# Why Chip Designers Are Switching to Open-Source RISC-V

An episode of [The Hardware Podcast with Fexingo: Chips, Devices, and Electronics Engineering Conversations](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1896799982), 10 Jun 2026, 8:47.

Audio: https://audio.fexingo.com/business/the-hardware-podcast/episode-0043.mp3

Episode 43 of The Hardware Podcast dives into the open-source RISC-V instruction set architecture, which is gaining traction from tiny IoT controllers to server-class processors. Lucas and Luna break down why companies like NVIDIA, Alibaba, and the Chinese government are betting on RISC-V, how it challenges Arm's licensing model, and what a $1.5 billion venture investment means for the future of chip design. They walk through a concrete example: Alibaba's Xuantie 910 CPU core, which powers smart speakers and edge servers in China. The hosts explain how RISC-V lets firms customize instructions for AI workloads without paying Arm's royalties. They also discuss the fragmentation risk and why some analysts say RISC-V could capture 25% of the core market by 2030. If you've ever wondered whether open-source hardware can truly compete with proprietary giants, this episode gives you the numbers and the context. #RISC-V #OpenSourceHardware #InstructionSetArchitecture #ChipDesign #Semiconductors #ArmAlternatives #NVIDIA #Alibaba #Xuantie910 #AIAcceleration #CustomCores #VentureCapital #Technology #HardwarePodcast #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #ChipsAndDevices #ElectronicsEngineering Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

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