News/Manufacturing
Ex-Waymo team raises $80M for AI construction equipment retrofits
Bedrock Robotics, a startup founded by former Waymo engineers, has secured $80 million in funding to develop AI-powered systems that retrofit existing heavy construction equipment for autonomous operation. The company's technology package includes cameras, LiDAR sensors (which use laser beams to detect objects and distances), and AI software designed to enable excavators and other heavy machinery to work continuously without human operators, targeting an industry facing severe labor shortages. What you should know: Bedrock isn't manufacturing new equipment but instead offers retrofit solutions that can transform existing construction machinery into autonomous operators. The company's prototype was specifically developed for excavators,...
read Aug 6, 2025AI dons a hard hat as construction industry unveils safety tools for jobsites
The Construction Industry Institute has unveiled new AI-powered safety tools for jobsites, developed by a research team from Texas A&M University, Louisiana State University, and 20 industry professionals. The initiative identifies 19 best use cases for artificial intelligence in construction safety protocols and provides a matching tool to help companies implement the most effective solutions for their specific needs. What you should know: The research team created a comprehensive framework that connects AI applications with current safety challenges on construction sites. Wearables and generative AI can predict dangerous jobsite locations and establish geofenced alerts that notify workers when entering high-risk...
read Aug 5, 2025Meta’s AI cuts concrete carbon by 35% while boosting strength 43% faster
Meta and ready-mix supplier Amrize have deployed an AI-optimized concrete recipe at Meta's Minnesota data center that reaches 4,000-psi strength 43% faster while cutting embodied carbon by 35%. The breakthrough demonstrates how Bayesian optimization can solve concrete's carbon paradox—delivering both speed and sustainability for the trillion-dollar data center construction boom. How it works: The collaboration used Meta's open-source Ax and BoTorch frameworks combined with University of Illinois research to create a "bespoke" mixture design. Researchers fed hundreds of thousands of historic cylinder tests, aggregate gradations, and supplementary material chemistries into a Bayesian optimization engine that treated strength, shrinkage resistance, and...
read Aug 4, 2025AMD’s $1.2K R9700 GPU challenges Nvidia in professional AI computing market
AMD's latest professional graphics card has arrived with serious firepower for AI workloads, and major manufacturers are racing to deliver their own versions. The Radeon AI Pro R9700 represents the chip giant's most powerful GPU to date, designed specifically for artificial intelligence training, scientific computing, and high-end rendering tasks that demand sustained performance under intensive workloads. Unlike consumer graphics cards optimized for gaming, professional GPUs like the R9700 prioritize reliability, memory capacity, and multi-card scalability over peak gaming performance. This matters because AI training and scientific simulation often require cards to run at maximum capacity for days or weeks without...
read Jul 30, 2025Foxconn and TECO team up to build modular AI data centers
Foxconn and TECO Electric & Machinery have announced a strategic share-swap alliance to jointly develop modular AI data center infrastructure, combining Foxconn's AI server manufacturing expertise with TECO's electromechanical systems and green energy capabilities. The partnership positions both Taiwanese companies to compete more effectively in the rapidly growing global AI data center market, targeting key regions including Taiwan, Asia, the Middle East, and the United States. The big picture: This alliance represents a significant consolidation in the AI infrastructure supply chain, as hyperscalers and cloud service providers increasingly demand comprehensive, turnkey data center solutions rather than piecemeal components. Key details:...
read Jul 29, 2025Amazon-backed Skild AI unveils universal robot brain for any machine
Amazon-backed Skild AI unveiled Skild Brain, a foundational AI model designed to operate on nearly any type of robot, from assembly-line machines to humanoids. The launch positions the startup to address robotics' unique data scarcity challenge while advancing the broader push toward versatile humanoid robots capable of diverse tasks beyond single-purpose factory automation. What you should know: Skild Brain enables robots to think, navigate, and respond more like humans through advanced spatial reasoning and adaptability.• Demonstration videos showed Skild-powered robots climbing stairs, maintaining balance after being pushed, and picking up objects in cluttered environments.• The model includes built-in power limits...
read Jul 29, 2025Apple’s Motown manufacturing academy to train businesses on AI
Apple is launching a manufacturing academy in downtown Detroit to train small and medium-sized businesses on manufacturing and artificial intelligence, with Michigan State University administering the program. The move comes as President Trump intensifies pressure on the tech giant to bring more production jobs to the United States while implementing tariffs that will likely increase Apple's operational costs. What you should know: The Apple Manufacturing Academy will open in August, offering workshops led by Apple engineers to help businesses implement smart manufacturing technologies. The program will provide consulting services to small businesses and plans to offer virtual courses later this...
