# Design for AI & the PCB Design Education Revolution w/ John Watson

- Show: [OnTrack](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack)
- Published: 2024-10-10
- Length: 36m
- Episode: 278
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2024-10-10-design-for-ai-the-pcb-design-education-revolution-w-john-watson
- Listen: https://podcast.altium.com/e/design-for-ai-the-pcb-design-education-revolution-w-john-watson/

## Summary

John Watson, Altium's technical engineer in education and a professor at Palomar Community College, discusses the integration of AI into PCB design education and the industry's shift toward cross-disciplinary mechatronics. He details a major partnership with Mouser to train one million students in India via an expanded Altium Education platform and highlights the critical need to address the 'massive sucking sound' of retiring PCB designers by training the next generation. Watson also previews his upcoming PCB West talk on Design for X (DFX), emphasizing how AI is transforming verification and design rules.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2024-10-10-design-for-ai-the-pcb-design-education-revolution-w-john-watson#t=0) Introduction and Altium-Mouser Partnership
- [1:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2024-10-10-design-for-ai-the-pcb-design-education-revolution-w-john-watson#t=105) Altium Education Platform and India Expansion
- [6:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2024-10-10-design-for-ai-the-pcb-design-education-revolution-w-john-watson#t=399) Cross-Disciplinary Education and Mechatronics
- [10:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2024-10-10-design-for-ai-the-pcb-design-education-revolution-w-john-watson#t=627) Advanced Courses and High Power Design
- [15:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2024-10-10-design-for-ai-the-pcb-design-education-revolution-w-john-watson#t=924) The Talent Gap and PCB West Panel
- [24:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2024-10-10-design-for-ai-the-pcb-design-education-revolution-w-john-watson#t=1477) Design for X (DFX) and Design for AI
- [30:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2024-10-10-design-for-ai-the-pcb-design-education-revolution-w-john-watson#t=1806) AI in PCB Design and Verification
- [33:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2024-10-10-design-for-ai-the-pcb-design-education-revolution-w-john-watson#t=1985) PCB West Networking and Conclusion

## Topics

- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- Altium (company)
- Palomar Community College (other)
- Mouser (company)
- Keysight (company)
- PCB West (other)
- Wayne State University (other)
- Stanford (other)
- Toyota (company)
- Altium 365 (product)
- Altium Education (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [The Walmart Greeter of Electronics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-09-18-the-walmart-greeter-of-electronics) (The Amp Hour)
- [Layout Review with Zachariah Peterson](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-03-11-layout-review-with-zachariah-peterson) (The Amp Hour)
- [From Design To Assembly: How PCEA Connects The Electronics Ecosystem with their President Mike Buetow](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2025-12-16-from-design-to-assembly-how-pcea-connects-the-electronics-ecosystem-with-their-p) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [EMS@C-LEVEL 2022 Season Episode #1 with Altium and MacroFab](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2022-02-20-ems-c-level-2022-season-episode-1-with-altium-and-macrofab) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [Solving the Hard Problems: Combining AI and Physics for PCB Design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2026-06-23-solving-the-hard-problems-combining-ai-and-physics-for-pcb-design) (Moore's Lobby)

## Citing this page

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