May 5, 2026

Andy Jassy says Amazon investors will be rewarded by all its AI spending Andy Jassy defends Amazon’s massive AI investment, saying it will reward investors long term. He calls AI the biggest technology shift, dismisses cash flow concerns, and predicts AWS-like returns once infrastructure spending drives future revenue and profits. CNBC

Sponsor What Would You Ask Proven Global Manufacturing Leaders? In this 4-part series we asked about: Key Drivers of Success, Scaling Operations Effectively, AI in Manufacturing, and Tools to Empower Operations. No registration Required. Intraratio

SEC and Elon Musk agree to settle lawsuit over Twitter buyout in 2022 US Securities and Exchange Commission agreed to settle a lawsuit against Elon Musk over delayed disclosure of his Twitter stake, with his trust paying a $1.5 million civil penalty. The agreement awaits final court approval. CNBC

The Economics of Electronic Component Salvage and Reuse This paper explores the feasibility and benefits of salvaging and reconditioning the leads and pads of electronic components, focusing on high-value components such as microprocessors, microcontrollers, and artificial intelligence chips. Technical Paper

A government used AI to write its AI regulations. It did not go well South Africa's communications minister Solly Malatsi withdraws a draft national AI policy after discovering AI-generated fake academic citations Officials will revise the bill introduce human oversight and pursue accountability while retaining most policy proposals following public consultation concerns. TechSpot

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AI Accelerator Spec Maintains Rapid Update Pace UALink consortium updates its accelerator interconnect spec within a year, adding in-network compute, chiplet support, and improved manageability to boost AI workload performance, reduce latency, and enable scalable, modular data center fabrics for faster training and inference efficiency. EE Times

Trouble With Skewed DPAK Components We are having trouble with surface mount DPAC components skewing during reflow. We checked our profile and tried a diagonal hatch aperture. Board Talk

Technical Papers ■ Scaling SMT Traceability ■ The Drawbacks of Internal Recycling Systems for Solder Dross ■ Engineering ESD-Safe PCB Assembly for High-Reliability IoT and Industrial Electronics ■ The Analysis of Variance: Drawing Conclusions from Data That Are Correct, Unambiguous, and Defensible ■ PCB Rework Evolves, With X-ray a Constant Support ■ 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 MORE TECHNICAL PAPERS

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The chip industry is booming again, but only for companies building AI infrastructure Silicon wafer shipments rise 13.1% year-on-year as AI-driven data center demand surges, while PC and smartphone markets weaken. Chipmakers redirect capacity toward memory and computing chips, signaling a recovery in industrial semiconductors despite uneven consumer demand. TechSpot

3 Companies You Might Not Realize Are Owned By Foxconn Foxconn supplies electronics for Apple, Google and gaming consoles, and uses AI growth to diversify, producing half of AI servers and boosting sales. It owns Sharp and Belkin, including Linksys, while facing competition and US regulatory scrutiny. BGR

Effect of Bi-Addition on the High Strain Rate Properties of SnAgCu Solders This paper focuses on the effects of sustained high temperatures on the high strain rate of doped lead-free solders operating between -65°C to 200°C. Technical Paper

Sponsor Micro Dispensing Technology Leader DL Technology LLC develops customized dispensing needles and valves for the electronics assembly, industrial assembly, semiconductor packaging and medical industries. DL Technology

Big tech is finally under the microscope England has introduced a school mobile phone ban after political pressure, reflecting growing concern about tech companies. Evidence of harms to children’s learning and development is driving global restrictions and a shift toward more precautionary regulation. Taipei Times

AI cannot replace real teachers Education evolves in the AI era as students access knowledge online and through AI tools. Teachers shift from information delivery to emotional guidance, emphasizing communication, problem-solving, and human interaction, while training programs prioritize interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence. Taipei Times

The Effect of Strain Rate on the Ductility of Bismuth-Containing Solders In this paper the authors report some preliminary results from a wider study of the effects of bismuth on the properties and behaviour of solder alloys. Technical Paper

Sponsor "Flying" SMD Components This paper deals with the fundamentals of heat transfer and the test procedures show how the SOD323 can be processed given a suitable selection of solder paste and oven settings. Read more. Rehm Thermal Systems

Two Hon Hai-built satellites launched from US into orbit Hon Hai launched its second-generation PEARL-1A and PEARL-2B satellites from California, placing them in low Earth orbit to verify Ka-band inter-satellite communication, ionospheric monitoring, and payload technologies, while advancing Taiwan-US collaboration and future constellation design capabilities. Taipei Times

Manufacturing activity picks up Taiwan’s manufacturing sector expanded at its fastest pace in over three years as PMI jumped to 60.3, driven by Middle East tensions pushing raw material costs, pre-emptive orders, and strong AI and semiconductor demand, though growth remains uneven across industries. Taipei Times

Sponsor Reflow Oven and Wave Soldering Machine Maintenance Cleaning Maintenance cleaning is imperative. Investment in a cleaning schedule and chemistry creates reliable processes to extend equipment life. KYZEN

Gartner Highlights Three Building Blocks for Autonomous Supply Chain Future Chief supply chain officers must build autonomous-ready operations, intelligence, and workforce capabilities to manage volatility and gain advantage, Gartner says. The shift moves beyond automation to AI-guided, outcome-based decisions, with humans overseeing and refining machine-driven supply chain actions. Gartner

Reservoir Printing in Deep Cavities Guidelines for stencil designs and aperture placement in cavities are presented, including stencil design, paste material, experimentation, and results. Technical Paper

The Oscars just declared that AI actors and AI-written scripts can't win awards The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences bans AI-generated performances and scripts from Oscar eligibility, requiring human actors’ consent and human-authored screenplays, as concerns grow over digital resurrections and AI actors like Tilly Norwood and past experimental AI films. TechSpot

Industrial Control Systems Manufacturer Eliminates Stockouts Nexus Automation and Control Systems adopted MRPeasy to manage complex multi-level bills of materials, replacing spreadsheets and reducing inventory errors. The software improved purchasing accuracy, eliminated stockouts and overstocking, and streamlined operations across its industrial automation manufacturing projects. EE Times

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Manufacturing Steady in April as Inflation and Iran War Weigh In U.S. manufacturing expanded for a fourth straight month in April, with PMI holding at 52.7%, despite surging input costs and geopolitical tensions. Rising prices, slowing production, and continued job cuts highlight mounting pressure, even as demand and overall economic growth persist. EE Times