For nearly five decades, the COSM technology summit has brought together some of the sharpest minds in science and innovation. Founded by technology author and economist George Gilder, the event is a gathering place for leaders shaping the digital world, from the early internet era to today’s age of artificial intelligence.
Historically, COSM has called Seattle and Silicon Valley home, places synonymous with big tech. But this year, organizers decided the conversation belonged somewhere new: Arizona. The 2025 summit will take place at the Hilton Scottsdale Resort & Villas, marking the first time COSM has moved to the desert.
The decision is reminiscent of another trade show that relocated from Silicon Valley to the desert due to the state’s growing influence in advanced technology. Arizona is one of the fastest-growing super hubs for semiconductor manufacturing and high-tech research. The state is no longer an emerging player, and these recent shifts reflect a clear change in the national technology landscape.
COSM explores how technology reshapes economics, policy and daily life while bringing together scientists, investors and entrepreneurs to discuss next-generation computing, AI ethics, semiconductor innovation and what organizers call the “vibe shift” shaping the digital economy. The event typically draws several hundred senior executives and thought leaders from across the U.S. and abroad, with sessions focused on both opportunity and responsibility in an age defined by data and design.
While Silicon Valley remains the headquarters for chip design, Arizona has become the nation’s hub for production. Its combination of cost advantages, infrastructure, and collaboration among state, industry and academia has turned what was once potential into momentum.
That rise is anchored by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s $165-billion campus in north Phoenix, which is recognized as the largest single foreign industrial investment in U.S. history. However, that alone is not what propels Arizona’s momentum. Operations such as Intel’s long-established presence in Chandler, combined with companies like Amkor in Peoria, Microchip, Infineon and NXP help round out an end-to-end supply chain that solidifies Arizona’s place in the national technology landscape.
Still, Arizona’s work is far from finished. Industry leaders say that continued investment in workforce training, research and development, and infrastructure will be crucial to maintaining the state’s competitive edge. The same momentum that drew SEMI and COSM to Arizona now depends on preparing talent, building resilience and expanding the state’s capacity for innovation.
These shifts in location are more than just a new address. It is a shift in perception of Arizona’s influence within the technology industry. But it’s more than just the locals singing their home’s praises; this recognition bears the weight on a national, if not a global, scale. Arizona’s rise isn’t about replacing Silicon Valley. It’s about expanding the map of where innovation happens and proving the next frontier might look a little more like the desert.
