The US Air Force is advancing AI-powered autonomous combat drones capable of making split-second battlefield decisions with minimal human intervention, raising questions about the future of warfare and international oversight. A New York school district will pilot a humanoid robot and AI tutor from Realbotix.

The US Air Force has begun testing AI-powered combat drones that can navigate and fight autonomously, marking a significant step toward human-supervised autonomous warfare.

Scientists have created the largest probabilistic computer yet, one with 1 million “probabilistic bits.” The researchers say their study reveals the way forward to building even bigger machines.

AJ Cooper joins PCB Chat to discuss Itera's self-rewiring "fluid" PCB technology and how it could eliminate costly design respins by enabling hardware to be updated after manufacturing.

A New York school district is investing nearly $58,000 in a humanoid robot and AI tutor as Realbotix launches its flagship education pilot to evaluate the technology's role in classroom learning.

Researchers at TU Dresden are exploring biodegradable PCB substrates made from natural leaf vein structures, offering a potential pathway toward more sustainable electronics and reduced e-waste.

IIT Madras spinout Bisket Labs is developing a PCB substrate made from agricultural waste as an alternative to conventional FR-4 materials.

PCEA has opened PCB East 2027 booth sales for returning exhibitors and Gold and Platinum corporate members. The exhibition will be held April 28, 2027, at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA, alongside the four-day technical conference, with general booth sales opening Aug. 12.

PCB West 2026 is nearly sold out, with fewer than 5 percent of exhibition booths remaining for the Sept. 29–Oct. 2 event at the Santa Clara Convention Center.

PCD&F has opened its 2026 PCB Designer Salary Survey, inviting PCB designers, design engineers and layout specialists to share information on salaries, job responsibilities, experience, education and more. Responses will be accepted through July 31.

PCEA announced a dedicated electronics assembly program for PCB West 2026, featuring 10 technical sessions on solder paste, placement, reflow, stencil design and cleaning.

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.

Foxconn subsidiary Fulian Technology has expanded its Vietnam operations to include electric vehicle charging equipment.

Samsung Electronics is cutting jobs across its US consumer electronics business as it relocates its headquarters from New Jersey to Texas.

Meiko Electronics will triple the capital of its Vietnamese PCB subsidiary to $30M, making it a specified subsidiary.

UK robotics startup Humanoid has raised $152M, becoming Europe's first pure-play humanoid robotics unicorn as it ramps up production for industrial deployments.

SEL has started site preparation for a $50M electronics manufacturing facility in Idaho.

Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia are projected to collectively exceed $13B in PCB output next year.

Compeq is investing 64M in a new Taiwan manufacturing site to expand HDI PCB capacity.

CuspAI has raised $450M to expand its AI-driven materials discovery platform, aiming to reduce chipmakers' reliance on rare metals.

AI-driven networking demand remains strong, but tightening supplies of memory, PCBs and passive components are creating new risks for production schedules and equipment shipments in the second half of 2026.

ViTrox Americas appointed Huy Pham technical support engineer.

XLR8 EMS appointed Steve Dutton chief sales officer.

Koh Young America promoted Ramiro Mora to service and applications manager for Mexico and South America.

XLR8 EMS appointed Raul Jorge Lopez Jr. director of program management and procurement.

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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.