GPT-4.1 vs Llama 4: One Soars While the Other Flops
Join Seve (founder of tscircuit) and Matt (founder of atopile) as they analyse OpenAI's impressive GPT-4.1 release and contrast it with Meta's controversial Llama 4 launch.In this episode, our hardware and AI experts explore:* OpenAI's brilliant strategy of releasing three GPT-4.1 variants: standard, mini, and nano* How the tiered approach allows developers to choose the right model for their specific needs* Why GPT-4.1's instruction-following capabilities make it ideal for agent-based applications* The stark contrast with Meta's Llama 4 release, which has failed to live up to its benchmark claims* Why no one has been able to reproduce Llama 4's claimed performance levels* The critical importance of single-GPU inference for edge computing applicationsThe duo also discusses fascinating related topics:* The economics of AI deployment and why local compute makes sense* How tariffs are reshaping tech manufacturing decisions* The revolutionary potential of edge AI for robotics* Why latency requirements make on-device AI essential for advanced applications* The future of modular electronics for AI developmentWhether you're an AI developer, hardware engineer, or tech enthusiast, this episode offers crucial insights into the evolving landscape of AI models and their deployment strategies. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit electronics.dev
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33:30
AI Revolution Hits: Gemini 2.5 Pro, Ghiblifying Your Girlfriend & The Future of PCB Design
Subtitle:Two hardware founders explore how AI models are transforming electronics development, sleep science, and creative imageryDescription:Join Seve (founder of tscircuit) and Matt (founder of atopile) as they dive into the AI revolution reshaping hardware development and everyday life. This dynamic conversation explores how cutting-edge AI models transform electronics design, personal health tracking, and creative expression.The duo unpacks:* How Gemini 2.5 Pro's massive 1 million token context window is revolutionizing hardware debugging and algorithm development* Why PCB auto-routing is finally becoming viable after decades of skepticism from hardware engineers* The viral phenomenon of "ghiblifying" photos with GPT-4o's image generation capabilities* Andre Karpathy's comprehensive sleep tracker experiment revealing which devices work (and which are "random number generators")* Why spatial hash indexing outperforms traditional quadtree structures for PCB routing algorithms* The shifting power dynamic between software and hardware development in the AI eraPlus fascinating tangents into:* The technical marvel inside Oura Ring's tiny form factor* Creative ways to visualize technical concepts using AI image generation* How to use Repo-mix to dump entire codebases into AI systems for debugging* The untapped potential of AI-assisted hardware design workflows* Morning routines of engineers and viral "5 am routine" videosWhether you're a hardware engineer looking to leverage AI in your workflow, a sleep optimization enthusiast, or just curious about the bleeding edge of technology, this conversation offers unique insights into how artificial intelligence transforms our tools and creative possibilities. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit electronics.dev
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51:24
The $Billion VTOL Startup That Crashed: Lessons from Lilium
Join Seve and Matt as they dive deep into the incredible story of Lilium, the billion-dollar electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) startup that promised to revolutionize air travel—and then spectacularly crashed.In this eye-opening episode, you'll discover:* The shocking moment a multi-million dollar prototype caught fire* How startup culture clashed with aerospace engineering* The critical importance of rapid iteration in high-stakes technology* Why being caught between "startup" and "aerospace company" can be fatal* Insider stories from ground zero of an ambitious technological moonshotMatt shares firsthand experiences from his time as a mechanical engineer at Lilium, revealing:* The challenges of designing ultra-lightweight aircraft components* The complex world of aerospace prototyping* How a single patent can emerge from near-disaster* The psychological challenges of working in a high-pressure startup environmentWhether you're an engineer, entrepreneur, or tech enthusiast, this episode offers a gripping narrative of innovation, ambition, and the razor-thin line between breakthrough and failure.Warning: This podcast сontains explosive (literally!) engineering stories and startup drama that you won't find anywhere else.Timestamps:00:00 Claude 3.7 Sonnet13:50 Lilium Story This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit electronics.dev
Join Seve (founder of tscircuit) and Matt (founder of atopile) as they explore the most exciting developments in the electronics world, focusing on the groundbreaking KiCad 9 release and Microsoft's quantum computing breakthrough!In this information-packed episode, our tech experts dive deep into:* KiCad 9's revolutionary Inter-Process Communication (IPC) API and how it enables external applications to directly interact with KiCad projects* The embedded files feature in KiCad 9 that solves long-standing library management problems* Multiple track drag functionality and other quality-of-life improvements for PCB designers* The challenges of auto-routing and how AI and quantum computing might revolutionize the field* Microsoft's Majorana quantum computing chip breakthrough and its potential applications in electronics design* The shift of cutting-edge research from universities to private industryBut that's not all! Seve and Matt also explore fascinating tangents including:* The evolution of open-source projects like Docker/Podman and how they relate to KiCad's growth* The multi-phase approach to auto-routing and why it's such a difficult problem* The potential of AI in electronics design and the limitations of current approaches* The best PCB manufacturing services and their ordering interfaces (with special mention of Diode Dev's CLI ordering)Whether you're a professional hardware engineer, an electronics hobbyist, or just curious about the cutting edge of technology, this conversation offers unique insights into how the electronics design world is rapidly evolving with new tools and approaches.Watch as Seve and Matt break down complex concepts with real-world examples and share their expert perspectives on where the industry is heading next! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit electronics.dev
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43:24
Auto-Routing in PCB Design: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Join Seve (founder of tscircuit) and Matt (founder of atopile) as they analyze modern PCB design tools and what is on the horizon for electronics development.In this episode, the duo dives deep into:* The current state of PCB auto-routers and why engineers often distrust them* How chip auto-routers like Triton Route are revolutionizing silicon design* What PCB design could learn from silicon auto-routing algorithms* The importance of design intent in circuit board layout* Why USB-C port implementation often goes wrong (hint: it's about missing resistors!)* The challenge of impedance matching and differential pairs in PCB designPlus fascinating tangents into:* Building link-based vs. net-based design systems* How parts availability and supply chain risk should influence your design choices* The advantages of smooth vs. orthogonal traces in circuit boards* Why government contracts should consider open-source requirements* The powerful role of risk tolerance in Silicon Valley's startup ecosystemWhether you're a hardware engineer looking to improve your PCB designs, a startup founder navigating supply chain challenges, or just curious about the future of electronics design tools, this conversation offers unique insights from two founders at the cutting edge of hardware development.Watch Seve and Matt break down the intricacies of modern PCB design and share their vision for the future of electronics development tools. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit electronics.dev
South Africa