Author: Peggy Smedley
For decades, manufacturers have been on a journey to greater automation, connectivity, and intelligence. First came digitization. Then came the IoT (Internet of Things), enabling machines, systems, and people to share data in realtime. Today, we are entering the next phase of that evolution: agentic AI (artificial intelligence). Across many industries, companies are moving beyond using artificial intelligence simply to analyze data. Instead, they are deploying AI agents that can assist workers, automate workflows, and help organizations make faster, more informed decisions. This shift has the potential to redefine how industrial businesses operate. The latest examples are emerging in manufacturing,…
Data centers and AI (artificial intelligence) are fueling one of the largest infrastructure shifts we have seen in decades. While much of the conversation centers on computing power and innovation, a bigger story is emerging behind the scenes—one that involves electricity, water, and the critical infrastructure needed to support the evolution of technology. The reality is simple: Data centers are growing at an unprecedented pace, and our infrastructure systems must evolve just as quickly. Easier said than done, right? Recent research from Gartner highlights the magnitude of the challenge. Global data center electricity consumption is expected to reach 565 terawatt-hours…
As we look ahead to the second half of 2026, OEMs (original-equipment manufacturers) have a real opportunity to reset and focus on actions that provide meaningful business outcomes. The question often becomes, where exactly do we start with connected products, data, and AI (artificial intelligence)? Dave Moelker, CEO, Twisthink, recently told me organizations frequently approach innovation from the wrong direction. Instead of starting with a business problem and working backward to determine how technology can help solve it, many begin with the technology itself and search for a use case. “Customer expectations continue to move forward, and these technologies have…
Every transformative technology cycle comes with a familiar debate: Are we witnessing the next great economic opportunity—or the formation of a bubble? We have had this conversation before. From the dot.com era to emerging technology booms that followed, periods of rapid investment often spark concerns about whether expectations are outpacing reality. Today, AI (artificial intelligence) finds itself at the center of that discussion. The most important question may not be whether AI itself is a bubble. Instead, it is whether the market can support the pace of growth that businesses, investors, and customers expect. New research from AI infrastructure provider CUDO…
For years, manufacturers have invested in technology to improve efficiency, increase visibility, and drive operational excellence. Yet one of the biggest challenges facing industry today isn’t a technology challenge at all. It’s a knowledge challenge. As experienced workers retire and new generations enter the workforce, manufacturers are confronting the great crew change, as Andreas Eschbach, founder and CEO of Eschbach calls it. Decades of operational expertise, tribal knowledge, and hard-earned lessons are at risk of walking out the door every day. I recently had the opportunity to discuss this challenge with Eschbach. Our conversation centered on an important shift happening…
The construction industry continues to demonstrate resilience amid a rapidly changing economic landscape. While growth remains uneven across market segments, the sector is finding new momentum through public infrastructure investments, digital transformation initiatives, and demand for next-generation facilities such as data centers. But of course, this isn’t anything new. The construction industry has always been cyclical by nature. Let’s consider some recent numbers. National nonresidential construction spending increased 0.1% in April. Spending on data centers, which is included in the office category, increased another 1.9% in April, rising to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $50.7 billion, and is up…
Today, AI (artificial intelligence) dominates nearly every conversation in business and technology. Companies are racing to deploy it. Investors are pouring billions into it. Governments are trying to understand it. And consumers are increasingly relying on it. But amid all the excitement, there is a question that deserves far more attention: Who pays for AI? For years, we have discussed AI primarily through the lens of innovation. We celebrate new capabilities, faster decisions, greater efficiency, and unprecedented productivity gains. Yet the conversation often stops there. What we are failing to acknowledge AI is no longer simply software. Just as electricity…
In the construction industry, AI (artificial intelligence) has become the centerpiece of nearly every technology conversation today. However, amid all the excitement surrounding AI’s capabilities, we are sometimes overlooking a more fundamental issue. The future of AI will not be determined by technology alone. It will be determined by trust. Recently, I caught up with Bryan Reimer, research scientist at MIT’s Center for Transportation and Logistics, on The Peggy Smedley Show. Our conversation explored many of the challenges surrounding AI, from governance and workforce disruption to safety and accountability. What struck me most was not a discussion about what AI…
For years, I have been saying technology alone will not solve humanity’s greatest challenges. It can help us build smarter cities, safer infrastructure, more efficient manufacturing systems, and more connected healthcare networks—but technology without human responsibility, ethics, and purpose can also be dangerous. Like I always say on The Peggy Smedley Show, with great technology comes great responsibility. Now, one of the world’s most influential spiritual leaders is echoing many of these same concerns. In his recent encyclical, Pope Leo XIV warns humanity stands at a defining crossroads in the age of AI (artificial intelligence) and other emerging technologies. He…
What is the secret sauce to real, true innovation? The answer lies at the intersection of the right people and the right technology. Today’s most successful companies are investing in advanced tools like AI (artificial intelligence), automation, and connected systems, while also leveraging collaborative, cross-functional teams capable of turning those technologies into meaningful business outcomes. This is precisely what Dave Moelker, CEO, Twisthink, is doing to help companies turn their physical products into smart, intelligent, and connected systems with the help of a cross functional team. “It has become increasingly important as the complexity of these systems goes up, you…