IPC International Community magazine an association member publication
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MAY 2026 I I-CONNECT007 MAGAZINE 99 problems are discovered late in the design cycle, making them expensive and time-consuming to resolve. This reality forced our industry to rely heavily on a group of engineers who could explain not just what was happening, but why it was hap- pening at the physics level. The Emergence of AI-driven SI AI-SI is not a replacement for engineers, but a compressed, scalable extension of their expertise. It unifies signal integrity, power integrity, EMC, and manufacturability into a single system that delivers real-time design feedback. Instead of analyzing these domains in isolation, AI-SI evaluates them together, flagging impedance issues, return path disruptions, and stackup risks during design, not after. It also links layout deci- sions directly to manufacturing outcomes, closing the long-standing gap between design intent and physical reality. Its evolution is straightforward: assistant, co-de- signer, optimization engine, and ultimately a digital twin capable of predicting failures before a board is ever built. Conclusion Across generations, engineers have clarified how currents truly behave, validated theory through mea- surement, and translated complex electromagnetics into practical design rules. They also elevated power integrity into a core discipline, forming the foundation for modern high-speed systems. Now, AI is entering signal integrity, scaling decades of accumulated knowledge into faster analysis and design iteration. But AI didn't invent this body of work. Every model, rule, and insight traces back to engineers who discovered, tested, and refined these principles in the real world. We can automate the knowledge, but not the gratitude. I-CONNECT007 Kelly Dack, CIT CID+, specializes in DFx-driven PCB design and applica- tions engineering at Pioneer Circuits, Inc. To read past columns, click here. TA RG E T C O N D I T I O N compatibility (EMC) and electromagnetic interference (EMI). Often referred to as "The EMC Doctor," he is known for helping engi- neers diagnose and fix noise problems early in the design process. His work empha- sizes hands-on troubleshooting, practical pre-compliance testing, and effective PCB design practices to prevent issues before they reach the lab. Karen Burnham As signal integ- rity matured, vali- dation became as important as design. Karen Burnham repre- sents this shift toward measurement-first engi- neering. Her work emphasizes that simula- tion alone cannot guarantee performance, and that confidence in a design must ulti- mately be earned through measurement and validation. In her view, verification is not a final step but an integral part of the design process itself. • Morrison and Johnson taught us why signals misbehave • Ritchey, Brooks, and Bogatin taught us how to design around it • Novak, Smith, and Resso taught us you can't ignore power anymore • Hartley, Beeker, Wyatt, and Burn- ham are showing us how to actually get it right in today's designs Stepping back, the pattern seems clear: