October 3, 2025

TSMC Price Hikes End the Era of Cheap Transistors TSMC is reshaping the semiconductor industry with steep price hikes for advanced chips, ending decades of falling transistor costs. Driven by soaring capex, geopolitics, and physics at 2nm, the shift cements leading-edge silicon as a premium, non-commodity asset. EE Times

Sponsor Corrosion, UV Protection for Power Transmission Moisture, corrosive gas, oxidation & UV blocking prop-erties. FLUOROSEAL® confor-mal coating for electrical contacts & ceramic insulator protection. AI Technology, Inc.

Why current AI models won’t make scientific breakthroughs, according to a top tech exec Hugging Face co-founder Thomas Wolf argued today's AI models, including ChatGPT, won't spark Nobel-level breakthroughs. Contrasting with OpenAI and Anthropic leaders, he said current systems work as research copilots, not contrarian innovators. CNBC

A Universal AI-Powered Segmentation Model for PCBA & Semiconductor A universal AI & Deep Learning powered model that enhances defect detection in AOI systems for PCBAs and semiconductors, further improving accuracy, speed and consistency - streamlining inspection processes. Technical Paper

PCB industry to expand this year Taiwan's PCB industry is set to grow 12% annually to NT$915.7 billion in 2025, fueled by booming AI server demand and IC substrates. However, supply bottlenecks in critical materials risk disrupting shipments, prompting efforts to localize raw material production. Taipei Times

Sponsor 100+ Breakthrough Repair/Rework Guides Illustrated and Online Free online guidebook, packed with detailed illustrations, will be helpful to anyone who needs to repair or rework circuit board assemblies to IPC standards. Circuit Technology Center

North American EMS Industry Shipments Down 1.4% in August North American EMS shipments fell 1.4% YoY in August 2025 but rose 3.6% from July, with YTD down 0.7%. Bookings dropped 4.3% YoY yet climbed 5.6% MoM, pushing YTD up 1.2%. A 1.26 book-to-bill highlights strong demand, backlog support, and accelerating momentum. Global Electronics Association

Technical Papers ■ 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 ■ Optimizing BGA Rework: Challenges, Techniques and Quality Control ■ Maintenance: The Basics of Cleaning Series Part 4 ■ The Economics of Electronic Component Salvage and Reuse ■ Cutting Without Contact: How Laser Depanelling Redefines PCB Manufacturing ■ The "Fried Egg" Effect in Soldering MORE TECHNICAL PAPERS

Sponsor The "Fried Egg" Effect in Soldering Burnt-on flux residue that is visible on the solder mask of PCBs after improper reflow settings produces significant challenges to the reliability of finished boards. KYZEN

AI Can't Translate Culture — Here's Why Human Oversight Still Wins in Localization In 2025, LARA, a professional translation AI, cut errors to 2.4 per 1,000 words, outperforming older systems. Yet, Shopify warns that cultural missteps persist, with 30% of localisation failures stemming from over-reliance on AI without human oversight. Entrepreneur

Intel in talks to produce AMD chips in its factories Intel is in early talks with AMD to produce some of its chips, potentially easing supply and political pressures. The deal, still tentative, could boost Intel's foundry business, attract high-profile backing, and signal a strategic US-based manufacturing partnership. TechSpot

Sponsor Wave Soldering Seminar - October 7 The one-day wave soldering seminar trains participants in process parameters, defect correction, machine maintenance & hands-on PowerWave system use to optimize solder quality and reduce production costs. SEHO

The Story of Engineering Is the Story of Scale Engineers drive progress by scaling innovations from transistors to turbines, sequencing genomes, and addressing orbital risks. They face new challenges in AI measurement, robotics adoption, and adapting technologies for global impact. IEEE Spectrum

Building Edge AI Processors With DigAn Technology At Electronica India 2025, Ambient Scientific unveiled its GPX10 Pro edge-AI chip, built on a hybrid digital-analog "DigAn" architecture to deliver voice, vision, and sensor intelligence on coin-cell batteries, reshaping always-on, low-power AI devices. EE Times

Sponsor Storage Solutions – Free Online Demo Our online demos give our clients a deep insight into our solutions, allowing them to interact with an expert and have their questions answered throughout. Discover our technology wherever you are. Essegi Automation

11 Oddball Technology Records You Probably Didn’t Know Innovators are breaking records across fields, from Voyager 2's 48-year nonstop computer run and Oxford's 185-year bell to dissolving pacemakers, Japan's record data speeds, and the U.S.'s most powerful robotic arm prototype. IEEE Spectrum

Meta wants to bring its Business AI chat tools to third-party websites Meta launched Business AI, a digital assistant that powers personalized shopping across Facebook, Instagram, Shopify sites, and soon WhatsApp and Messenger. The move highlights Meta's push to grow beyond ads by monetizing generative AI. CNBC

Sponsor Probe Card Manufacturer 'Sees the Unseen' With X-ray Probe card manufacturer relies on mobile real-time x-ray inspection to verify the quality of its aligned probes at different stages along the assembly line. Glenbrook Technologies

Your Nonverbal Cues Could Be Destroying Your Leadership — Without You Knowing It Most leaders obsess over perfecting speeches and slides, but people judge them more by tone, posture, and presence. True influence comes from aligning words with delivery, as everyday behavior often reveals authenticity—or lack thereof—without leaders realizing it. Entrepreneur

Requirements for the Filler Material Solder Paste for Different Technologies To date, filler materials based on solder pastes have been qualified for the respective technologies to meet the respective requirements. The article is intended to show which important requirements are necessary for the respective evaluation. Circuit Insight - Materials Tech

Apple reportedly pauses Vision Pro headset revamp to prioritize Meta-style AI glasses Apple is shelving a major Vision Pro redesign to accelerate work on smart glasses, Bloomberg reported. The move signals Apple's intent to challenge Meta's growing Ray-Ban AI eyewear lineup and push harder into the consumer wearable market. Digitimes

Sponsor One Component, Fast Curing Epoxy Master Bond EP4EN-80 is a NASA low outgassing approved adhesive for potting and encapsulation. It cures at 80°C and features thermal conductivity and electrical insulation. Master Bond

Technologies and Standards to Realize Smart Manufacturing The future of manufacturing in the Electronics Industry is dependent on the ability to develop and deploy technology platforms to realize Smart Manufacturing and Industry 4.0. Circuit Insight - Production Floor

Western Digital plans US$1 billion investment in Japan, building on decades of local partnerships Western Digital will invest $1B in Japan over five years to advance next-gen HDD tech, expand R&D ties, and recruit talent. The move enhances performance while cementing Japan’s vital role in the company's global growth strategy. Digitimes

Memory Safety Will Be Key to Tackle Fundamental Cyber Security The U.K.'s Digital Security by Design initiative showcased CHERI, a memory-safe hardware technology, in London. Experts praised its cybersecurity potential but noted adoption challenges. With 160+ companies involved, standardizing memory safety remains a key priority. EE Times