A diagnosis has emerged that the semiconductor industry has entered its strongest phase in history, driven by expanding demand for artificial intelligence (AI).

On May 28 local time, CNBC reported that Gary Dickerson (게리 디커슨), CEO of Applied Materials, called the current period “the best time in industry history” for both the semiconductor industry and his company.

Applied Materials is a key supplier of equipment needed to make advanced semiconductors. It is not as widely known as companies such as Nvidia or TSMC that design or manufacture finished chips, but it is regarded as an essential pillar in the AI semiconductor supply chain. Lam Research and KLA are also in the same group of semiconductor equipment makers.

Dickerson stressed that AI is at the centre of the semiconductor boom. “AI is driving enormous computing demand,” he said, drawing a line under the idea that the current surge is temporary. As customers compete to expand AI infrastructure, equipment order visibility also appears to extend further out, he explained.

Applied Materials shares have risen about 178 percent over the past year. Dickerson put more weight on the durability of future demand than on the sharp rise in the stock price. “The company is reflecting enormous growth in its guidance,” he said. “This inflection point will last for a very long time.”

He also offered a different view on concerns that traditional ups and downs in the semiconductor cycle could reappear. Dickerson said that in the AI era, demand foundations have become more solid and predictable. Calling business visibility “unprecedented,” he said discussions with customers are already being conducted around demand in 2027 and 2028.

The company is also expanding supply capacity in line with rising demand. Dickerson said large-scale investment in operations and the supply chain has enabled it to nearly double its ability to respond to production needs. Even so, he said demand continues to rise further. That means equipment makers are not just filling current orders but are expanding production systems themselves in preparation for a long-term AI investment cycle.

The remarks show that the spread of AI is lifting both earnings and investment plans for semiconductor equipment makers. As demand for advanced chips increases, demand for the equipment to produce them inevitably rises as well. “The long-term opportunity remains big,” Dickerson said, adding that AI will push up demand for increasingly advanced chips and the equipment used to make them.

He ended by saying, “AI will change every industry,” and calling it “the innovation with the biggest ripple effect in our lifetime.” Attention in the semiconductor industry is focused on how long this AI infrastructure investment trend will continue in actual equipment orders and expanded production capacity.