IPC International Community magazine an association member publication
Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1542698
80 I-CONNECT007 MAGAZINE I JANUARY 2026 What About AI? I am fascinated with new technologies and how, over time, they yield benefits, often differently from what was predicted by the research. For exam- ple, in the 1960s, the prediction was that by the turn of the century, we would all be in flying cars. How wrong was that? Likewise, the invention of the laser yielded a variety of applications, some predictable, some long-lived, and others less so. Semiconductor lasers for recording data on CDs exploded into the mainstream, then faded as sili- con memory progressed to where "recorded music no longer needed to rotate." Other applications of lasers—eye treatment and medical treatment—out- lived the use of lasers for storing music or other data. Likewise, lasers for data transmission in fiber optics seem here to stay. How will AI play out? In image recognition, it shows promise in medical diagnostics with the use of machine learning. I question how far it will go in the programming environment with all the OEM requirements of traceability and IP protec- tion. Will there be a day when a lay- out engineer asks ChatGPT to lay out a board for an avionics control system and simply trusts the output? It seems a big leap from now, where even manual intervention is often preferred over simple autorouting. Likewise, how long until AI can choose materials for a stackup, especially when new materials con- tinue to roll out, even when the AI engine can't look back on histori- cal data for learning? Interesting times indeed, and it will be fascinat- ing to look back in 10 or 15 years to see which AI predictions came true and which fell into the weeds of "seemed like a good idea." There is no easy way of predicting other than to observe from the sidelines. A prediction that seems gener- ally true for new technologies is that they often underperform and are over-hyped in the short term, but in the longer term (decades), can out- perform initial predictions. I am interested in where AI gains traction and where the promises fall short. Whatever happens, it will be an interesting ride. Inspirational Reading for 2026 On a completely different topic, but relatable to our changing industry, I read Paul Waldner's autobiogra- phy, A Constant Immigrant. It's a page-turner about a survivor who has lived and breathed the PCB industry. For Gen Z readers and others who think life is "stressful," Paul's book is a story of triumph over adversity. Older readers will discover a rich history of the PCB industry we know and love. DESIGN007 Martyn Gaudion is manag- ing director of Polar Instru- ments Ltd. To read past col- umns, click here. Martyn is the author of The Printed Circuit Designer's Guide to… Secrets of High-Speed PCBs, Parts 1 and 2. T H E PU L S E Figure 2: Schematic stack overlaid with proportional dimensions.