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October 27
- Mercedes-Benz unveils solar panel paint job on steer-by-wire vehicle
➀ Mercedes-Benz introduced the Vision Iconic concept car featuring steer-by-wire technology and Solar Paint, a photovoltaic coating that harvests energy to extend driving range by up to 7,450 miles annually;
➁ The vehicle aims for Level 4 autonomous driving and uses artificial neural networks to enhance safety systems, potentially reducing data processing energy by 90%;
➂ The design includes a futuristic Art Deco-inspired interior with a blend of analog and digital elements, emphasizing comfort and luxury.
- Nisshinbo JFET input op-amp
➀ Nisshinbo Micro Devices launched the MUSES8921, a JFET input dual op-amp for high-fidelity audio applications in home, professional, and automotive systems;
➁ Built on its predecessor MUSES8920/A, the chip features ultra-low noise (8.0 nV/√Hz), minimal distortion (0.0004%), and a high slew rate (25 V/µs) for precise audio reproduction;
➂ Designed with optimized circuit layout and flexible voltage support (±3.5 V to ±17 V), it comes in compact packages (EMP-8-AN, DFN4035-8-GR) for space-constrained applications.
- 20% growth for private wireless this year; none for public wireless
➀ Private wireless RAN revenues surged with 20% growth in 2025, while public wireless remained flat;
➁ Huawei, Nokia, and Ericsson dominated private wireless RAN revenue in 1H25, with China leading regionally but non-China markets accelerating faster;
➂ Private RAN is projected to account for 5-10% of total RAN by 2029, contrasting with a 2% annual decline in public RAN.
- Alice & Bob instal quantum chip fabrication equipment
➀ Alice & Bob, alongside PLASSYS-BESTEK and the French defense innovation agency (AID), delivered the SQUID-6 UHV quantum chip fabrication tool for the ULTRACAT project;
➁ The equipment supports a new Paris lab to prototype cat-qubit chips, aiming to accelerate fault-tolerant quantum processor development;
➂ The project enhances Josephson junction fabrication technology, backed by French defense funding to boost Europe’s quantum sovereignty.
October 24
- Tesla’s Profits Take A Dive
➀ Tesla's Q3 2025 profits dropped 37% YoY to $1.37 billion, continuing a year-long decline;
➁ The company cited U.S. tariffs and restructuring costs as key factors, with cumulative Jan-Sept profits also down 37% compared to 2024;
➂ Analysts anticipate a tougher Q4, predicting slowed sales growth and noting Tesla's loss of EV market leadership to BYD.
October 23
- 25,000 pixel/inch 25frame/s reflective micro colour display
➀ A Swedish research team developed a reflective micro-display with 25,000 pixels per inch (25,000 dpi), the smallest pixels to date, using metamaterial nano-structures and a three-level geometric hierarchy to achieve cyan, magenta, and yellow sub-pixels;
➁ The display uses tungsten trioxide nano-discs and lithium-ion electrolyte switching (±4V) for color control, enabling 40ms response time, though it currently lacks per-pixel addressing;
➂ The proof-of-concept demonstrated a 1.9mm-tall reproduction of Gustav Klimt's "The Kiss" using 560nm-sized pixels, showcasing human-eye-level resolution potential for future VR/AR or ultra-compact displays.
- Fable: The Contraption Which Made History
➀ The article recounts a fable about a historic 1876 contraption (likely Alexander Graham Bell's first telephone) and its replica;
➁ The moral emphasizes that early versions of groundbreaking innovations often lack aesthetic appeal;
➂ It reflects on the significance of foundational technological advancements despite their initial imperfections.
- French data centre AI inference chip ‘in production’
➀ French company Vsora announced the production of its Jotunn8 AI inference chip, targeting data centers with claims of energy efficiency and high performance (3,200 Tflop);
➁ The company emphasizes Europe's technological competitiveness but lacks details on floating-point operation type and power consumption benchmarks;
➂ Full-scale production is scheduled for Q1 2026, backed by $46 million in recent funding.
- Innospace space startup gets KASA approval for first LEO launch
➀ South Korean space startup Innospace received the first private commercial launch permit from KASA for its 'Spaceward' mission, deploying satellites from Brazil, India, and South Korea into LEO via the HANBIT-Nano rocket;
➁ The launch is scheduled between October 28 and November 28 at Brazil’s Alcântara Space Center, where Innospace built its own platform and previously conducted a sub-orbital test in 2023;
➂ This milestone marks Innospace’s entry into the commercial satellite launch market, supported by South Korean authorities for safety and technical oversight.
- What caught your eye? (HBM market, Eye Implant, Space Shield)
➀ Saras Micro Devices introduced a 3D vertical power delivery system to reduce energy loss and save board space;
➁ China plans significant investments in High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) to bolster its AI industry;
➂ The European Commission proposed a 'space shield' defense initiative as part of its 2030 roadmap.
- Red Semi launches Ordo1
➀ RED Semiconductor launched Ordo1, an AI and flow control accelerator IP core for RISC-V processors, targeting energy-efficient edge AI applications;
➁ The IP core claims 500% acceleration in matrix-heavy workloads and over 90% power reduction compared to standard RISC-V, while requiring 100 times less code;
➂ Backed by partnerships with Aion Silicon and Codasip, plus Seed+ funding, RED joined RISC-V International to align with open standards and expand commercialization.
- Imec opens Heilbronn hub
➀ Imec inaugurated its new hub in Heilbronn, Germany, focusing on advancing chiplet-based architectures for the automotive industry through collaboration with German industry and research partners;
➁ The hub is a key partner in the CHASSIS project, aiming to develop modular hardware for software-defined vehicles and enhance Europe’s automotive competitiveness;
➂ Imec signed an MoU with the Technical University of Munich to foster knowledge sharing and advanced chip design training, strengthening Baden-Württemberg’s semiconductor ecosystem.
- Open Cosmos completes MANTIS mission
➀ Open Cosmos completed the two-year MANTIS mission, utilizing an Earth Observation satellite equipped with a high-resolution camera and AI processor to deliver real-time environmental data;
➁ The mission captured over 10,000 orbits, providing actionable insights for energy, mining, and environmental sectors while advancing AI integration in space technology;
➂ The satellite will safely de-orbit without leaving debris, aligning with sustainability goals and setting a precedent for cleaner space missions.
- JEDEC standard targets LPDRAM modules for AI data centres
➀ JEDEC is finalizing the JESD328 standard (SOCAMM2) for low-profile LPDRAM modules tailored for AI data centers, targeting high-bandwidth and energy efficiency;
➁ The LPDDR5/5X-based modules support up to 9.6 Gb/s per pin, reduce cooling/energy demands, and integrate an SPD device for enterprise deployment;
➂ The compact design aims to meet the scalability and performance requirements of AI training and inference servers in high-density data centers.
- The Parliamentary Gender Balance
➀ Only four countries (Andorra, Mexico, Bolivia, UAE) have near 50-50 gender balance in their lower parliamentary houses, while Rwanda, Cuba, and Nicaragua have higher female representation;
➁ Europe shows disparities: Sweden, Finland, and Iceland lead with ~45% women MPs, while Hungary (15.2%) and Bulgaria (21.3%) lag;
➂ Globally, Nigeria (4.2%), Japan (15.7%), and India (13.8%) struggle with low female parliamentary participation, though India plans to increase representation to 33% post-2030 census.
October 22
- Dracula raises €30m
➀ Dracula Technologies secures €30M Series A funding backed by French State and industrial partners to scale production of ambient light-powered IoT solutions;
➁ Plans to quadruple roll-to-roll photovoltaic module capacity to 600M cm²/year and expand global manufacturing;
➂ Targets battery replacement in smart buildings/asset tracking, achieving 95% production yield for sustainable energy harvesting.
October 21
- TSMC to break ground on 1.4nm fab on Nov 5th
➀ TSMC will begin constructing its 1.4nm fab in Taichung on November 5th, with a $49 billion investment, targeting mass production by H2 2028 and generating up to $15.9 billion in annual revenue;
➁ Due to strong demand for 1.4nm chips (priced at $45k per wafer), TSMC will build four 1.4nm fabs simultaneously, revising initial plans for two 1.4nm and two 1nm fabs;
➂ The move aims to solidify TSMC's process leadership amid competition from Intel's 18A and Samsung's 2nm advancements, with TSMC opting against high-NA EUV tools for cost and maturity reasons.
- HyImpulse secures €30m funding for hybrid propulsion
➀ HyImpulse Technologies secured €30 million in Series A funding, including €15 million in equity, bringing total capital raised to €74 million since 2018;
➁ Funds will accelerate the development of its SL1 orbital rocket (capable of carrying 600kg payloads) and expand production capacities, targeting a first orbital launch in 2027;
➂ The SL1 uses hybrid engines with paraffin and liquid oxygen for cost efficiency and safety, featuring a new turbopump system and serial production of hardware.
- Then As Now
➀ The article parallels the semiconductor industry's speculative boom 64 years ago with today's AI industry, where unproven companies and financial operators drive stock surges before tangible product outputs;
➀ Sidney Siegel's 1961 critique highlights immature management and financial exploitation, mirroring current concerns about the fusion of tech and finance;
➂ The historical analogy warns of recurring risks in emerging technology sectors fueled by investor hype rather than operational substance.
October 20
- Molex to acquire Smiths Interconnect
➀ Molex announces acquisition of Smiths Interconnect, following its purchase of AirBorn in 2024, to strengthen its aerospace/defense and industrial market presence;
➁ Smiths Interconnect provides advanced electronic and RF products for aerospace, defense, and semiconductor test sectors, with operations across 12 countries;
➂ The £1.3bn deal aligns with Smiths Group's strategic shift toward industrial engineering and is expected to close by mid-2026 pending regulatory approval.
