August 3, 2026

China Taps US AI Models to Train Defense Systems Chinese military researchers are using outputs from U.S. AI models, including OpenAI and Anthropic systems, to distill and train domestic AI for defense applications. The effort heightens concerns over IP theft, security risks and intensifying U.S.-China tech rivalry. Taipei Times

Sponsor Refurbished and Demo X-ray Inspection Systems 2024 Demo JewelBox-70T X-ray System and 2024 Demo JewelBox-100T X-ray System Refurbished & Demo Systems on sale with warranty. Learn more. Glenbrook Technologies

A Huge Number of Data Centers are Set to be Built in the US, Despite Ongoing Issues Data center expansion in the U.S. faces growing public opposition over energy, water, noise, and pollution concerns. Despite protests, AI demand drives rapid construction, with hundreds of facilities planned, though power shortages and climate challenges may delay some projects. 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

Energy efficiency as a key topic in electronics Manufacturers boost energy efficiency across electronics and industry as power costs and regulations rise. At electronica 2026, companies will showcase semiconductor, power and connected solutions that reduce losses and improve performance. Digitimes

Sponsor Need Improved Solder Joint Visibility? Solder Peel-A-Wayš Removable Terminal Carriers in place and peel the carrier away for complete solder joint visibility on both sides of the PCB. Watch a video to see it in action. Advanced Interconnections Corp.

Inside the Luxury Robotaxi Uber, Lucid and Nuro Are Testing Uber, Lucid Motors, and Nuro are testing the Lucid Gravity robotaxi ahead of a public launch later this year. The six-passenger autonomous vehicle combines Uber's ride platform, Nuro's AI technology, and Lucid's luxury EV design for future self-driving services. CNET

Minimum Lead to Lead Spacing for Wave Soldered Through-Hole Components What is the recommended minimum lead-to-lead spacing for through-hole components run through a wave soldering system? Jim Hall and Phil Zarrow, The Assembly Brothers, discuss this question and share their own suggestions. Board Talk

Technical Papers ■ 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 ■ 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 MORE TECHNICAL PAPERS

Sponsor "Flying" SMD Components This paper deals with the fundamentals of heat transfer and the test procedures show how the SOD323 can be processed given a suitable selection of solder paste and oven settings. Read more. Rehm Thermal Systems

Your fourth grader should not be worried about AI AI fears have raised concerns about future jobs, but history shows technology creates opportunities alongside disruption. Experts argue AI will transform work rather than eliminate it, rewarding creativity, adaptability and skills that help humans complement emerging technologies. Taipei Times

This Was The First Email Ever Sent Back In The '70s Computer engineer Ray Tomlinson sent the first email in 1971, creating a communication tool that transformed digital interaction. His SNDMSG program introduced the @ symbol and email standards, paving the way for modern messaging despite early simplicity & security challenges. BGR

Non-Contact Measurement of Conformal Coating Thickness Conformal coating is designed to provide protection and long-term reliability to printed circuit boards (PCB) in harsh environments where high humidity, high temperature, corrosive gases, or salt spray may be present. This study aims to highlight the application of chromatic confocal microscopy (CCM), an optical technique used to characterize 2D/3D surfaces. Technical Paper

Sponsor Your Domestic PCB Solution Summit helps you avoid long lead times and added costs—protecting your supply chain without compromise, while delivering the speed and quality you count on. Summit Interconnect

June manufacturing sector indicator shows more growth Taiwan's manufacturing sector gained momentum in June as AI infrastructure demand lifted electronics, server and networking orders. TIER reported stronger growth, while semiconductor-driven machinery demand offset tariff worries and geopolitical uncertainty. Taipei Times

Hon Hai subsidiary begins commercial operations of 5MW AI cluster Hon Hai's Visionbay.ai launched Taiwan's largest 5-megawatt AI cluster using Nvidia HGX B300 systems, with over 90% capacity utilized. The platform earned Nvidia Exemplar Cloud validation and aims to expand AI infrastructure across Asia-Pacific with Blackwell & Vera Rubin technologies. Taipei Times

Ultra-Low Voiding Halogen-Free No-Clean Lead-Free Solder Paste The miniaturization trend is driving components with large pads. To alleviate the voiding challenge, a voiding-free solder paste will be the solution. Technical Paper

Sponsor Optimizing BGA Rework: Challenges, Techniques and Quality Control The complexity of BGA packages introduces challenges during rework requiring innovative methods and inspection practices to ensure performance and reliability. Read more. BEST Inc.

Amazon spent $1.8 million on a failed AI project, and didn't notice the overrun for five months Amazon's AI expansion reveals rising cost challenges as projects exceed budgets due to unpredictable model usage. Internal reviews show failed initiatives and costly errors, prompting engineers to develop safeguards, tracking systems, and controls to better manage AI spending. TechSpot

More Americans now support banning phones all day at school, not just in class A Pew Research survey shows growing US support for school cellphone restrictions, with 77% backing classroom bans and 48% supporting all-day limits. Adults cite learning concerns, though parents worry about emergency communication and enforcement challenges across schools. TechSpot

Sponsor EZ-FLO High Precision Dispense Tips Each needle is machined from solid stainless steel as opposed to rolled tubing. The resulting smoother internal profile enhances material flow and consistency. Learn more. DL Technology

Power Electronics Market Entering New Growth Phase Power electronics companies are accelerating adoption of silicon carbide and gallium nitride technologies as EVs and AI data centers drive demand for efficient power solutions. Yole Group projects market growth through 2031, while suppliers expand capacity & diversify supply chains. EE Times India

3D Aerosol Jet Printed Interconnects on Bare Die Aerosol Jet Printing can provide many enhancements over traditional bare die attachment techniques. Previous studies have shown that AJ technology offers advantages in the millimeter wave frequency range, such as a significant reduction of insertion loss and the ability to design the line impedance as required. Technical Paper

Pegatron chair says AI outlook remains strong, calls for Taiwan application push Pegatron Chairman Tzu-hsien Tung remains confident in AI's long-term growth despite recent market volatility. He says strong industry fundamentals continue to fuel innovation, attract investment, and accelerate technology development across global markets. Digitimes

Apple braces for "hundred-year flood" in component costs Apple delivered a strong June quarter with solid hardware results, but rising memory costs, limited chip supplies, and AI investments pressure margins. The company manages higher expenses and evolving technology demands while pursuing growth. Digitimes

Sponsor pH Employment in Electronic Cleaning The pH of a cleaning agent affects the entire cleaning process and must be considered when determining the appropriate chemistry and process parameters for success. Download now. KYZEN

We're raising our Apple price target, seeing plenty of good despite the memory crunch knocks Apple beat quarterly revenue and profit expectations, but rising memory costs threaten future margins. Severe chip shortages continue pushing component prices higher, creating new challenges for the consumer tech leader despite strong demand across its product lineup. CNBC