Huawei's 'Tau's Law' Aims to Bypass U.S. Chip Controls, Target 1.4nm Production by 2031

Huawei is challenging the established semiconductor development paradigm by introducing 'Tau's Law,' a new theory intended to succeed Moore's Law. The Chinese tech giant announced its ambition to manufacture advanced chips at the 1.4 nanometer (nm) level by 2031, a move widely interpreted as a strategy to circumvent long-standing U.S. restrictions on semiconductor technology and foster its own production ecosystem.

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We have found a way for sustainable evolution. By 2031, the integrated circuit density of advanced chips developed based on Tau's Law can reach the 1.4 nanometer process level.

At the International Conference on Circuit Systems (ISCAS) 2026 in Shanghai, He Tingbo, president of Huawei's semiconductor business unit and its subsidiary HiSilicon, presented 'Tau's Law.' Unlike Moore's Law, which focuses on miniaturization, Tau's Law prioritizes reducing signal transmission time. Huawei claims that through its core 'logic folding' technology, it can shorten signal transmission distances, thereby lowering power consumption and interference to enhance chip performance. This approach aims to narrow the gap with leading manufacturers from the current five years to about three years.

This development is particularly significant given China's struggle with U.S. export controls, which have restricted access to critical manufacturing equipment like ASML's extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines. He Tingbo asserted that applying the new semiconductor development system could enable advanced chip production without EUV technology, a notion that could overturn the industry's conventional wisdom. China's state-run People's Daily lauded the move, stating, "Where there is blockade, there is breakthrough; where there is pressure, there is innovation," highlighting Huawei's initiative in the face of Western technological containment.

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Where there is blockade, there is breakthrough; where there is pressure, there is innovation.

However, skepticism remains regarding the commercial viability of Tau's Law. Hu Yaping, a distinguished professor at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, described it as a theoretical calculation based on practical experience and a projection for future systems, rather than a direct competitor to Moore's Law in the short term. He Tingbo himself acknowledged that while the technological direction for the next decade is clear, numerous challenges remain, necessitating collaborative efforts across the entire industry.

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Tau's Law is not yet at a level comparable to Moore's Law in the short term. It is closer to a calculation theory derived from practical experience and a projection of future systems.