- Arm’s auto chiplet standard
➀ Arm contributes its vendor-neutral Foundation Chiplet System Architecture (FCSA) to the Open Compute Project to establish universal standards for automotive chiplet integration;
➁ FCSA aims to support datacentre-class performance for vehicle compute systems like ADAS and is designed as ISA-neutral to ensure openness across architectures;
➂ Arm collaborates with BMW, imec, and LG Electronics to advance FCSA adoption, leveraging prior ecosystem-building experience from AMBA and SOAFEE initiatives.
- Infineon shipping 1400V CoolSiC MOSFE
➀ Infineon releases 1400V CoolSiC MOSFETs with TO-247PLUS-4 Reflow package, enhancing thermal performance and supporting DC-link voltages up to 200°C junction temperature;
➁ The devices enable compact designs for electric vehicle charging, battery storage, and photovoltaics, with RDS(on) ranging from 6-29mΩ;
➂ .XT interconnection technology improves robustness, while 1400V rating simplifies overvoltage protection and eliminates power derating needs.
- Honolulu Symposium seeks papers on VLSI innovation for AI
➀ The 2026 IEEE/JSAP Symposium in Honolulu calls for papers on VLSI innovations to advance AI, covering CMOS platforms, advanced packaging, AI accelerators, and memory technologies;
➁ Key deadlines include paper submissions by January 2026 and Late News submissions by March 2026, with technical sessions, workshops, and student awards featured;
➂ Outstanding papers may be published in IEEE journals, emphasizing the event’s role in bridging VLSI technology and AI applications.
- Oman CAA positions Etlaq Spaceport as Middle East orbit gateway
➀ Oman's Civil Aviation Authority introduced a 45-day space launch approval process to position Etlaq Spaceport as a global hub, addressing international launch capacity shortages.
➀ The new directive CAD 5-01 streamlines safety evaluations and launch window reservations, with partners like PLD Space praising its efficiency for responsive missions.
➂ Etlaq's equatorial coastal location supports access to multiple orbits, having already conducted suborbital launches and engaged with providers like ABL Space Systems and Stellar Kinetics.
- Ed Rides The AI Rollercoaster
➀ The article depicts a fictional CEO, Ed, leveraging his political position to manipulate AI investment markets through strategic gossip and high-frequency trading algorithms;
➁ Ed creates both optimistic narratives (e.g., government investments, AI breakthroughs) and pessimistic rumors (e.g., unprofitability, technical limitations) to induce market volatility;
➂ The plan aims to profit from trading volatility but risks unintended consequences in an already unstable AI-driven financial landscape.
October 17
- Sansung buys two more high-NA EUV machines.
➀ Samsung purchased two high-NA EUV machines (Twinscan EXE:5200B) for $773 million to boost 2nm chip production, with deliveries planned for 2025 and early 2026;
➁ The machines, installed at Hwaseong R&D facility, will support 2nm foundry processes for Exynos processors and Tesla's ADAS chips, achieving transistor sizes down to 8nm;
➂ TSMC has delayed high-NA EUV adoption until 1.4nm processes, while Qualcomm and MediaTek consider shifting 2nm orders to Samsung due to TSMC's higher wafer costs ($30k per wafer).
- Infineon sampling 60Ghz CMOS radar sensors for IoT
➀ Infineon is sampling 60GHz CMOS radar sensors (BGT60CUTR13AIP) for ultra-low power IoT applications, targeting Physical AI enhancement in smart home devices;
➁ The sensor integrates on-chip processing, 7GHz bandwidth, and 20m detection range, supporting presence/gesture sensing while reducing host processor load;
➂ Applications include security cameras and HVAC systems, with features like autonomous wake-up and privacy-focused activity monitoring enabled by dedicated software stacks.
- JEDEC updates DDR5 SPD standard
➀ JEDEC announced version 1.4 of the DDR5 SPD Contents standard (JESD400-5D), enhancing memory initialization and optimization for BIOS;
➁ The update adds support for DDR5-9200 speeds, introduces codes for SOCAMM2 modules, and expands error logging for MRDIMMs;
➂ The standard applies to all DDR5 modules, reflecting JEDEC's role in unifying industry solutions with input from 360 member companies.
October 14
- Gadget Book: How AI Thinks
➀ The article introduces a book titled *How AI Thinks* by Nigel Toon, an expert with extensive experience in the electronics and AI industries;
➁ It positions the book as a valuable resource for technology enthusiasts and engineers exploring AI's development and applications;
➂ The author humorously notes reading a physical copy instead of adding it to a “virtual shelf” as usual.
- Softbank, MS reported to be in talks with Wayve to raise $2bn
➀ SoftBank and Microsoft are in discussions to invest $2 billion in UK self-driving startup Wayve, potentially valuing it at $8 billion, with NVIDIA also expressing a $500 million investment intent;
➁ Wayve's AI-driven technology, built on NVIDIA's Drive AGX Thor platform, combines imitation learning, reinforcement learning, and simulation training to replicate human driving behavior across diverse environments;
➂ The company previously raised $1.05 billion in 2024 and is trialing autonomous vehicles with Uber in London, with total funding expected to reach $3.8 billion if new investments materialize.