Most people use semiconductors all day without thinking about them. They are in phones, cars, laptops, appliances, medical devices and the systems running behind nearly every part of modern life. That is part of the challenge for the industry. The technology is everywhere, but the workforce behind it is still largely invisible to many students and families. Arizona is now … [More]
SRP, NAU Partner to Pilot New Wildfire Monitoring Technology
Salt River Project and Northern Arizona University are installing new wireless moisture sensors designed by a company called Growvera to improve how wildfire risk is monitored in the Tonto National Forest. This is the first utility installation of this technology in the country. Fuel moisture is one of the most important indicators of wildfire danger, but today it is … [More]
TSMC-Amkor Deal Connects More of Arizona’s Chip Supply Chain
For the last few years, Arizona’s semiconductor story has mostly been told through fabs. New buildings going up in north Phoenix. Expansions in Chandler. Suppliers moving closer to chipmakers. It made sense; fabs are the most visible part of semiconductor manufacturing, the part people can see from the freeway or in construction photos. But the next part of the story is what … [More]
Arizona Takes First Steps Toward Its Nuclear Future
Arizona Public Service (APS), Salt River Project (SRP) and Tucson Electric Power (TEP) continue to work together to explore adding nuclear generation in Arizona, including through a preliminary siting study now underway. New nuclear generation will take time to develop, which is why it’s essential that Arizona’s leading energy providers begin these initial steps now. APS, SRP … [More]
Intel Sharpens Packaging Push on Heels of Apple Stock Surge
Intel Corporation announced the appointment of Seok-Hee Lee as executive vice president of Intel Foundry, reporting directly to CEO Lip-Bu Tan. In this role, Lee will lead all advanced packaging, system integration, back-end technology development, and back-end manufacturing, strengthening Intel’s ability to deliver differentiated, system-level innovation for customers. As … [More]
TSMC, Amkor Strike 10-Year Arizona Packaging Deal
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company and Amkor Technology, Inc. announced a 10-year agreement to foster a strong partnership that will enhance advanced semiconductor packaging capabilities in Arizona, strengthening and accelerating investment in the U.S. semiconductor supply chain ecosystem. The agreement establishes a collaboration framework for TSMC to procure from … [More]
SRP Partners with Google on Grid-Scale CO2 Battery Storage
Energy Dome, a leading provider of innovative capacity solutions for utilities and AI infrastructure, and Salt River Project, a not-for-profit public power utility serving the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, announced an agreement to add a 19 megawatt (MW), 10-hour carbon dioxide-based (CO2) battery system to the grid. The project is planned to be co-located on the site of … [More]
Identifying the Right AI Use Cases and Capitalizing on Them
AI adoption rates have grown dramatically in recent years, and today this growth continues. According to McKinsey’s 2025 survey, 88% of respondents stated that they already use AI in at least one business function, up from 78% the year before. However, most companies adopting AI struggle to achieve strong ROI and sustained business value. In the 2025 study by BCG, 60% of … [More]
Arizona Universities Partner with Tucson Firm on Satellite Comms Hub
Arizona has launched a collaborative satellite communications hub, a unique partnership that brings advanced technology from the lab to the rooftop and positions the state as a leader in space infrastructure innovation. FreeFall Aerospace, a Tucson-based company, is working with Arizona State University and the University of Arizona on a satellite communications project … [More]
Walmart’s Drone Delivery Network Prepares for Phoenix Landing
In January, Wing shared historic plans with Walmart to scale drone delivery coast to coast, building a network of over 270 locations to reach more than 40 million Americans by 2027. Now, Wing and Walmart are confirming seven new major metro areas that will join the nation's largest drone delivery network: Memphis, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco Bay … [More]
Lucid Launches Feature-Rich Update Led by Hands-Free Driving
Lucid Group, Inc., maker of the world's most advanced software-defined vehicles and technologies, today announced it has begun the rollout of its latest over-the-air software update for the Lucid Gravity SUV. The update introduces hands-free driving capabilities along with enhancements to navigation, charging experience, and everyday usability. Hands-Free Driving Comes to … [More]
ACA Investment Helps Bring Fiber Internet to Rural Arizona
The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA), alongside Valley TeleCom Group and Graham County leadership celebrated a milestone for connecting rural communities in Arizona with the launch of the county’s new fiber-internet network at an event held on June 1, 2026. Supported by a $4.8 million investment through the ACA’s Arizona Broadband Development Grant program, the 65-mile … [More]
How Arizona Auto Dealers Can Tap AI to Build Consumer Trust
For decades, automotive retail has struggled with a trust problem. Consumers routinely enter dealerships uncertain whether the advertised price will match the final transaction cost, while dealers often find themselves battling negative perceptions created by a minority of operators whose pricing practices undermine confidence across the industry. In Arizona, new data suggests … [More]
Phoenix Riders to Get Early Access to Waymo’s Newest Autonomous Vehicle
Waymo will begin offering select riders fully autonomous trips in its new Ojai vehicles in the coming weeks, introducing the first public rider experience powered by the 6th-generation Waymo Driver. The Ojai represents a new rider-first vehicle platform designed specifically for fully autonomous ride-hailing and builds on Waymo’s experience serving more than 20 million fully … [More]
Arizona’s Semiconductor Workforce Push Is Expanding Beyond Engineers
For years, much of the focus centered on engineers and chip designers. As new fabs and supplier facilities continue moving into Arizona, the labor demand is widening well beyond those roles. Technicians, facilities workers, maintenance specialists and cleanroom operators are becoming just as critical to the industry’s expansion. Addressing this, West-MEC recently opened what … [More]
Tech Takes On AI Hallucinations in Legal Citations
Courts across the country are increasingly sanctioning attorneys who submit briefs containing invented case citations, a well-documented byproduct of generative AI drafting tools that produce authoritative-sounding, but entirely fictional, legal authority. CiteSentinel was designed to close that verification gap, giving attorneys a fast and easy way to confirm that every … [More]
Feedback: June 2026
Trevor H. Halpern, J.D. CEO Halpern Residential at eXp Sector: Residential Real Estate For me, cybersecurity in real estate starts with paying attention to the small moments in a transaction. Clients are moving quickly, sharing documents with multiple parties and looking to their agent for guidance. One of the biggest lessons I have learned is that sensitive … [More]
What Happens After the Fabs Arrive
For the last several years, Arizona’s semiconductor momentum has largely been measured through expansion announcements, investment totals and construction updates. New fabs. New suppliers. New projects moving into the state are helping Arizona position itself as one of the country’s largest semiconductor hubs. But at the recent SEMI Arizona Chapter Breakfast Forum, the … [More]
