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26 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I JUNE 2025 to be more receptive and enthusiastic about these advancements. Moreover, autorouting isn't exclusively beneficial to PCB designers; it also empow- ers electrical and mechanical engineers earlier in the design process—part of our "shi-le" strategy. Enabling these engineers to perform preliminary placements, consider thermal and mechanical constraints, and finalize key deci- sions significantly reduces ECOs and stream- lines the PCB designer's workflow. We antici- pate a broader adoption of our autorouting solutions across these roles as well. What advice would you give designers who are hesitant to use autorouters? These are the folks who say that routers are hard to set up and only get about 80% of the nets, with the remaining 20% taking forever to clean up, and the final result usually looks inelegant. Many designers fear AI and autorouters could threaten their jobs—a concern I've heard consistently throughout my 29-year career. However, the reality is that designers who embrace and effectively leverage AI technol- ogy will thrive, while those who resist may become obsolete. Regarding setup, the process itself won't dif- fer significantly from current workflows. e key difference is timing, ensuring constraints are set accurately at the project's start rather than mid-process. Contrary to the percep- tion that routers achieve only 80% comple- tion, our latest tools demonstrate substantially improved results. Designers will notice sig- nificant enhancements, particularly with the capabilities offered by our new router tool. Is there anything additional you would like to share? We are undeniably in the midst of an AI revo- lution that will affect every aspect of our lives. Cadence is fully embracing this transforma- tion, investing significantly in IC, PCB, pack- aging, and simulation technologies. Over the next few years, AI will fundamentally reshape our PCB industry for the better. I envision a future where designers no lon- ger focus on repetitive tasks, such as standard power layouts (e.g., 3.3-V rails), allowing them to concentrate on more complex, challenging aspects of design. is shi represents an excit- ing evolution in PCB design, so much so that it almost motivates me to return directly to PCB design myself. e coming years will be excep- tionally dynamic and rewarding. DESIGN007 Listen to Patrick Davis on our On the Line with... podcast, PCB 3.0: A New Design Methodology, where he explains how the interrelated shifts in design requirements are changing the methods we use.