Some of the most critical semiconductor innovation today sits beneath intelligent systems, where data moves, connects, and scales. As architectures become more distributed, sensor-rich, and AI-driven, challenges in bandwidth, latency, power, and interoperability intensify. In this episode, we unpack the interface technologies driving this evolution: from automotive SerDes to advanced imaging and next-gen connectivity.

In this latest episode of Brains and Machines, Dr. Patty Stabile of the Eindhoven University of Technology chats with us about  her optical neural networks with ultra-low-latency processing, and the semiconductor optical amplifiers that make them possible. Discussion follows with Dr. Giulia D’Angelo from the Czech Technical University in Prague and Professor Ralph Etienne-Cummings of Johns Hopkins University.

In this episode of EE Times Current, we’ll dive into Physical AI — from humanoids and embodied agents to the chips, sensors, and systems that let machines see, move, and interact with us. Guiding us through this future of silicon is our host, Hezi Saar, Executive Director of Product Marketing at Synopsys. Hezi brings a front-row view of the semiconductor and AI landscape — and the people building it.

With advanced safety features, sophisticated sensors, and personalized temperature controls, software-defined vehicles require more power than ever before. Traditional automotive power systems simply can’t keep up with the demand. As the industry moves toward the adoption of 48-volt technology, a zonal architecture will play a critical role in this transition. This podcast covers why auto industry is undergoing a big E/E transition and the zonal architecture fundamentals, covering 48V power architectures, zonal E/E architecture, software-defined vehicles (SDV), and how integrated solutions such as 48V e‑fuses enable this transition.

This latest episode of Brains and Machines features a panel discussion on neuromorphic engineering and physical computing held at the Atoms to Bits: The AlphaBet of Intelligence v2.0 conference at the University of Manchester, held in February 2026. The panelists were Dr. Damien Querlioz, Dr. Julian Büchel, Professor Tamalika Banerjee, Dr. Maxence Ernoult, and Professor Steve Furber, and the session was chaired by Dr. Sunny Bains of University College London. Discussion follows with Dr. Giulia D’Angelo from the Czech Technical University in Prague and Professor Ralph Etienne-Cummings of Johns Hopkins University.

In the latest episode of Brains and Machines, Sally Ward-Foxton of EE Times talks to Dr. Sunny Bains of the University College London. They discuss the importance of power in all AI systems, the benefit of having dedicated inference chips, and where neuromorphic fits into the market. Discussion follows with Dr. Giulia D’Angelo from the Czech Technical University in Prague and Professor Ralph Etienne-Cummings of Johns Hopkins University.

Challenges: power generates heat. Heat distorts wires and changes transistor behavior. A change in wires and transistors implies that initial power estimates were wrong.

More and more designers are moving to heterogeneous architectures. This comes with new challenges as compared to the 2D domain. Come learn how the Calibre team can help achieve successful 3D IC design goals.

In this latest episode of Brains and Machines, Professor Rodolphe Sepulchre, a control theorist from the University of Cambridge, talks to Dr. Sunny Bains of University College London. They discuss the inspiration he took from studying biological neurons, why both discrete and continuous behaviors are inherent to how they work, and why building neurons is often easier than simulating them. 

Today, we’re diving into the fascinating world of edge AI, exploring its rapid evolution and its transformative impact on industries like automotive. With advancements in model efficiency and hardware capabilities, edge AI is reshaping design requirements for devices, particularly in balancing the critical factors of power, performance, and cost. Let’s set the stage and delve into how these trends are driving innovation at the edge.

Neuronova is an analog neuromorphic startup based in Milan, Italy. In this episode of Brains and Machines, the CEO and CTO talk to Dr. Sunny Bains of University College London about their inference processor that idles at less than 10 nanowatts and what they hope to do with it. Discussion follows with Dr. Giulia D’Angelo from the Czech Technical University in Prague and Professor Ralph Etienne-Cummings of Johns Hopkins University.