In the rapidly evolving field of semiconductor manufacturing, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) has become pivotal in driving innovation and efficiency. The semiconductor industry is at an inflection point where the complexity of both the semiconductor equipment and process technology has become so extreme that we can no longer make progress based on human insights alone. This complexity spans everything from atomic-scale materials, to devices, to wafers, to process chambers and all the way up to the entire fab. This talk will explore the transformative potential of using AI to design and optimize the very systems and materials that are instrumental to the manufacturing of modern semiconductor devices. Real world case-studies will be used to demonstrate how AI can assist in the development of new materials, design of new process equipment, optimize process recipes, be embedded in digital twins, improve defect detection and more. By leveraging AI to build AI, we are not only redefining the boundaries of semiconductor manufacturing technology but also paving the way for the next generation of intelligent devices.
Brett started his career in 2001 as a process engineer at Intel’s R&D facility in Oregon where he was tasked with improving the copper barrier seed process to enhance full chip reliability. This introduced him to the world of big data analysis, machine learning and process optimization. After joining Applied Materials in 2011 he extended this interest to also include physics simulations. Brett has a PhD in physics and a Masters degree in computer science and today he leads a team of 50 data scientists, physicists, system and software engineers in Applied Materials’ AIx Solutions group.