Huawei's He Tingbo, President of HiSilicon, has been named to TIME's fourth annual TIME100 AI list, recognizing the 100 most influential people in artificial intelligence. The announcement, made on August 28, 2026, underscores her pivotal role in shaping AI hardware and computing infrastructure.
He Tingbo's inclusion stems from her May 2026 unveiling of the "Tau (τ) Scaling Law" at the IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems in Shanghai. This proposal suggests replacing the geometric shrinking of Moore's Law with time-based scaling as the guiding principle for semiconductors and the electronic systems built on them. The Tau Scaling Law could redefine how the industry approaches chip design, moving beyond traditional transistor density improvements to consider temporal efficiency and real-time processing capabilities—a critical shift for AI workloads that demand rapid data processing.
Under her decade-long leadership, HiSilicon has built a competitive edge in AI computing, developing Ascend AI accelerators, Kunpeng server processors, and UnifiedBus-enabled SuperPoD systems. These products are integral to Huawei's AI strategy, enabling high-performance computing for cloud and edge applications. The recognition highlights not only her individual achievements but also Huawei's growing influence in the global AI ecosystem.
TIME's editors and reporters compiled the list by examining key AI stories over the past year and consulting expert sources and industry leaders. The result is a diverse group of 100 leaders, innovators, shapers, and thinkers who are driving the future of AI. He Tingbo's inclusion reflects her role in advancing AI hardware, a foundational layer for AI software and applications.
The Tau Scaling Law's emphasis on time-based scaling could have far-reaching implications. As AI models grow in complexity, the demand for faster, more efficient hardware intensifies. By focusing on temporal scaling, HiSilicon aims to optimize performance for real-time AI inference and training, potentially setting new industry standards. This approach may also influence other semiconductor companies to rethink their roadmaps, moving beyond Moore's Law's limitations.
He Tingbo's recognition comes at a time when AI's impact on society is under scrutiny. Her contributions to AI computing infrastructure are vital for enabling advanced applications in fields like autonomous driving, healthcare, and natural language processing. The TIME100 AI list serves as a barometer of influence, and her inclusion signals that hardware innovation is as crucial as algorithmic breakthroughs.
For more details, see He Tingbo's story at TIME100 AI 2026 and the full list at TIME100 AI.
