops and scales. Our advanced materials engineering is foundational to enabling physical AI.

Physical AI will only reach its full potential if the power and compute infrastructure behind it continues to advance—this is a challenge the Applied is uniquely positioned to solve.