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May 22nd, 2026
News and Resources for PCB Design, Fab and Assembly Professionals Subscribe •  Advertise •  PCD&F •  Circuits Assembly •  Tell A Friend
THE LEAD

Anthropic’s Mythos model is fueling new AI regulation discussions in Washington, while Sony researchers demonstrated a reinforcement-learning table tennis robot capable of defeating elite human players. Happy Memorial Day, readers!

TECH NEWS

Researchers at Sony developed a table tennis robot capable of tracking ball spin and responding in real time using reinforcement learning, with the system defeating three of five elite human players under competition rules.

Researchers at the Moscow Aviation Institute developed a lower-cost photolithography system for PCB prototyping that uses digital UV projection and real-time position correction to replace traditional photomasks.

UK startup siliXon raised $1.5M to develop AI tools that generate circuit board designs from text prompts.

A developer created a quadcopter with a PCB that functions as both the circuit board and structural airframe.

Stackpole releases RVCU high-voltage chip resistors.

The founder of additive electronics OEM nScrypt says the electronics industry should cease asking whether additive matches traditional specifications and instead consider whether it achieves the same functional outcome.

PCEA issued a call for abstracts for PCB East 2027, seeking technical presentations on PCB design, fabrication, assembly, test, packaging and additive manufacturing ahead of the April event in Worcester.

Registration is open for PCB West 2026, which will feature more than 120 hours of PCB design and assembly training this September in Santa Clara.

Looking for networking opportunities? Join the PCEA Discord server, bringing together engineers and designers from around the world on a private channel for discussing technical questions and career opportunities.

THE ROUTE
Is It Time to Retire the Roundtable?
Having returned from the IPC Apex trade show and listening to comments from stakeholders who are charged for volunteering their time to develop standards, one wonders if there is a better way.

MIKE BUETOW

Mike Buetow





















BUSINESS NEWS

Samsung narrowly avoided a semiconductor worker strike after reaching a bonus agreement tied to AI-driven chip profits, though tensions remain over how the company distributes gains from the AI memory boom.

Anthropic’s Mythos AI model prompted renewed debate around AI regulation after reportedly identifying multiple zero-day software vulnerabilities, pushing US policymakers toward broader AI security oversight discussions.

Western chips continue appearing in Russian missiles and drones used against Ukraine as supply chain loopholes and third-country re-export networks undermine semiconductor export controls.

Lava International plans to invest $114M over five years to expand domestic production of smartphone components including display modules, camera modules, multilayer PCBs and enclosures in India.

Amber Enterprises’ Electronics division saw revenue climb 49% year-over-year for its fiscal 2026, driven by strong PCBA business and the integration of new acquisitions like Power-One, Unitronics and Shogini.

Samsung Electronics’ new profit-linked bonus agreement for semiconductor employees is expected to increase pressure on major Korean industries to adopt similar compensation structures tied to company performance.

Iljin Electronics (India) and Sumitronics have entered into a strategic alliance to strengthen electronics sourcing and manufacturing in India.

Electroninks, a developer of metal inks for additive manufacturing and semiconductor packaging, announced the commercial launch timeline for CircuitJet IV, its autonomous PCB manufacturing and assembly platform.

Apple's server plans may be at risk of exposure due to a cyberattack that targeted Foxconn in May, according to reports.

Yamaha Motor opened a robotics sales and service facility in Gurugram.

Alibaba launched its Zhenwu M890 AI chip to advance domestic semiconductor development in China.

ROI
When AI Becomes a Security Risk Inside the Organization
Security has become a major issue for the industry over the past couple decades. Long gone are the times when information could be shared without concern that it would be intercepted, copied or stolen during the course of “normal” operations.

PETER BIGELOW

Peter Bigelow






















TECHNICAL ARTICLES

Reflow AI – Before There was Artificial Intelligence
PCD&F/CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY


Low-Temp Solders Are Suddenly Critical For Chiplets And Photonics
SEMI Engineering


A Molecular Pathway to Corrosion-Resistant Printable Copper
Science


EVENTS

May 15, 22, 29, June 5, 12: Certified Printed Circuit Design Training, Online
May 26-29: Electronic Components and Technology Conference
Orlando
June 2-4: Fac Tec China 2026Shanghai
June 9-10: EIPC Summer Conference, Lithuania
June 9-11: ZIW Americas 2026Dallas
June 24-26: Vietnam Intcomm 2026 & Electronic Vietnam 2026Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Sept. 4, 11, 18, 25, Oct. 9: Certified Printed Circuit Design Training Online
Sept. 28-Oct. 2: Certified Printed Circuit Design Training, Santa Clara, CA
Sept. 29-Oct. 2: PCB West 2026Santa Clara, CA
Oct. 16, 23, 30, Nov. 6, 13: Certified Printed Circuit Design Training, Online
Feb. 17-19, 2027: Nepcon JapanTokyo


 

BOOK-TO-BILLS/MARKET TRENDS
             Mar. Trend
EMS 1.29 Down
Semiconductors         79% Up
PCBs TBA  
Component Sales Sentiment 149 Up
Changes are year-over-year.    

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ABOUT

PCB Update is a digital newsletter for PCB design, fabrication and assembly professionals, brought to you by Printed Circuit Engineering Association™. E-mail industry press releases or links to the editors of CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY or PCD&F: pr@pcea.net.


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