Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the evolution and future of alternative and persistent memory technologies, highlighting the competition among various types of memory to become mainstream in the semiconductor industry [2][3][6]. Group 1: Historical Context - For the past 40 years, semiconductor memory has evolved from SRAM, DRAM, EPROM, and EEPROM to include newer technologies like FRAM, MRAM, ReRAM, and PCM [2][3]. - NAND flash memory has been a cornerstone of non-volatile storage, but it faces limitations at the 15nm node, leading to the development of 3D NAND variants [7][8]. Group 2: Current Developments - Recent advancements in memory technologies include the emergence of microcontrollers utilizing MRAM and FRAM, with companies like NXP and Texas Instruments leading the way [6][10]. - The collaboration between NXP and TSMC aims to develop MRAM-based microcontrollers for the automotive market in 2023 [6]. Group 3: Challenges and Limitations - The transition to alternative memory technologies faces economic challenges, as the costs associated with these new technologies are currently higher than traditional NAND and DRAM [8][10]. - The integration of new memory types into existing systems is complicated by the need for additional on-chip SRAM, which increases costs and complexity [5][10]. Group 4: Future Predictions - Experts predict that it may take around ten years for alternative memory technologies to replace flash and SRAM in embedded applications due to slow development in microcontroller technology [10]. - The transition to alternative memory in external NAND flash chips and SDRAM is expected to be delayed, but once it begins, it may accelerate quickly [10].