Interview: Cyient Semiconductors CEO on Kinetic acquisition — why power is the new compute bottleneck

Cyient’s pivot from ASIC services to intelligent power products is a tactical response to AI’s hitting the energy-efficiency wall. Technically, this pressures EDA vendors to enhance power-aware design flows and accelerates GaN/SiC adoption in mid-voltage domains, while forcing system integrators to redesign power delivery networks around smarter on-chip PMUs. Regulatory risks loom large: pending EU AI Act efficiency mandates and U.S. DOE standards could delay North American deployment if Cyient lacks IEC/UL certification within 12 months. Competitors like Analog Devices and Infineon will likely counter by acquiring power-IC startups to control ecosystem chokepoints. Within 18 months, 'Power-as-a-Service'—where chipmakers monetize per watt of delivered performance—will emerge. Without anchoring to hyperscalers, Cyient’s product shift risks becoming an isolated experiment.