Semiconductor sector booming in Texas

Texas Instruments' focus isn't on the AI processors themselves, but rather on the essential chips that allow those processors to function. The company's Q4 data center business surged by 70% year-over-year, signaling the increasing demand for analog chips in AI infrastructure. TI is making major investments in manufacturing, including a planned $60 billion across seven U.S. semiconductor fabs in Texas and Utah. The largest mega-site in Sherman, Texas, involves a potential $40 billion investment for four fabs and could create 3,000 direct and indirect jobs. Texas Instruments has started production at its newest semiconductor fab in Sherman, TX, which will produce tens of millions of chips daily for various electronic devices. This expansion strengthens domestic supply chains and reduces reliance on overseas foundries. The company's strategy involves acquiring Silicon Labs for $7.5 billion to fill its new factories with high-margin products. This acquisition is expected to generate approximately $450 million in annual manufacturing and operational savings within three years of closing.