Author: Peggy Smedley
Peggy talks about all things automotive, sharing some of the top takeaways from CES earlier this month. She says we are at a precipice where much is set to change in the industry, with the rise of AI (artificial intelligence) spurring along innovation. She also discusses: · The state of the AV (autonomous vehicle) market. · The state of the EV (electric vehicle) market. · Some of the biggest automotive news to come out of CES—and how to prepare for what comes next. https://peggysmedleyshow.com
Peggy Smedley and Jennifer Urban, partner, Foley & Lardner, and Aaron Tantleff, partner, Foley & Lardner, talk about a seismic data shift in every modern enterprise and how the lines are blurring between security and privacy. Urban says it is driven by new cybersecurity laws. Tantleff says undefined ownership of the role is a challenge. They also discuss: · If organizations are prepared to justify why they collect data—not just how to protect that data. · How we can prepare the next generation of workers. · The risks versus the rewards and what they should or shouldn’t be tracking. https://www.foley.com/
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…
Peggy Smedley talks about M&As (mergers and acquisitions) in the construction technology space—and the impact on the industry. She says the acquisitions are often about accelerating transformation through strategic dealmaking. She also discusses: · Four key trends driving a wave of consolidation. · One recent example of an acquisition. · Thoughts for how to proceed in the year ahead. https://peggysmedleyshow.com
Peggy Smedley and Boris Martin, CEO, Engineers Without Borders USA, talk about community-driven engineering and the next generation of work in the industry. He says the organization was born around the turn of the millennium 25 years ago, and it was born out of a concern and sense of responsibility. They also discuss: · Solving problems that matter and being part of something bigger than yourself. · Three principles for Engineers Without Borders. · AI (artificial intelligence) and the impact it will have on the engineering community. https://ewb-usa.org/
Peggy Smedley and Daniel Burrus, a global technology futurist, business strategist and disruptive innovation expert, talk about the top technologies for 2026. He says we live in an increasingly technological world, however, we live in a human world—and in a human world, it is all based on relationships. They also discuss: · How to approach generative AI (artificial intelligence) and agentic AI in the year ahead. · The importance of keeping people at the center of strategies. · When quantum will jump from theory to impact. https://www.burrus.com/
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),…
What if people don’t embrace technology the way we are anticipating or even intend? Peggy talks about digital burnout and AI (artificial intelligence). She says digital transformation isn’t about using more technology but rather using technology in a way that is very thoughtful and strategic. She also discusses: · How many people experience digital burnout—and how it impacts our personal and professional lives. · Tips for how to implement digital transformation at scale. · When technology adoption will be the most successful. https://peggysmedleyshow.com