Mostly Upbeat Outlook For Chips 2019 will be a year of change for the semiconductor industry as new fields drive technological advancements. Brian Bailey 2019 has started with cautious optimism for the semiconductor industry, despite dark clouds that dot the horizon. Market segments such as cryptocurrencies and virtual reality are not living up to expectations, the market for smart phones appears to be saturated, and DRAM prices are dropping, leading to cut-backs in capital expenditures.