April 7, 2026

The Future of Computer Chips is Doing More than Replacing Electricity AI’s rapid growth strains chip supply, raises tech costs, and harms the environment through energy-hungry data centers. Emerging photonic chips use light instead of electricity, dramatically boosting speed and efficiency while reducing heat, power consumption, and water usage. BGR

Sponsor Openair-Plasma for Semiconductor Manufacturing Openair-Plasma for semicon-ductor production is an alternative to vacuum plasma. Typical apps are wire bonding, die bonding & pre-molding. Download here. Plasmatreat GmbH

Apple's First Foldable iPhone Reportedly Hits Trial Production at Foxconn Foxconn has reportedly started trial assembly of Apple's foldable iPhone, signaling early production testing. If successful, Apple could begin mass production in July, aiming for a fall launch with advanced chip performance, and improved crease-free display design. iClarified

How pH Cleaning Agents Affect Production Performance Establishing a reliable cleaning process requires a good understanding of all influencing factors, including pH, and defining the correct balance to meet final product reliability. Technical Paper

Samsung shares rise after profit seen jumping 8-fold on AI chip boom Samsung Electronics shares jumped after it forecast record quarterly profit, fueled by surging AI memory chip demand. Strong high-bandwidth memory sales drove massive profit and revenue growth, beating expectations, despite the stock later trimming most of its early gains. CNBC

Sponsor Seven Facilities, One Trusted Source Partner with the industry leader. Summit is trusted and proven, with 7 integrated facilities to load capacity—from fast-turn prototypes to scalable production requirements. Summit Interconnect

OpenAI asks California, Delaware to investigate Musk's 'anti-competitive behavior' ahead of April trial OpenAI urged California and Delaware attorneys general to investigate Elon Musk over alleged anti-competitive actions ahead of a trial. The company claims Musk coordinated attacks, spread misinformation, and sought to undermine its mission while boosting his rival AI venture, xAI. CNBC

High-density PCB Technology Assessment for Space Applications The goal of the project is to design and qualify HDI PCBs that can provide a platform for assembly and the routing of small pitch AAD for space projects. Technical Paper

Technical Papers ■ 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 ■ High Reliability Lead-Free Solder Paste with Rosin and Anti-Crack Resin ■ Understanding Solder Dross: Causes and Control Strategies MORE TECHNICAL PAPERS

Sponsor Our Solutions Discover Essegi Automation's modular solutions: flexible hardware and software seamlessly integrated into SMT and THT environments. Essegi Automation

World's largest battery maker is taking EV tech to the seas CATL is expanding its EV battery expertise into maritime electrification, powering 900 vessels and developing swap systems. Backed by strong profits, it targets cleaner shipping while overcoming safety and performance challenges, aligning with global emission reduction goals. TechSpot

A Redesigned Steering Wheel For Self-Driving Cars Waymo orders thousands of driverless cars to deploy in Phoenix, accelerating autonomous vehicle rollout while intensifying debates over ethical decision-making. Designers propose solutions such as passenger safety dials & community voting systems to govern life-or-death driving algorithms. Fast Company

Reliable Nickel-Free Surface Finish for High-Frequency-HDI PCB In this paper, assemblies involving this nickel-less novel surface finish have been subjected to extended thermal exposure, then intermetallics analyses. Technical Paper

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

Think iPhones Are Expensive In The U.S.? India Has It Worse Apple keeps iPhone 17 prices steady in the US despite rising costs, boosting base storage. In India, prices run over $300 higher due to taxes, import duties, and currency exchange, even as local manufacturing expands. BGR

AI Is Insatiable AI hyperscalers drive a severe DRAM and high-bandwidth memory shortage, straining chip supply and raising costs. Surging demand from companies like Google and Nvidia fuels massive data center growth, while experts watch production shifts and hardware redesigns for signs of relief. IEEE Spectrum

How AI can Accelerate R&D for Solder Paste Formulations In this study, AI was used to predict the results of the key characteristics to better select the choice of formulas, to understand the relationship between molecules and to spend time on other aspects of the developments. To be able to exploit AI data in a relevant way, we highlight that the input database itself is crucial to generating reliable output data. Technical Paper

Sponsor Cold Underfill Component Removal A significant Rework challenge is reworking where there is minimal or zero clearance between adjacent parts near an underfilled area array device. A precision milling machine makes this possible. Air-Vac Engineering

People 'Hate' AI Customer Service Chatbots. Here's Why Companies Keep Using Them Anyway. Many consumers dislike AI customer service chatbots, with nearly 20% reporting no benefit, far higher than typical AI failures. Experts say poor company priorities, not technology, cause frustration, as cost-cutting and deflection strategies trap users in unhelpful support loops. Entrepreneur

Silicon Choices Grow in Importance as Industrial AI Moves Closer to the Factory Floor Industrial AI moves from cloud analysis to real-time edge deployment near machines. Firms prioritize low-latency, efficient, and secure systems, using hybrid designs and specialized chips to deliver always-on automation, scalable performance, and adaptive factory operations. EE Times

Sponsor Unlock the Potential of Salvaged Devices Component harvesting is a reliable method of electronic component reclamation, reducing e-waste and ensuring economic reuse for automated assembly. BEST Inc.

Sustainable Electronics: Green Design and Circular Manufacturing The electronics industry accelerates innovation while tackling energy use, material scarcity, and e-waste. Firms adopt circular design, efficient architectures, modular builds, and cleaner manufacturing, using digital tools to boost transparency, cut impact, and improve efficiency. TimesTech

Cure for the Grape Effect We are processing lead-free boards with large components. Our parts are showing the grape effect. What is the best solution for this? Board Talk

Taiwan Startups Make AI Real At CES 2026, tech giants showcased ambitious AI platforms, while Taiwanese startups tackled real-world deployment hurdles. Using strong supply chains, they prioritized integration, efficiency, and compliance to deliver scalable, practical AI solutions globally. EE Times

Modern Computer Monitors Ignore This Myth About The Human Eye, And So Should You The belief that human eyes cannot see beyond 60 FPS is misleading. While flicker perception has limits, our vision detects motion smoothness and responsiveness. Higher frame rates improve clarity, reduce input lag, and give gamers a competitive edge, especially in fast-paced games. BGR

Sponsor Malcom Paste Mixers Unlike hand mixing, the Malcom SPS Solder Paste Mixer is a non-contaminating mixer which utilizes pseudo planetary motion to stir the solder paste. The SPS-1 provides uniform consistency. Seika

Studying Human Attitudes Towards Robots Through Experience RAI Institute's 2025 mall pop-up let thousands interact directly with robots, proving hands-on control boosts comfort and acceptance. The experience shifted perceptions from fear and utility to familiarity, highlighting roles in homes, offices, healthcare, entertainment, and companionship. IEEE Spectrum