Blog

“Chips” is now the “C” in CES

Steve McDowell January 13, 2026

While the focus of CES 2026 remained on consumer electronics, this year felt different. More expansive, with the semiconductor industry dominating the pre-show with overlapping announcements that reveal diverging strategies for AI workload acceleration, manufacturing sovereignty, and market expansion beyond traditional computing segments.

Building the “Always‑On” Store – HPE’s Practical Approach to Retail at NRF 2026

Michael McDowell January 12, 2026

HPE’s presence at NRF 2026 shows a broader industry shift toward “always‑on” retail

Stop Buying Labels and Start Buying Silicon

Michael McDowell January 11, 2026

Most buyers never ask about it.
Most vendors never volunteer it.
But it’s the only part of the AP that actually matters: the silicon.

NVIDIA at CES: When the Compute Stack Outgrew the Showroom

Michael McDowell January 6, 2026

Jensen used the stage to argue that the world is shifting from CPU‑centric computing to AI‑driven, GPU‑first platforms, and the shift isn’t just for hyperscalers.

Call Notes: Q4 2025 Neocloud Market

Steve McDowell December 30, 2025

Just before the Holiday break, I participated in an advisory session on the current state of the neocloud market, which is continuing to experience significant growth as the demand for AI infrastructure continues unabated. Can it continue?

Here I’m sharing some of the notes I used for that discussion.

Call Notes: Memory & NAND Market Update (Dec 2025)