Artificial intelligence is applied to electronics design and manufacturing is in its infancy, but interest is high and questions abound as to what it means – and even what it is.

AI is seen as similar to the Internet in 1995: a big, wide-open technology that companies had to embrace and understand. Success depends on narrow implementations that permit companies to see clearly what the return or improvements will be.

AI holds the potential to revolutionize the creation and manufacturing of electronic products. Unlocking this potential, however, requires collaborative efforts to ensure its effective understanding and implementation. Without concerted action, the realization of AI's transformative promise in the electronics industry may remain elusive.

To address this challenge, the PCEA Technical Action Group (AI TG) convened a meeting of select representatives of early adopters and providers of AI tools for the electronics sector. The primary aim of this gathering is to solicit input from industry stakeholders to shape an AI Status and Action Plan.

AURORA, CO – Advanced Printed Circuit Technology, Advanced Circuits and San Diego PCB Design have combined to relaunch as AdvancedPCB.

MILPITAS, CA – Flex Interconnect Technologies (FIT) has launched its own circuit board assembly service, bolstering support for product development initiatives throughout North America.

ANDOVER, MA – Vicor has secured a preliminary injunction that prevents Foxconn subsidiaries from pursuing arbitration against Vicor before the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission.

BAC NINH, VIETNAM -- Foxconn will invest some $383 million in a printed circuit board manufacturing plant here, according to published reports.

DONG VAN WARD, HA NAM PROVINCE, VIETNAM -- Wistron is investing $24.5 million in a new campus for electronics assembly in northern Vietnam, local media are reporting, citing government filings. 

BANNOCKBURN, IL – Total North American PCB shipments in May were down 6.8% compared to the same month last year, IPC announced. The book-to-bill ratio stands at 0.95.

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – Abstracts for next year’s PCB East technical conference are due September 6, 2024, the Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) said today. The conference, the largest of its kind in New England, takes place next spring in the Boston suburbs, and focuses on training and best practices for printed circuit board design engineers, electronics design engineers, fabricators and assemblers.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – North American EMS shipments in May were up 5% compared to the same month last year, according to IPC's North American EMS Statistical Program. The book-to-bill ratio stands at 1.36.

ARENDAL, NORWAY – Kitron is planning a 7,500 sq. m. production facility here, with plans for completion during the first half of 2026.

SENAI, MALAYSIA – VS Industry Berhad reported a slight increase in third quarter revenue to MY1.01 billion ($214.4 million) from MYR996.8 million ($211.5 million) in revenue during the same period last year.

MILPITAS, CA – To keep pace with unremitting growth in demand for chips, the global semiconductor manufacturing industry is expected to increase capacity by 6% in 2024 and post a 7% gain in 2025, reaching a record capacity high of 33.7 million wafers per month (wpm: 8-inch equivalent), SEMI announced in its latest quarterly World Fab Forecast report.