Federico Faggin: from microchip to touchscreen, the man who forever changed the way we interact with machines
In todays hyper-connected world, where every screen touch triggers a digital reaction, its easy to forget that it all began with a single chip. Not just any chip, but the first commercial microprocessor in history, designed by a man who redefined what it means to interface with technology. Federico Faggin, an Italian-born physicist and inventor who moved to the United States in the 1960s, gave life to the architecture that powers everything from smartphones to gaming consoles, as well as point-of-sale (POS) systems and the control panels of slot machines.
In this exclusive interview with SiGMA News, Faggin reflects on the disruptive past he helped create, while sharing his bold vision for the future, a future shaped by artificial intelligence, immersive technologies, and human-centred innovation. In an industry like iGaming, where transformation is both rapid and essential, Faggins insights are more than a history lesson, they are a call to rethink what innovation really means.
Professor Faggin, looking back, what would you say was the turning point in your career?
The real turning point came when I decided to stay in the United States. I had just invented the silicon-gate MOS technology, and that changed everything. It was 1968, at Fairchild. That technology enabled the creation of microprocessors, memory, and sensors. It transformed how computers were built.
That decision launched the development of the Intel 4004, the worlds first microprocessor. Faggin didnt just design a chiphe created the operational core of digital intelligence. The ripple effects are still felt today: from personal computers to the web, from mobile devices to blockchain infrastructure. Every smart interface, including those in iGaming platforms, can be traced back to this invisible architecture.
Faggin didnt stop there. With his third company, Synaptics, he pioneered the touchpad and capacitive touchscreen – technologies that redefined human-computer interaction and became the standard across billions of devices.
We invented the touchpad and later the touchscreen. That changed the way we interact with computers. It was as pivotal as the microprocessor. Just think of how we use phones, tablets, even gaming terminals – it all happens through our fingertips.
This leap is particularly significant for the iGaming industry. Without those interfaces, mobile-first experiences, one-tap betting, and swipe-based slot games wouldnt exist. Todays immersive, frictionless user experience (UX) in online 바카라s is deeply rooted in the legacy of Faggins inventions.
What made you step away from the tech industry to study consciousness?
I was studying neuroscience, biology – I wanted to understand the difference between humans and computers. I tried to build a conscious robot. After two years, I realised it was impossible. Physics doesnt explain how electrical signals turn into consciousness. Im a physicist, and I wasnt satisfied with materialism anymore.
That realisation led Faggin into uncharted territory: the study of consciousness as a fundamental aspect of reality. And in doing so, he entered a debate that has become central to modern AI development, especially in fields like iGaming, where predictive personalisation and behavioural design are already reshaping the player experience.
Can artificial intelligence ever be truly conscious?
Absolutely not. Machines dont understand. They dont experience. We experience because were conscious. Symbols, for us, have meaning. For AI, they dont. Theres no understanding, only algorithms linking symbols to other symbols. Its dark inside the machine. Inside us, theres light.
This statement strikes at the heart of a growing issue in digital industries: mistaking performance for intelligence. In iGaming, AI is used to personalise offers, detect fraud, and predict player behaviour. But if that intelligence lacks understanding, what kind of experience are we designing?
Faggin urges caution. Innovation without consciousness risks becoming mechanical manipulation rather than meaningful engagement. And that has ethical implications, especially in entertainment sectors that touch human psychology so deeply.
With smart devices all around us, is tech evolving in the right direction?
Technology doesnt have consciousness. If it runs wild, its because we let it. AI is just an imitation of our abilities, not true understanding. The responsibility is ours. We need to give it purpose.
This isn’t a rejection of innovation – its a call for depth. In a time when facial recognition, generative AI, and immersive gameplay dominate the digital frontier, the true challenge is ensuring technology remains a tool for enhancing human experience, not replacing it.
Then what is our true role as humans in this digital era?
To know ourselves. To shift from competition to cooperation. The universe cant be known with rockets. It must be known from within. We are part of a conscious field that connects everything.”
We dont need to conquer – we need to understand.
It may sound philosophical, but Faggins point has practical applications. In iGaming, developers design environments that shape how users interact, feel, and behave.
Recognising this responsibility means moving toward empathetic design, sustainable innovation, and systems that respect player agency and well-being.
Today, every time we swipe a screen, tap to play, or interact with an AI-enhanced system, were walking a path that Federico Faggin paved over 50 years ago. His legacy isnt just technological – its existential. He reminds us that the most powerful interface isnt between man and machine, but between being and understanding. To build a future where technology truly serves humanity, well have to start there – with consciousness, and what it means to be human.
This article was first published in Italian on 11 June 2025.
