TIME has named He Tingbo, President of HiSilicon, Huawei's semiconductor division, to its fourth annual TIME100 AI list, which honors the most influential figures in artificial intelligence. The recognition comes after He Tingbo proposed a new guiding principle for semiconductor development, a move that could shift the industry's focus from traditional scaling to time-based scaling.
In May 2026, at the IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems in Shanghai, He Tingbo unveiled the 'Tau (τ) Scaling Law,' a proposal to replace the geometric shrinking of Moore's Law with time-based scaling as the guiding principle for semiconductors and the electronic systems built on them. This concept suggests that instead of simply increasing transistor density, the industry should focus on how systems evolve over time, potentially leading to more efficient and adaptive AI hardware.
Under He Tingbo's decade-long leadership, HiSilicon has built a competitive edge in AI computing, including Ascend AI accelerators, Kunpeng server processors, and UnifiedBus-enabled SuperPoD systems. These products are central to Huawei's AI infrastructure, and the Tau Scaling Law could further solidify the company's position in the AI chip market.
TIME's editors and reporters compiled the TIME100 AI list by examining key stories in AI over the past year and consulting expert sources and industry leaders. The result is a list of 100 leaders, innovators, shapers, and thinkers who have a stake in the future of AI. He Tingbo's inclusion underscores her influence in shaping AI hardware and semiconductor strategy.
The full list and her profile are available at TIME's TIME100 AI page and her individual story at TIME's He Tingbo profile.
This recognition is significant as it highlights the growing importance of semiconductor innovation in AI. The Tau Scaling Law, if widely adopted, could influence how the industry approaches chip design, potentially leading to more sustainable and time-efficient AI systems. It also reflects Huawei's increasing role in the global AI landscape, despite geopolitical challenges.
