Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
CadenceLive 2026 in Santa Clara, California, framed a clear narrative: AI is no longer an add-on to EDA—it’s becoming the organizing principle. The event distilled the sprawling, hard-to-explain world of design, verification, simulation and emulation into a focused story about machine learning and hierarchical agent orchestration.
In this video conversation, Ian Moore, chief analyst at More than Moore, gives Nitin Dahad, executive editor of EE Times, some thoughts on the announcements made at CadenceLive.
Central to the announcements was the “ChipStacks” concept born from a recent acquisition: a layered orchestration of head agents, super agents, and multiple task agents that guide traditional solvers and tools. This agent hierarchy is positioned to automate and optimize flows like floorplanning, routing, timing and sign-off by suggesting parameters, exploring design alternatives and steering solvers toward better local minima.
Cutress highlights that this transformational approach could potentially drive a significant portion of future revenue for Cadence.
The discussion also covers the business model implications: Cadence envisions an AI-stack consumption model that resembles a car-and-fuel analogy—base access plus usage-based tokens. Early adopters and big players may absorb token costs easily, but startups and smaller firms will need tailored packages or incubator arrangements.
There’s also a strategic implication: orchestration that favors a single vendor “full cake” could accelerate verticalization and reduce multi-vendor tool zigzagging unless open API and third‑party integration are prioritized.
Finally, the broader takeaways were pragmatic: Cadence succeeded in explaining a complex offering far better than many peers, yet industry consolidation, interoperability and fair pricing remain open questions. If agents and chip stacks work as pitched, they could reshape tool consumption and workflows—benefiting large customers and forcing EDA vendors to clarify how third parties and startups will be served.
Watch the full conversation here.
-------
Also:
🎙 Listen to EE Times On Air podcasts on power, embedded, AI, and more: eetimes.com/podcasts/?utm_source=eetimes_youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=description
🎥 Don't miss an episode and subscribe to our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@eetimes747
Stay up to date with the latest news in the electronics industry
➡️ EE Times: eetimes.com/?utm_source=eetimes_youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=description
➡️ Power Electronics News: powerelectronicsnews.com/?utm_source=eetimes_youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=description
➡️ Embedded: embedded.com/?utm_source=eetimes_youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=description
➡️ EDN: edn.com/?utm_source=eetimes_youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=description
📰 Subscribe to our newsletters: aspencore.dragonforms.com/loading.do?omedasite=EventSubscription&pk=youtube
🖥️ Attend free tech webinars: eetimes.com/webinars/?utm_source=eetimes_youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=description
📈 Download free industry white papers: eetimes.com/techpapers/?utm_source=eetimes_youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=description
🎤 Check out our virtual events on EE Times: events.eetimes.com/?utm_source=eetimes_youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=description
🎉 Interested in advertising opportunities? Reach out to sales@aspencore.com
CadenceLive 2026 in Santa Clara, California, framed a clear narrative: AI is no longer an add-on to EDA—it’s becoming the organizing principle. The event distilled the sprawling, hard-to-explain world of design, verification, simulation and emulation into a focused story about machine learning and hierarchical agent orchestration.
In this video conversation, Ian Moore, chief analyst at More than Moore, gives Nitin Dahad, executive editor of EE Times, some thoughts on the announcements made at CadenceLive.
Central to the announcements was the “ChipStacks” concept born from a recent acquisition: a layered orchestration of head agents, super agents, and multiple task agents that guide traditional solvers and tools. This agent hierarchy is positioned to automate and optimize flows like floorplanning, routing, timing and sign-off by suggesting parameters, exploring design alternatives and steering solvers toward better local minima.
Cutress highlights that this transformational approach could potentially drive a significant portion of future revenue for Cadence.
The discussion also covers the business model implications: Cadence envisions an AI-stack consumption model that resembles a car-and-fuel analogy—base access plus usage-based tokens. Early adopters and big players may absorb token costs easily, but startups and smaller firms will need tailored packages or incubator arrangements.
There’s also a strategic implication: orchestration that favors a single vendor “full cake” could accelerate verticalization and reduce multi-vendor tool zigzagging unless open API and third‑party integration are prioritized.
Finally, the broader takeaways were pragmatic: Cadence succeeded in explaining a complex offering far better than many peers, yet industry consolidation, interoperability and fair pricing remain open questions. If agents and chip stacks work as pitched, they could reshape tool consumption and workflows—benefiting large customers and forcing EDA vendors to clarify how third parties and startups will be served.
Watch the full conversation here.
-------
Also:
🎙 Listen to EE Times On Air podcasts on power, embedded, AI, and more: eetimes.com/podcasts/?utm_source=eetimes_youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=description
🎥 Don't miss an episode and subscribe to our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@eetimes747
Stay up to date with the latest news in the electronics industry
➡️ EE Times: eetimes.com/?utm_source=eetimes_youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=description
➡️ Power Electronics News: powerelectronicsnews.com/?utm_source=eetimes_youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=description
➡️ Embedded: embedded.com/?utm_source=eetimes_youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=description
➡️ EDN: edn.com/?utm_source=eetimes_youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=description
📰 Subscribe to our newsletters: aspencore.dragonforms.com/loading.do?omedasite=EventSubscription&pk=youtube
🖥️ Attend free tech webinars: eetimes.com/webinars/?utm_source=eetimes_youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=description
📈 Download free industry white papers: eetimes.com/techpapers/?utm_source=eetimes_youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=description
🎤 Check out our virtual events on EE Times: events.eetimes.com/?utm_source=eetimes_youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=description
🎉 Interested in advertising opportunities? Reach out to sales@aspencore.com
