Penguin Random House India will publish The Chip Age: How Semiconductors Became the World’s Most Powerful Resource by semiconductor expert Rakesh Kumar under its Penguin imprint in September 2026.
The book examines how semiconductors have evolved from a technological breakthrough into one of the most critical resources shaping the global economy, artificial intelligence, national security and geopolitics.
In The Chip Age, Kumar traces the development of the semiconductor industry, from the early days of chip technology and the rise of Silicon Valley to Taiwan’s emergence as a global manufacturing hub and the creation of today’s complex international chip ecosystem. He also explains how chips are designed and manufactured and why producing advanced semiconductors has become one of the world’s most challenging engineering tasks.
The book explores the growing geopolitical importance of semiconductors as countries compete for technological and economic influence. Kumar examines the impact of export controls, tariffs, industrial policies, national security concerns and the US-China rivalry on the global chip industry.
Kumar also looks at the resources required to sustain the semiconductor and AI boom, including energy, water and specialised materials. He argues that as artificial intelligence drives demand for computing power, access to energy could increasingly determine which countries are able to build advanced AI capabilities.
The book has particular relevance for India as the country seeks to establish a stronger position in the global semiconductor ecosystem. Kumar examines the opportunities and challenges before India, suggesting that the country is likely to initially focus on legacy-chip manufacturing, while its growing economic and technological capabilities could eventually support ambitions in advanced semiconductor manufacturing.
Part history, part technology explainer and part geopolitical analysis, The Chip Age explores a central question of the modern era: who will control the technology that powers the chips on which modern civilisation increasingly depends?
Kumar is a Professor and John Bardeen Faculty Scholar in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He has received multiple awards for his contributions to chip research and the semiconductor industry. Technologies developed by him are used in chips powering phones, tablets and computers. He has also co-founded two chip companies and advises several others.
The Chip Age will be released in paperback under the Penguin imprint in September 2026.
