Frontier language models keep making headlines, but what do they mean for the day-to-day work of chip architects, verification engineers, and EDA tool builders? In this fast-paced talk we’ll translate buzzy AI breakthroughs into practical, durable advantages for silicon design teams—and show you how to start while you’re still in school.
What you’ll learn
• Decision-Tree Thinking: a simple mental model that turns debugging, design-space exploration, and verification triage into repeatable, automatable workflows.
• Automation Mindset: why the value of “remembering syntax” is collapsing, and how to shift your effort toward system-level architecture and data flow.
• Generative AI in the Flow: concrete demos of LLMs helping with RTL skeletons, constraint-random test benches, doc generation, and root-cause analysis.
• Building a Moat: transforming proprietary data and domain insights into AI-driven advantages that rivals can’t easily copy.
• Career Outlook: how mastering AI-powered design today positions you to lead tomorrow’s breakthroughs—shaping the tools, standards, and ethical frameworks that will define the next era of engineering.
Dr. Erik Berg is a Senior Principal Engineer at Microsoft, where he drives the company’s generative-AI strategy for end-to-end silicon development—from architectural exploration through tape-out and bring-up. With 30 years in semiconductors, including 19 years at Intel leading design-automation and verification methodology teams for flagship processors, Erik blends deep device-level insight with AI innovation to redefine how chips are conceived and delivered. Erik created some of the industry’s first silicon copilot prototypes and has a portfolio of proprietary generative-AI applications now powering Microsoft’s cloud-hardware programs. His close collaborations with major EDA partners continue to push the boundaries of AI-augmented design tools and workflows. He earned his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan, focusing on advanced semiconductor fabrication.