TIME has named He Tingbo, President of HiSilicon, Huawei's semiconductor division, to its 2026 TIME100 AI list, recognizing her as one of the most influential people in artificial intelligence. The annual list honors leaders, innovators, shapers, and thinkers who are driving the future of AI. He Tingbo's inclusion highlights her pivotal role in advancing AI computing technologies, particularly through her recent proposal of the Tau (τ) Scaling Law, which challenges the long-standing Moore's Law.
In May 2026, at the IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems in Shanghai, He Tingbo unveiled the Tau Scaling Law, a new framework that suggests time-based scaling should replace the geometric shrinking of transistors as the guiding principle for semiconductors and electronic systems. This law posits that as time progresses, the efficiency and capability of AI systems can be scaled without relying solely on miniaturization, offering a new pathway for continued innovation in the face of physical limits. This proposal is seen as a strategic move to redefine the industry's approach to computing power, focusing on temporal optimization rather than just spatial density.
Under He Tingbo's decade-long leadership, HiSilicon has built a competitive edge in AI computing, with products such as Ascend AI accelerators, Kunpeng server processors, and UnifiedBus-enabled SuperPoD systems. These innovations have positioned Huawei as a major player in the AI hardware market, competing with global giants like NVIDIA and Intel. The Ascend accelerators are designed for AI training and inference, while Kunpeng processors target high-performance computing, together forming a robust ecosystem for AI applications.
The TIME100 AI list is compiled by TIME's editors and reporters, who examine key stories in AI over the past year and consult with experts and industry leaders. The recognition of He Tingbo not only acknowledges her individual contributions but also underscores the growing influence of Chinese tech companies in the global AI landscape. Her inclusion is a testament to the strategic importance of AI in national and corporate agendas, especially as the world grapples with the challenges of AI governance, ethics, and sustainability.
The implications of the Tau Scaling Law are far-reaching. If adopted, it could lead to a shift in how semiconductor companies invest in research and development, focusing more on software and system-level optimizations that leverage time-based scaling. This could democratize AI innovation, as smaller companies might not need cutting-edge fabrication facilities to achieve significant performance gains. However, it also poses a challenge to the traditional semiconductor industry, which has been driven by the race to shrink transistors. He Tingbo's vision suggests a future where the industry's progress is measured not by the size of components but by the intelligent use of time in computing processes.
As AI continues to permeate every sector, from healthcare to finance, the need for efficient and scalable computing infrastructure becomes paramount. He Tingbo's work and recognition signal a shift towards more holistic approaches to AI development, where hardware and software are harmonized to maximize performance. Her presence on the TIME100 AI list serves as a reminder that innovation often comes from rethinking established norms and that the future of AI may be shaped by those who dare to redefine the rules.
