May 29, 2026

'Immense' Leverage: Why AI Chip Workers are Demanding More Surging AI-driven chip profits fuel worker demands for higher pay in South Korea, as Samsung reaches a bonus deal with its union. Engineers leverage tight talent supply, highlighting global tensions over how AI wealth is shared across employees and executives. Taipei Times

Sponsor What are your economic depaneling needs? Our depaneling machines are high-performance machines for single circuit boards with electronic components. The cutting principles are fast, the best quality. SCHUNK

Dell shares jump 39% after server maker reports fastest sales growth since return to public market in 2018 Dell reported record revenue growth driven by AI demand, with quarterly sales up 88% and AI server revenue soaring 757%. Profit more than tripled, shares surged, and the company raised its outlook amid strong data center demand. CNBC

Understanding Solder Dross: Causes and Control Strategies This article outlines the main contributors to dross formation, examines how alloy refining methods play a role, and explores practical ways to reduce dross through process control and equipment optimization. Technical Paper

Why Tesla's AI trainers don't trust its self-driving tech – or its safety stats Reuters found Tesla workers training Full Self-Driving software routinely reviewed crashes, near-misses and unsafe driving, while former employees said FSD still failed basic scenarios and relied on safety data to exaggerate autonomy claims. Reuters

Sponsor AIT ORMET® TLPS for Component Attach AIT ORMET®TLPS is proven for outstanding reliability for component attaches and MLCC build-up for high temperature applications beyond 175ºC Ormet® TLPS

Michael Dell courted Trump early. His company has reaped rewards Dell Technologies surged on Wall Street after securing a $9.7 billion Pentagon contract and reporting strong AI-driven growth, while Michael Dell's ties to President Trump and a $6.25 billion donation drew scrutiny over influence and potential favoritism. CNBC

Thermal Cycle Fatigue Life of Low-Temperature Solders Thermal cycling fatigue is one of the main reliability concerns for solder. For the introduction of low temperature solders with reflow peak temperatures below 200℃, their thermal cycle fatigue life must be characterized. This paper presents a multiple component type test and time to failure data for solder interconnects formed with low temperature solders for BGAs, QFNs, and SMR component types. Technical Paper

Technical Papers ■ Digital Warehouse Automation in High-Mix PCB Assembly ■ Evaluation of Techniques for Intentional Contamination of PWB Substrates for Quantitative Cleanliness Analyses ■ Scaling SMT Traceability ■ The Drawbacks of Internal Recycling Systems for Solder Dross ■ Engineering ESD-Safe PCB Assembly for High-Reliability IoT and Industrial Electronics ■ The Analysis of Variance: Drawing Conclusions from Data That Are Correct, Unambiguous, and Defensible ■ PCB Rework Evolves, With X-ray a Constant Support ■ How pH Cleaning Agents Affect Production Performance ■ A Universal AI-Powered Segmentation Model for PCBA & Semiconductor ■ RAIG Minimizes Corrosion, Allows Higher Gold on ENEPIG MORE TECHNICAL PAPERS

Sponsor What Would You Ask Proven Global Manufacturing Leaders? In this 4-part series we asked about: Key Drivers of Success, Scaling Operations Effectively, AI in Manufacturing, and Tools to Empower Operations. No registration Required. Intraratio

This is the greatest time ever for semiconductors, says CEO of key equipment supplier Applied Materials CEO Gary Dickerson said the semiconductor industry is entering its strongest era driven by surging AI demand, with sustained growth visibility into 2027–28, expanded capacity investments and continued momentum in advanced chip manufacturing equipment. CNBC

Leo XIV's encyclical on AI is right to put humanity first Pope Leo XIV calls for regulation of the digital revolution in his encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, urging leaders to protect human dignity amid rapid AI growth. He echoes Leo XIII, advocating state oversight and ethical debate on big tech's impact. Taipei Times

Optimize the Dispensing Process with True 3D Inspection The journey toward zero defects in dispensing is challenging but achievable. True 3D inspection technology has have emerged as a powerful ally in this quest to ensure the highest quality levels. Technical Paper

Sponsor Reduce Electronics Costs with Strategic Component Recovery Recovering valuable electronic components can help manufacturers lower expenses, minimize waste, and extend the life of critical inventory. Learn practical methods. Circuit Technology Center

Auto parts firms face lower US tariffs Taiwan's auto parts makers will gain from US Section 232 tariff cuts on non-semiconductor goods, as tariffs drop to 15% from 26.71% retroactive to May 1. The move boosts competitiveness, lifts stocks, and narrows gaps with regional rivals. Taipei Times

AI in Design Verification: From Experimentation to Measurable Capability AI in design verification is shifting from concept to real-world deployment, helping engineers with regression triage, debug, coverage analysis, and log summarization. Teams now measure success through risk reduction, traceability, and stronger verification efficiency. EE Times

Voids in SMT Solder Joints – Trends in Automotive Electronics There is a need for a more extensive coverage of voiding in standards where customer specifications often contain requirements for voiding in SMT solder joints. Technical Paper

Sponsor High-Reliability for Low-Temp Processes Durafuse® LT low-temp, high-rel solder paste is bismuth-free, reduces warpage in large BGAs, enhances thermal cycling, drop shock reliability and reduces energy use up to 15%. Indium Corporation

This startup has raised $12 million to make liquid-metal circuit boards rewritable Itera unveils a fluid circuit board that uses electrowetting to move liquid metal and reconfigure circuits instantly, replacing fixed PCBs. The startup aims to cut hardware iteration from days to minutes, enabling software-like rapid prototyping and testing. TechSpot

How safe are autonomous vehicles? A look at the state of driverless cars in Texas Texas' new law empowers the Department of Motor Vehicles to regulate autonomous vehicles statewide, standardizing rules for driverless ride services across cities as deployments grow, while debates continue over safety after crash data shows fewer severe injuries than human drivers. Spectrum Local News

Sponsor Affordable Profiling Excellence Four channels of precision data capture from the most trusted name in thermal profiling. New and improved V-M.O.L.E.™ 2 is the ideal solution for budget-conscious electronics pros. Learn more here. ECD

This Circuit Board Can Rewire Itself Itera unveiled a reconfigurable circuit board that routes liquid metal through glass layers to form programmable traces and vias on demand. The startup says the technology could speed hardware prototyping and debugging for automotive, defense, semiconductor & hyperscale firms. Electronic Engineering Journal

Connector Bowing During Reflow Process I have a connector that is bowing during lead-free soldering. When the connector is put through an oven on its own no bowing takes place. What is causing this? Board Talk

Elizabeth Warren wants to tax AI data centers as power bills climb Sen. Elizabeth Warren proposed taxing AI companies and energy-hungry data centers, arguing AI wealth is concentrating among major firms while consumers face rising electricity costs. She said new taxes could redistribute AI gains and address growing economic inequality. TechSpot

Tech executives are suffering from "AI psychosis," says Box CEO Box CEO Aaron Levie warned that "AI psychosis" is driving executives to overestimate AI's readiness while overlooking hurdles. He said rushed adoption, layoffs, and unreliable agents reveal a gap between leadership hype and workplace reality. TechSpot

Sponsor More than just hot air Rehm's Vision series Convection Soldering Systems ensure reliable, high-quality electronics production by using precise heat transfer and customizable options for maximum efficiency. Rehm Thermal Systems

Mistral to explore designing own chips, CEO says, as it ramps up infrastructure build French AI startup Mistral AI is exploring custom chip development to cut AI deployment costs and gain infrastructure control as it challenges rivals OpenAI and Anthropic. The company is also expanding European data center investments and launching new enterprise AI agents. CNBC