Chiplets, Trust, AI and Robots - Lars Reger, EVP and CTO at NXP Semiconductors - S2E14

Recorded on the floor of the Automobil Elektronik Kongress 2026 in Ludwigsburg, this conversation with Lars Reger, EVP and CTO of NXP Semiconductors, tracks how automotive silicon is reshaping who gets a seat at the table, and how much trust a car actually needs before it can drive itself.Key insightsFrom value chain to value network: Lars explains why semiconductor makers now shape OEM decisions earlier than ever, as the industry moves away from a strict OEM to Tier 1 to Tier 2 order.Trust before intelligence: Lars revisits his own line that a car is as much a brain on wheels as a human is a brain on shoes, and uses it to explain why autonomous systems need layered, real-time architecture rather than one giant AI brain.Chiplets, decoded: Lars breaks down what a chiplet actually is, and argues that speed and flexibility, not cost, are the real force behind the trend, as chip design cycles that used to take years get compressed into weeks.Key takeawaysLoop in silicon partners earlier. As architecture centralizes, the semiconductor choice increasingly shapes what an OEM can build, not the reverse.Separate real-time control from AI decision-making. Reger's layered model treats safety-critical reflexes and creative AI reasoning as different systems that should not depend on each other.Watch for chiplet interface standards. The next unresolved question in the industry is who defines the standard that lets chiplets from different vendors talk to each other.A grounded look at where automotive silicon is headed, from someone building it."Under the Hood: Automotive Storytelling" uncovers the human narratives driving innovation in an industry that impacts lives worldwide. Hosted by Stéphane Lagresle, this podcast explores how the power of storytelling ultimately connects technology to humans.