Author: Peggy Smedley
The worker shortage is something I have been covering here at Constructech for several years, okay perhaps more than just a few years now, as it has been an ongoing struggle for construction companies in just about every state. Now, we see ABC (Associated Builders and Contractors) has released estimates for how many new workers will be needed between 2025 and 2026 just to meet anticipated demand for construction services. And let us be very clear, this was long before all the devastating fires in Los Angeles and the hurricanes in the Carolinas. The numbers aren’t surprising to those following…
“The car, the truck, the boat … vehicles are now defined as much by their digital as their physical content and that is being driven even faster now by advancements in AI,” says John Reed, global solutions leader, manufacturing and mobility industries, Microsoft. The data supports what Reeds says and tells an immensely powerful story. Gen AI (artificial intelligence)-based ecommerce and fulfilment optimization will enhance last-mile profitability by 15% and operating costs by 5%. At the same time, shop-floor productivity can be improved by 20% through use of gen AI-based assistance, recommendation, and autonomous systems. Overall, gen AI can help…
Peggy discusses gen AI (artificial intelligence), data centers, and President Trump’s announcement of the Stargate project. She says gen AI is transforming many things—but we need the infrastructure to help spur growth. She also discusses: Demand, growth, and trends surrounding data center infrastructure. Details surrounding the Stargate project. A case study of how one company is seizing an opportunity—and how your company can seize opportunities too. peggysmedleyshow.com (1/28/25 – 905) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, 5G, cloud, sustainability, future of work, podcast This episode is available on all major…
Peggy Smedley and Brian Green, director of technology ethics, The Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, Santa Clara University, discuss ethics and technology. He says ethics is both the theory and practice of how to make good decisions, perform good actions, and ultimately become a good person. They also discuss: How ethics has evolved in the past several decades. How companies can create their own code of ethics. The importance of ethics champions. scu.edu/ethics (1/28/25 – 905) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, 5G, cloud, sustainability, future of work, podcast, Brian…
Peggy Smedley and Grant Quasha, CEO, Eco Material Technologies, discuss his personal experience in the green cement sector and how it will develop in the coming years. He says the cement and concrete sectors are much bigger than people think, essentially there are 30 billion tons a year of concrete that are poured around the world. It is the most used manmade material in the world, just right behind fresh water, but there is a massive problem with it and that is that it represents 8% of global CO2 emissions. They also discuss: The different kinds of materials available. Where…
Infrastructure is evolving and in the next several weeks, the construction industry will want to keep a close eye on the latest trends that will impact the building infrastructure. Last week was WOC (World of Concrete) and there was no shortage of announcements aimed at the infrastructure space. With the flurry of news coming from the show floor, it certainly makes sense to look at well, concrete. The material itself continues to advance in many ways to address decarbonization. As outlined in the World Cement Assn., most recent whitepaper, global demand for cement and clinker is projected to decline sharply…
Peggy talks about new research that has come out about cybersecurity and gives her ideas for how to build greater cybersecurity awareness. She says we need to shift our perspective, and we need better cyber resilience, as cybersecurity needs to be a priority across the entire organization. She also discusses: How many companies fail to conduct cybersecurity audits. The report card for Fortune 500 companies. Three tips for cybersecurity in 2025. peggysmedleyshow.com (1/21/25 – 904) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, 5G, cloud, sustainability, future of work, podcast This episode…
Peggy Smedley and John Reed, global solutions leader, manufacturing and mobility industries, Microsoft, talk about key customer learnings and automotive takeaways from CES 2025 and how it will shape the year ahead. He says the centerpiece was the customers, including manufacturers, and digital, whether it was the technology from Microsoft or that the customers are building. They also discuss: Four key learnings from the customer perspective. What we can expect to see in the next five years. Steps to prepare for the age of AI in automotive. microsoft.com/automotive CES 2025: Advancing the future of automotive and mobility Revolutionizing mobility: Solutions…
Here at Connected World, we have been covering quantum computing for several years—and it looks like we are going to get an infusion of new opportunities in the year ahead. Let’s take a look at what lies ahead in 2025 and beyond for quantum computing. What Is Quantum? At its core, quantum computing uses quantum mechanics to solve computer problems. Simply, it enables computers to do their work faster. With the rise of gen AI (artificial intelligence), Quantum systems can help us tackle real-world problems in multiple areas such as navigation, supply chain, industrial manufacturing, healthcare, and more. Where Have…
Are Fortune 500 companies prepared for a cyberattack? A recent report suggests 72% of Fortune 500 construction and engineering companies scored a D or lower for their cybersecurity. I am making a bold prediction: 2025 will be the year we see cybersecurity ramp up even further in organizations around the world. Candidly, we have been seeing cyber hacks across many big organizations, and it is time we do something about it. What’s the Cyber Grade? When you peel back the onion of this recent report, it is very tasty, so to speak. Cybernews Business Digital Index analyzed 466 companies on…