Hi everyone,

Happy Monday. We're still working through everything that happened at APEC last week. But in the meantime, check out Electronic Design’s latest special report—led by editor-in-chief Bill Wong—on what’s ahead for the electronics industry in 2026.

One trend that dominated my discussions at APEC? The surging power demands of AI (shocking, I know) and their ripple effects. Nvidia’s next-generation Rubin GPU was a constant topic. A single Rubin GPU is expected to consume more than 2,300 W, nearly double the TDP of its predecessor, Blackwell. Rubin-based “superchips” will—inevitably—be even more power-hungry. But these requirements are straining more than just power electronics.

The electric grid is feeling it, too. To put things into perspective, data centers are already the fastest-growing source of U.S. electricity demand, using roughly 4% to 5% of total generation, according to EPRI, a leading independent energy research organization. By 2030, these facilities could draw 9% to 17% of all U.S. energy capacity. For more details, you can review EPRI's latest analysis here.

-James Morra, Senior Editor