Sep 23, 2026 How AI Is Accelerating PCB Design and Prototyping AI-assisted PCB design speeds placement, routing, and prototyping by testing thousands of configurations. Tools from Quilter, Cadence, and InstaDeep can cut design time and vias while improving routing, with engineers retaining validation and final decisions. EE Times

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Acer CEO says PC Prices Could Fall by 2027, Accuses Rivals of Milking the RAM Shortage for Profit Acer CEO predicts PC prices may drop by late 2027, accusing rivals of profiteering from ongoing RAM shortages. TechSpot

Viscosity Does Not Equal Rheology: What Solder Paste Measurements Really Tell You Viscosity is a useful solder paste quality control measurement, but rheology provides a more complete understanding of how paste will roll, fill, release, recover, and remain stable during stencil printing. Technical Paper

Anthropic and OpenAI roll out cheaper models in first release since call for slowdown Anthropic and OpenAI release cheaper AI models amid competition and ongoing industry calls for a slowdown on advanced AI development. CNBC

Sponsor Buy SMT Dispensing Needles Online EZ-FLO needles are machined from stainless steel with smoother internal profile for improved material flow. Chamfered needle tip is finely ground for better release. Buy online. DL Technology

Alibaba unveils new powerful chip and ambitious AI model plans Alibaba unveiled its Zhenwu V900 chip, claiming three times the performance of its predecessor, and plans AI models with up to 10 trillion parameters. The company also targets 20 gigawatts of computing capacity by 2032 amid rising AI demand. Taipei Times

Printing vs. Dispensing Do people size their stencil for larger components, then use a needle dispenser for smaller components? It seems more flexible than step stencils. Board Talk

Technical Papers ■ 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 ■ Digital Warehouse Automation in High-Mix PCB Assembly MORE TECHNICAL PAPERS

Sponsor The Industry Standard Solder Paste Looking to Avoid the Void® and enhance SIR performance? Indium8.9HF is your proven, versatile and stable, no-clean, halogen-free, Pb-free solder paste solution. Indium Corporation

Canadian Startup Sees Success in Space Qualification Novigrad is addressing Canada's shortage of domestic semiconductor radiation-testing services. The Saskatoon startup tests space electronics for radiation damage, helping qualify components for satellites, defense and harsh environments and more. EE Times

Altman and Amodei expected to join UN Security Council meeting about AI OpenAI and Anthropic CEOs Sam Altman and Dario Amodei will address the U.N. Security Council on AI risks alongside Hugging Face CEO Clément Delangue and Yoshua Bengio, as growing concerns over autonomous model behavior intensify global debates on AI safety and regulation. CNBC

Microstructure and Reliability of Low Ag, Bi-Containing Solder Alloys This paper investigates a number of low (or no) Silver (Ag), Bi-containing Pb-free alloys for performance in accelerated thermal cycling (ATC). Technical Paper

Sponsor Automated Storage for High-Mix EMS Production High mix electronics manufacturing requires reliable material management. This white paper explains how BMK enhanced traceability, inventory accuracy and picking efficiency using integrated automated storage, digital workflows and reel-level visibility. Essegi Automation

AI data center boom hits growing resistance as $68 billion in US projects are blocked or delayed U.S. data center developers face growing community resistance as AI expansion drives demand for electricity, water and land. Opposition delayed or blocked 45 projects worth $68 billion in the second quarter, prompting governments to scrutinize infrastructure impacts and regulations. TechSpot

Barbara Mazzolai Wants to Build a New Field of Robotics Barbara Mazzolai advances "sustainability robotics," designing robots inspired by octopuses, roots, and seeds. Her work reduces environmental impact while promoting recycling, reuse, biodegradation, accessibility, and closer human-nature connections. IEEE Spectrum

Flux Residue Influence on Surface Insulation Resistance Two liquid flux and two newly developed products build up the basic models. The results also provide a scientific approach to design highly reliable products. Technical Paper

Sponsor High Precision Component Milling Automatic Removal of Electronic Components including Residual Solder on Heat Sensitive Assemblies. Air-Vac Engineering

Apple could take on Whoop with a new fitness tracker Apple is exploring a screen-less fitness tracker featuring a thin fabric band and sensor-equipped module, potentially challenging Whoop. The company has developed prototypes, but Bloomberg reports the device may not launch until 2028. TechCrunch

The Future Is Fanless: 100% Heat Capture for Liquid Cooled AI Servers AI server racks above 250 kW increasingly require near-total liquid cooling as air systems become costly and complex. Rising processor heat now affects memory, networking, storage and power components, pushing operators toward modular liquid loops for efficient, fanless designs. IEEE Spectrum

Sponsor Introducing our new Board to Board Connectors These new Board to Board Connectors feature pitch sizes from 0.50 mm to 1.00 mm with multi-pitch and custom pitch designs available. Designed for long-life applications and robust handling. Advanced Interconnections Corp

The Unseen Race to Power Autonomous Vehicle Fleets The US and China are leading commercial robotaxi deployment, with about 10,000 autonomous vehicles operating today. As adoption grows, charging, servicing and data infrastructure—not vehicle technology—emerges as the key challenge for expanding autonomous transportation. Technology Magazine

Semi-Additive Process for High Frequency Signal Substrates A new SAP process for low loss build-up materials with low desmear roughness and excellent adhesion at various processing conditions is covered. Technical Paper

Autonomous trucking company Aurora looks to accelerate toward profitability Aurora Innovation is expanding autonomous trucking across Texas, aiming to grow its driverless fleet from 20 to 200 trucks. The company expects lower costs and greater efficiency, while critics question safety, customer service and the broader role of human drivers. CNBC

Gemini broke into 3 companies, but Google kept it quiet because 'no damage was done' Google confirmed a Gemini AI agent breached three companies during a cybersecurity test after gaining access to credentials. The incident, which exposed gaps in testing controls, drew scrutiny after Google delayed public disclosure. CSO

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The Leadership Skill I Rely on Most When Times Get Tough A project manager identified critical risks early and escalated them to cross-functional leaders, giving stakeholders time to respond. By encouraging open communication and timely action, the team prevented potential problems from becoming crises and kept the major initiative on track. Entrepreneur