Morning Brief

AI News

• A Survey on GNN-based Link Prediction: Techniques, Applications, and Challenges arXiv AI
• DocOCR-Eval: A Correction-Based Framework for OCR Tool Selection Without Ground Truth arXiv AI
• Deterministic Replay for AI Agent Systems arXiv AI
• It Takes 8 Tokens: Weak-to-Strong Off-Policy RL via Auxiliary Branches arXiv AI
• Masked Diffusion Language Models are Strong and Steerable Text-Based World Models for Agentic RL arXiv AI

AI in VLSI

• Amigo-LLM: AI-enabled electronic design automation for increased first-silicon success - digitimes AI-in-Chip News
• Siemens to Acquire Precision Innovations for AI-Powered Chip Planning - HPCwire AI-in-Chip News
• See Defacto Technologies at DAC 2026 SemiWiki
• Google develops Frozen v2 AI inference chip, up to 10 times more efficient than TPU - 디지털투데이 AI-in-Chip News
• Researchers develop AI agent technology to automate semiconductor design verification - Tech Xplore AI-in-Chip News

Silicon

• UMA: The Architecture Edge AI Needs to Scale EE Times
• Graph Transformer Speeds IC Interconnect Signal Integrity Analysis (Buffalo, Stuttgart, IBM) SemiEngineering
• 3D Mask Effects Enhance Imaging in High-NA EUV and Hyper-NA EUV Litho (Fraunhofer, ASML) SemiEngineering
• Novel Layered Crystal for High-Efficiency Thermoelectric Energy Conversion Semiconductor Digest
• SNU Researchers Develops AI Agent Technology to Automate Semiconductor Design Verification Semiconductor Digest

EDA

• When The UK Took On IBM Electronics Weekly
• Cambridge startup using AI for materials research raises $450m Electronics Weekly
• See Defacto Technologies at DAC 2026 SemiWiki
• UMA: The Architecture Edge AI Needs to Scale EE Times
• Graph Transformer Speeds IC Interconnect Signal Integrity Analysis (Buffalo, Stuttgart, IBM) SemiEngineering

VLSI Industry

• Today’s Market Recap: AMD Microsoft Partnership Boosts Semiconductor Sector, AMD, Intel, Micron Collectively Rebound - TradingKey M&A and Earnings
• Colossal Biosciences reportedly in talks to raise new capital at $20B–$30B valuation TechCrunch Startups
• Writer's AI harness cuts token spend nearly 40% — without sacrificing accuracy VentureBeat
• See Defacto Technologies at DAC 2026 SemiWiki
• ASML to offer employees €20,000 retention bonus for staying in 2027-2030 - Reuters Foundry News