Oct 7, 2026 The AI Boom Has a Gigawatt Accounting Problem AI infrastructure commitments are soaring, but gigawatt targets can mask deployment limits. Semiconductor, memory, networking, cooling and power constraints, plus long construction and equipment lead times, can delay usable computing capacity. EE Times

Sponsor Plasma as a Key Technology Plasma technology improves electronics manufacturing, reduces oxide layers, prevents delamination & enables environmentally friendly products by using Openair-Plasma® & PlasmaPlus®. Plasmatreat GmbH

2007 Vs. 2026 Apple iPhone: What's Changed Over The Years? Apple's iPhone has evolved dramatically from the 2007 original, gaining larger OLED displays, advanced cameras, USB-C and MagSafe charging, Siri AI, the App Store, and longer software support, transforming it into a powerful modern smartphone. BGR

The Drawbacks of Internal Recycling Systems for Solder Dross This paper examines the risks and hidden costs of in-house solder dross recycling, highlighting contamination, compliance, quality, safety, and economic challenges that often outweigh perceived savings. Technical Paper

Who names the driverless car? As driverless cars become services rather than possessions, brands will shift from vehicle makers to the AI, safety and software systems inside them. Companies that name and establish trust in these technologies early could dominate autonomous transportation. Fast Company

Sponsor Plasma Clean, Etch and RIE in One Machine The PE-100 convertible allows you to perform plasma cleaning, isotropic etching and reactive ion etching(RIE) in the same system! Plasma Etch

Sam Altman says the world should accept some "bad things" happening because of AI OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says society should accept some AI-related harms because the technology could deliver vastly greater benefits. He supports lighter regulation while rejecting catastrophic risks, including loss of control, drawing criticism from AI safety advocates & skeptics. TechSpot

Can We Rework Lead-Free Boards with Leaded Solder? Can boards built with lead-free be reworked with leaded solder? I realize they may not comply with RoHS, but will they be reliable? Board Talk

Technical Papers ■ The Analysis of Variance: Drawing Conclusions from Data That Are Correct, Unambiguous, and Defensible ■ Oxide Reduction for Reliable Electronics Manufacturing ■ UHDI Fabrication for IC Substrates: SAP and mSAP Processes ■ Flux-Free, Reliable, Efficient: Soldering with Formic Acid ■ Redesigning Material Logistics for High-Mix EMS Production ■ Unlocking Academic-Industry Synergy: A Collaborative Model for Hands-On Electronics Manufacturing Education ■ Viscosity Does Not Equal Rheology: What Solder Paste Measurements Really Tell You ■ Salvaging Electronic Components: A Reliable Method for Reducing Electronic Waste and Ensuring Economic Reuse MORE TECHNICAL PAPERS

Sponsor Discover the power of vAI ProVision from Viscom Create and optimize 3D AOI and AXI programs in minutes. vAI ProVision boosts inspection depth, quality, and speed. Viscom develops & produces premium inspection systems. Viscom

Axelera AI: Data Center Inference Performance in the Power Envelope of Embedded Systems Physical AI faces three barriers: power, economics, and fragmentation. Axelera AI CEO Fabrizio Del Maffeo advocates efficient edge inference, in-memory computing, open software, and co-designed hardware to enable scalable, cost-effective deployment across industries. EE Times

Can AI help students think harder? AI challenges literary and educational standards by letting students and writers bypass genuine thinking. Instead of banning it, educators can use adaptive AI exams to assess knowledge, reasoning and argumentation while strengthening intellectual engagement. Taipei Times

Characterizing Thermal Fatigue Reliability of Third Generation PB-Free Alloys The progress of an experimental program for evaluating thermal fatigue performance of third generation alternative Pbfree solder alloys is discussed. Technical Paper

Sponsor The Battle for Space Superiority Has Begun The next conflict may begin in orbit. Learn why resilient space systems and advanced manufacturing matter more than ever. Summit Interconnect

Tech expansion expands 'shield' Taiwan's semiconductor leaders are expanding overseas to hedge geopolitical risks and capture AI demand. TSMC, Vanguard and GlobalWafers are boosting global investments while expanding at home, strengthening Taiwan’s supply chain and influence. Taipei Times

Compliance & Control Are Not the Same Thing When It Comes to AI Medtech manufacturers must integrate AI, cybersecurity and regulatory teams as risks converge. Separate governance can fail when AI systems misbehave or cyberattacks disrupt clinical tools. Leaders should assign accountability and test controls. Design News

RF Capacitor Material for Use in Printed Circuit Board A novel ceramic-functional-particle-filled polymer composite material has been developed for use either discrete elements on the PCBs. Technical Paper

Sponsor Micro Dispensing Technology White Paper The trend toward micro-dispensing technology increases as electronic assembly's shrink & component packages decrease in size. DL Technology

Solving the Five Hard Problems of NFC Antenna Integration at 13.56 MHz Engineers can prevent NFC range loss and failures by validating antenna-chipset compatibility early. Ferrite shielding improves performance near metal, while flexible, cable-terminated antennas help reliable operation in compact enclosures. EE Times

Utah will become first state to let AI examine patients and prescribe medication without direct human oversight Utah has launched a limited program allowing AI to diagnose mild-to-moderate acne and prescribe topical treatments without direct doctor oversight. Nolla Health's phased trial could signal a broader shift toward AI handling routine medical care. TechSpot

Sponsor AEC Grade-0 and MSL Level-1 Conductive Paste & Film Adhesives 240° Tg and ultra-high thermal stability for AEC Grade-0 applications. Proven rapid and snap curing die-attach paste for ultimate productivity. AI Technology, Inc.

In rain and darkness, how should self-driving cars trust their sensors? Researchers at Singapore University of Technology and Design developed sensor-fusion models for autonomous vehicles. CCF balances camera and LiDAR inputs, while PanDA uses unlabeled data to improve perception in rain, darkness and unfamiliar cities. TechXplore

Impact of Assembly Cycles on Copper Wrap Plating This study quantifies the effects of copper wrap plating thicknesses through IST testing followed by micro sectioning to determine the failure mechanism. Technical Paper

Gartner Marketing Survey Finds 34% of U.S. Consumers Are Willing to Use GenAI for Holiday Gift Recommendations Gartner finds 34% of U.S. consumers are very or extremely willing to use GenAI tools for holiday gift ideas. AI adds to, rather than replaces, traditional discovery, with 77% planning to shop in stores and 75% on Amazon. Gartner

Notebook downturn splits supply chain: ODMs lean on servers, component makers seek new growth Notebook shipments exceeded expectations in the first half of 2026, but the market suffered a sharp downturn from September. The decline contrasts with previous years, when September typically launched the industry's peak seasonal demand. Digitimes

Sponsor SMTA Mexico – vAI ProVision vAI ProVision: Smarter Inspection Programming Discover vAI ProVision by Viscom at SMTA Mexico, Booth: 343. Using proven inspection strategy and AI, it creates optimized inspection programs faster, reducing workload and enhancing reliability. Viscom SE

OEM-Refurbished MFP and Printer Demand Grows 14.5% in 2026H1 Despite a Global Energy Price Shock IDC reports OEM-refurbished MFP and printer shipments rose 14.5% in 2026H1 to a record $96.9 million. Western Europe led value, while regulation, cost pressures and sustainability goals drive demand for circular hardware, especially in Europe. IDC