Author: Peggy Smedley
What industries will quantum computing matter the most? More importantly, what industries are poised for rapid disruption first? Will it be molecular simulation in healthcare and pharmaceuticals? Will it be complex routing in manufacturing? Or will it be a completely different industry altogether? There are many areas ripe for disruption where quantum can make previously impossible decisions possible. Let’s take a closer look. If you haven’t been keeping up with our blog series last week, let me recap briefly. We unpacked the basics of quantum and if quantum is the next evolution of AI (artificial intelligence). While this might not…
What type of impact could quantum computing have on the construction industry? Will it enable us to schedule and build faster? Could it reduce jobsite risk? Could it lead to stronger and more environmentally friendly materials? Let’s explore the potential implications in today’s blog. If you read last week’s Constructech blog, then you know we looked at a large-scale project in Chicago—the Illinois Quantum & Microelectronics Park—that will lead to greater innovation in quantum computing. When completed, the facility will be a destination to bring together companies, researchers, manufacturers, suppliers, end users, and other partners who are working to develop…
Is quantum the next evolution of AI (artificial intelligence)? Not exactly. Here’s the hard reality. AI will at some point hit its ceiling in terms of what it can do with energy, optimization, etc. This is where quantum will enter the equation. Quantum is a complementary layer to artificial intelligence, not a replacement. It will help with optimization, ultimately exceeding the speed and capability of classical computers. At its core, quantum computing uses quantum mechanics to solve computer problems. Simply, it enables computers to do their work faster. Quantum qubits will be what is going to be key. Qubits are…
Quantum Shore Chicago is set to completely transform the lakefront where I used to call home. If you grew up in or near Chicago, you know the city was once the site of many steel mills. Now, it is being reimagined with a greater focus on technological innovation, namely quantum. Once the site of steel mills that built this nation’s bridges and skyscrapers, today the area of Chicago is being reimagined to forge new ideas and industries that will shape the forefront of technology for decades to come. The former U.S. Steel South Works site at 8080 S. DuSable Lake…
With the rise of AI (artificial intelligence), it is forcing us to rethink teaching and learning, as technology and technological education is going to change exponentially. With an estimated 43% of American undergraduates enrolled at a community college, this begs the question will the way we teach them about AI change in the years ahead? The answer is undoubtedly yes. But let’s dig a little deeper into this question. Sarah Rodiguez Leads AI Readiness Meet Sarah Rodriguez, who earned a full-ride Gates Millennium Scholarship as a 17-year-old in rural Texas. Now, Rodriguez is an associate professor of engineering education at…
Many of us already know the construction industry consumes a large portion of the world’s carbon footprint. In fact, something to the tune of almost 40% of human-caused emissions of GHG (greenhouse gas emissions) is attributed to the construction industry. That’s nothing to take lightly. And the good news is there is innovation coming out of university research and new news from last week’s World of Concrete that points to more positive progress on the horizon. First, let’s turn our attention to technology to decarbonize buildings that is being researched at the University of Birmingham. A new energy storage system…
Manufacturers, listen up, there was some big news and announcements from CES 2026 that you may want to take note of. Perhaps one of the biggest—and perhaps most notable—came from NVIDIA, which keynoted the event and talked in detail about physical AI (artificial intelligence) and autonomous robots. All about Physical AI NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang says every 10-15 years the computer industry resets and a new platform shift happens from mainframe to PC, PC to internet, internet to cloud, cloud to mobile, and each time the world of applications target a new platform—but now there are two significant shifts happening…
Have you joined me for this blog series about the utopian and dystopian views of technology in the construction industry? Or more importantly, the AEC (architectural, engineering, and construction) industry. We took a walk down memory lane in the construction industry and explored both perspectives for the construction industry. Each perspective opened new opportunities for conversations about the highs and lows of technological innovation through the years. Now, it is time to consider what comes next. But first, let’s recap. The big takeaway from the past few weeks is construction has navigated transformative change before. Steel, mechanization, CAD (computer-aided design),…
AI (artificial intelligence) brings promise—but also profound unease within manufacturing. In this commentary, we examine the darker, dystopian lens through which many in the industry view technology. This week’s commentary builds on blog series, following on from last week’s deeper discussion examining manufacturing’s utopian vision of technology. Let’s start by asking what is the dystopian view of technology in the manufacturing industry? Manufacturing’s darker AI narratives focus on loss of agency. We are no longer influencing real outcomes. Rather algorithms dictate production schedules. Systems optimize throughput while ignoring human cost. Factories move faster than people can reasonably adapt overall. Simply,…
If you have been following along in our blog series, then last week you read as we explained construction’s utopian view of technology. It is important to recognize that alongside optimism, AI (artificial intelligence) has sparked deep unease in construction, which is why for today’s blog, we are going to take a closer look at construction’s dystopian viewpoint of technology, or more specifically the concept of AI’s role in an industry that has been around for centuries. Consider for a moment a dystopian view of technology in general in the construction industry. Critics warn of deskilled labor, algorithmic decision-making detached…