If you work in electronics design today, the pressure to “add AI” isn’t subtle. It’s everywhere – in customer conversations, silicon roadmaps, and now, increasingly, in products shipping to market.
Avnet’s fifth annual Avnet Insights survey offers a useful reality check. This isn’t a hype-cycle spike. What’s unfolding is a slower, structural shift toward AI-enabled design, particularly at the Edge, driven by maturing silicon, better tools, and a sharper focus on return on investment.
When I spoke with Alex Iuorio, Senior Vice President of Global Supplier Development at Avnet, his take was refreshingly grounded. The growth is real – but it’s not explosive, and it’s not speculative. It’s the result of engineers finally having the right combination of hardware, software, and experience to move AI out of proof-of-concept and into shipping products.
That shows clearly in the numbers. More than half of engineers globally (56%) now say they are shipping products with AI embedded – a 33% increase year-on-year. At this point, AI capability is no longer a niche differentiator.
I hope you enjoy the February issue of Electronic Specifier and stay tuned on the website for the latest news.