Happy Monday, everyone.

Solid-state batteries have long been touted as a "holy grail" technology, promising more robust safety and potentially higher energy density than today's lithium-ion (Li-ion) formulations. However, one question looms over the technology: Is it advancing fast enough? Li-ion batteries continue to improve at a rapid pace, and that could reduce the urgency to shift to solid-state chemistries. Nonetheless, researchers are exploring every possible solution to jumpstart the solid-state era. Today’s top story zooms in on one of these efforts.

Electronic Design recently released a special report on how AI could reshape electrical engineering. Here, I've highlighted a pair of contributed articles from the report, including one by the Chief Product Development Officer at Synopsys. Edited by technology editor Cabe Atwell, both articles dive into AI’s increasing—and possibly, inevitable—role in the world of CAD and EDA.

-James Morra, Senior Editor