Top Stories of the Week: Apr. 13-17, 2026
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Editorial: AI and Technical Debt
We have some great articles in the latest Top Stories of the Week, with a few focusing on artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) plus the usual articles about the latest power, analog, and computer technology. My contribution this week is about technical debt.
One thing that generative AI is good at is generating lots and lots of text, including programming code. This is great if the software works. Unfortunately, though, many who use it only care if it works once, with little thought as to how it will work in the future or how it might make future changes or bug fixes more difficult.
Read the rest of this editorial
- Bill Wong, Editor, Electronic Design
Editor's Choice: From the ElectronicDesign Archives
These articles were chosen by the editors at ElectronicDesign that complement the new articles above. They are included in our regular newsletters.
Bill Wong's Picks of the Week
I was busy with my editorial this week so not too many links this time around including this one on agentic AI.
Understanding Agentic AI: Innovation Exec and Ford Scientists Share Tips
Ron Norris, former Director of Innovation at Georgia-Pacific, Sanjay Ahire, data scientist at Ford Motor Company and Nagadithya Nookala, technical product manager also from Ford discuss real-world AI applications for manufacturers.
@ IndustryWeek
Sticking with the AI theme this week, here is one that I found useful given the importance of machine vision these days.
Measuring the Impact of AI in Machine Vision
Evaluating AI vision systems requires a balanced approach that considers traditional operational metrics, user interaction, system costs, and long-term benefits, with a focus on continuous improvement and adapting KPIs to evolving production needs.
@ Vision Systems Design
and don't forget to check out my blog, AI and Technical Debt, in case you missed the editorial at the beginning of this issue.
James Morra's Picks of the Week
In keeping with the AI theme, I was recently turned onto this article exploring how AI is being used in semiconductor manufacturing:
How GlobalFoundries is Bringing AI Into its Fabs
Pradip Singh, chief manufacturing officer at GlobalFoundries, shared details on three scalable AI-based tools his company developed to assist with productivity, quality, and maintenance in its fabs. In some cases, they are already providing ROI.
@ IndustryWeek
Andy's Picks from Around the Web
A USC team created a memristor that kept working at 700°C, opening a path to electronics for Venus, drilling, and AI. Link
Massive budget cuts for US science proposed again by Trump administration. The 2027 budget proposal would curb federal payments for scientific publishing and reduce funding for many US institutions. Link
Trump Administration Orders Dismantling of the US Forest Service. Link
Nearly half of US data centers planned for 2026 canceled or delayed and it's expected to get worse. Link
Click here to see Andy's full list of the latest articles and news.
Volvo has begun regular production of its new A30 and A40 Electric model articulated haul trucks – making the first time electric articulated haulers of this size have moved from a pilot stage into serial production. Link
China’s Windrose makes 1st US delivery of its electric semi truck. Link
Slate Auto gets $650 million to help build its affordable electric truck. Link
VW is resetting its EV offerings, not canceling EVs. The revamped ID.3 ‘Neo’ – set to be unveiled this week – fires the starting gun on an intense launch period, with the ID.Polo small hatch, ID.Cross SUV, ID.Polo GTI and refreshed ID.4 all following in quick succession. Link
OpenAI Provides Supporting Testimony for Illinois Bill SB 3444 That Would Limit Liability for AI-Enabled Mass Deaths or Financial Disasters. [An "intelligence" knowingly participating/enabling felonies, taking out a stadium of people for example, somehow gets a get-out-of-jail-free card?]. Link
Bill Daily from Nvidia talks at Nvidia GTC 2026 about their use of AI in all aspects of chip design, from standard cells development thru mentoring junior chip designers. Video
Meta Is Warned That Facial Recognition Glasses Will Arm Sexual Predators. Link
AI experts and the public’s opinion on the technology are increasingly diverging, according to Stanford University’s annual report on the AI industry. Link
The Internet's Most Powerful Archiving Tool Is in Peril. As major news outlets cut off the Wayback Machine, journalists and advocacy groups are rallying to protect the Internet Archive’s vast collection of web pages. Link
