Silicon Photonics Lights The Way To More Efficient Data Centers


Key Takeaways Photonic interconnects potentially increase bandwidth density while significantly reducing power consumption. AI workloads are driving their adoption in data centers. On the other hand, photonic interconnects require a variety of different materials, introducing process compatibility and thermal and mechanical stress issues. Integrated electro-optical I/O modules are th... » read more

AI Growing Impact On Chip Design And EDA Tools


Key Takeaways Many workflows in the data center are customer-specific, which is part of the reason there is so much interest in agentic AI-enabled tools. Large systems companies are pressing EDA vendors for performance improvements to keep pace with their AI workflows. The makeup of design teams is changing as AI infiltrates more of the chip design process. Experts at the Ta... » read more

Startup Funding: Q1 2026


The new year started off with a bang for private semiconductor companies, with 18 garnering mega funding rounds exceeding $100 million, and two, Rapidus and Cerebras, reaching the $1 billion mark. Predictably, the vast majority of those are either designing chips primarily for AI inference workloads or attempting to overcome bandwidth limitations by improving interconnects from the chip level t... » read more

DRAM’s Whac‑A‑Mole Security Crisis


Key takeaways: Rowhammer remains a DRAM security threat, while Rowpress has increasingly become a related threat. New commands issued by the memory controller can help manage refreshes, but they’re not a perfect solution. A smaller, vertical DRAM cell may eliminate the problem, but it’s years away. Rowhammer has been a persistent DRAM issue across several memory generati... » read more

A New Era For Co-Processing


Key Takeaways: There is no single processor capable of executing everything efficiently, meaning that multiple processors are required. Maximum efficiency is gained by minimizing the movement of data. Architects must maximize efficiency for today's workloads, while also adding enough flexibility to handle tomorrow's. New processor architectures are rapidly evolving thanks to... » read more

Fast Isn’t Fast Enough: Redefining Metrics for Edge AI


Key Takeaways: Edge AI performance is about low latency and power efficiency, not peak TOPS. Memory bandwidth and data movement now limit edge AI more than compute. Successful edge AI requires balanced hardware, software, and fast model updates. Experts At The Table: Today’s chip architect must contend with multiple factors when architecting AI processors for fast and effi... » read more

What’s Failing At The Interface


Key Takeaways The interface is where failures in advanced packaging become visible, but it's increasingly not where they originate. Weak interfaces often don't fail at time zero, but they do degrade due to parametric drift and margin erosion that binary test screens miss entirely. The temporary test interconnect is the largest variable in the measurement chain and must be controlled ... » read more

AI Accelerators Usher In New Era For IC Test


Key Takeaways The parallelism in AI accelerators enables low latency but complicates failure isolation. HBM can account for 50% of package cost, so known-good stack assurance is critical. DFT and test cooperate to solve final test, singulated die test, SLT, and in-system test for data centers. AI accelerators are used for everything from training large language models to mak... » read more

Untrusted Analog Components Add Risks For Critical Infrastructure


Key Takeaways New certificate-based solutions are necessary within fabs and packaging houses to deliver trusted semiconductors. Physical IDs bind the device to the certificate, but it needs to be immutable and unclonable. Extrinsic IDs are required for analog, mixed-signal, sensor ICs as well as discrete components. Rising concern over the source and destination of chips, an... » read more

Moving Electrons, Not Just Vehicles


Key Takeaways: There are several ways to convert AC power from the grid to DC power in the system. Some degrade the battery faster than others. Battery management systems monitor cell voltage, current, and temperature, helping to estimate state of charge, health, and useful remaining life. A PMIC with a multi-level converter is the most efficient way to get power from the battery to ... » read more

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