Author: Connected World
For years, the “Amazon effect” has shaped customer expectations in the consumer world. Realtime updates. Seamless experiences. Total transparency from order to delivery and beyond. Now, that expectation has crossed over into every industrial context. Whether it’s a plant manager, a maintenance technician, dealers, or sales teams, the question is starting to sound very familiar: “Why can’t I see and control my assets the way I track a package?” The One Feature Customers Want Most If there’s one “Amazon-like” feature customers in industrial environments are asking for most often today, it’s visibility and control. More specifically: Realtime visibility into equipment…
As AI (artificial intelligence), advanced manufacturing, and biotechnology continue to evolve, universities and industry leaders are forming major partnerships to accelerate the future of medicine discovery and pharmaceutical production. Across the country, organizations are investing in AI-driven research environments to strengthen innovation and workforce development. As one example, Purdue University and Eli Lilly and Company recently expanded their long-standing collaboration through the Lilly-Purdue 360 Initiative, a partnership supported by a planned investment of up to $250 million over eight years. The initiative focuses on accelerating pharmaceutical innovation through artificial intelligence, robotics, machine learning, and advanced manufacturing technologies. What makes this…
#Factoftheweek: $63 trillion by 2030 Cross-border payments are undergoing a major structural shift for several reasons. Chiefly, traditional banking systems are being challenged by faster, more transparent digital models. In fact, new research from Juniper Research projects the value of global cross-border payments will reach approximately $63 trillion by 2030, reflecting strong growth across B2B payments, eCommerce, and remittance flows. This expansion is being driven by increasing global trade activity, rising digital commerce adoption, and the growing need for more efficient international payment infrastructure. What makes this especially significant is the accelerating shift in how cross-border transactions are processed. The…
As AI (artificial intelligence) and high-performance computing continue to evolve, universities and research institutions are investing heavily in advanced GPU (graphics processing units) infrastructure to support next-generation innovation. Across the country, organizations are expanding their computing capabilities. As one example, The University of Nebraska recently deployed its NSF-funded PLUMAGE GPU infrastructure through the Holland Computing Center. The project provides researchers access to GPU technology designed to accelerate artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced scientific computing across multiple disciplines. What makes this especially innovative is the flexibility of the PLUMAGE system, which allows researchers to use both traditional supercomputing environments and…
#Factoftheweek: 30% of marketing organizations are prepared to scale AI. Is AI investment finally becoming a mainstream line item in marketing budgets? New research from Gartner suggests adoption is accelerating rapidly, though many organizations still lack the operational readiness to scale effectively. According to Gartner’s 2026 CMO Spend Survey, CMOs are now allocating an average of 15.3% of marketing budgets toward AI initiatives. Yet despite growing investment, only 30% of marketing organizations say they are prepared to scale AI capabilities across the business. One of the more notable takeaways from the research is AI is evolving beyond an experimental productivity…
Recently, I came across a CBS News report documenting a new use for animatronic robots, now deployed in Japan. Scare the bears away from humans. What interested me most: The robot is not humanoid. It is a robotic version of a wolf, which makes perfect sense: In nature, a bear is more afraid of a wolf than a human. If you are of an age, like me, you may have had the wonderful experience of attending the 1964 World’s Fair in New York City. I remember trudging through many of the pavilions and eventually finding my way into the Illinois…
Confronting a Lying AI I recently wrote a piece called “True Confessions Meets AI.” This article continues the discussion with a focus on the ability of AI to lie. In recent months there’s been a growing number of reports about AI (artificial intelligence) giving misleading and false answers to queries. In essence, deceiving and lying. These reports have been featured in leading publications, including Fortune and Time. No less a human technology luminary than Geoffrey Hinton, Nobel prize winner known as the ‘Godfather of AI’, called out the ability of AIs to lie. The “motivation” is an AI’s desire not…
As sustainability initiatives continue to grow across universities and research institutions, campuses are becoming real-world laboratories for innovation. From food systems and waste reduction to circular economies and renewable practices, organizations are finding new ways to integrate sustainability into everyday operations and long-term research efforts. As one example, the University of Georgia has transformed portions of its campus into a “living laboratory” where students, faculty, and researchers collaborate on sustainability-focused projects. Through initiatives such as green roof agriculture, textile recycling, food sustainability programs, and waste reduction research, the University of Georgia is creating hands-on opportunities to test and implement practical…
Is RCS (rich-communication services) finally becoming a mainstream business messaging channel? New research from Juniper Research suggests adoption is accelerating rapidly, though growth remains uneven across global markets. RCS business traffic is expected to surpass 200 billion messages globally by 2027, rising from roughly 70 billion messages in 2025. The surge is being driven largely by increased adoption in the United States following Apple’s rollout of RCS support on iOS devices. One of the more notable takeaways from the research is RCS is evolving beyond a next-generation SMS replacement into a more interactive, conversational business channel that blends messaging, commerce,…
At IBM Think last week, organizations showcased deploying and scaling innovations such as AI (artificial intelligence) and quantum at speed and scale quickly. This message was front and center that resonated throughout the many stories shared while I was in Boston for the event. I had the pleasure to meet IBM Bob, uncover more about Digital Sovereignty, dig deeper into IBM Quantum, and get firmly planted in what feels like Day Zero of the AI revolution. With today’s pace of change and speed of innovation, the time has come to build the castle while the princess is in it. At…