read Jul 28, 2025I left my heart in Data Center #82: AI interest in the heartland doubles as AWS invests $7.8B in Ohio
America's Heartland is experiencing a surge in artificial intelligence adoption and investment, with major tech companies pouring billions into Midwest data centers and manufacturing facilities. This shift challenges traditional perceptions of the region as technologically backward, as new studies show AI interest among heartland residents has doubled from 34% to 68% in less than a year. The big picture: Major hyperscale companies are establishing significant infrastructure investments across the Midwest, transforming the region into an emerging AI hub. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is planning a $7.8 billion investment in Ohio for new data centers containing servers, storage drives, and networking...
read Jul 28, 2025Samsung lands $16.5B Tesla AI chip deal through 2033
Samsung has secured a $16.5 billion contract to manufacture Tesla's AI chips through 2033, with production set to take place at Samsung's new Texas fabrication facility. The deal represents a strategic partnership that will see Samsung produce Tesla's next-generation AI6 chips specifically designed for the company's self-driving vehicle technology. What you should know: This massive chip manufacturing agreement solidifies Samsung's role as Tesla's primary AI processor supplier for nearly a decade. The contract was initially spotted in regulatory filings on July 27 for an unnamed consumer tech company before Elon Musk, Tesla's CEO, confirmed Tesla as the client on X....
read Jul 24, 2025Supermicro ships 4,000 liquid-cooled AI racks, cuts energy costs 40%
Supermicro, a San Jose-based server manufacturer, is aggressively expanding its global operations to capitalize on surging demand for AI infrastructure, positioning itself as a key supplier in the race to build the computing backbone that powers artificial intelligence applications. The company has experienced substantial growth over the past two years as organizations worldwide scramble to deploy high-performance GPU systems—specialized computers designed to handle the intensive mathematical calculations required for AI training and inference. These systems teach AI models to recognize patterns and then apply that learning to make predictions or generate content. Speaking at the RAISE Summit 2025, Supermicro CEO...
read Jul 22, 2025Concrete results: Meta uses AI to create 35% lower-carbon concrete for data centers
Meta and Amrize have developed an AI-optimized concrete mix specifically designed for Meta's data center construction in Rosemount, Minnesota. The collaboration, which includes the University of Illinois, produced a concrete formulation that reduces carbon emissions by 35% while meeting the structural requirements for data center infrastructure. What you should know: The partnership combines Amrize's materials science expertise with Meta's open-source AI models to create high-performance, low-carbon concrete. The AI-designed ECOPact mix delivers high strength, controlled set time, and a reduced carbon footprint compared to traditional concrete formulations. University of Illinois researchers contributed critical lab-generated data to train the AI models...
read Jul 22, 2025DroneDeploy’s Progress AI turns drone photos into instant construction reports
DroneDeploy has launched Progress AI, an artificial intelligence tool that analyzes drone imagery and 360-degree photos to generate instant construction progress reports. The AI tool transforms routine aerial mapping into premium analytics services, calculating completion percentages for every trade and floor in minutes rather than the days typically required for manual progress tracking. What you should know: Progress AI processes existing drone maps and 360-degree panoramas to create color-coded progress reports without requiring BIM model alignment or manual heat map creation. The system answers voice or chat queries like "How far along is Level 4 drywall?" by reading its "photographic...
read Jul 17, 2025MaVila AI helps factories see problems and talk to machines in real time
California State University Northridge researchers have developed MaVila, an AI model specifically designed for manufacturing environments that combines image analysis and natural language processing to detect problems, suggest improvements, and communicate with machines in real time. The NSF-supported project addresses AI's limited adoption in manufacturing by creating a tool that can "see" factory operations and "talk" to both workers and machines, potentially revolutionizing how U.S. factories operate in an increasingly competitive global market. What you should know: MaVila takes a fundamentally different approach from conventional AI systems by training exclusively on manufacturing-specific data rather than relying on internet information. The...
read Jul 16, 2025Energy constraints could derail AI progress, LessWrong analysis warns
A LessWrong user has raised concerns about whether energy constraints, particularly declining oil availability, could significantly delay or halt artificial intelligence development. The question highlights a potential vulnerability in AI progress that many forecasts may be overlooking—the massive energy requirements for data centers and the oil-dependent infrastructure needed to build and maintain them. The core argument: AI development depends heavily on energy-intensive data centers and oil-derived materials for construction and operation. Data centers require continuous power whether connected to electrical grids, small modular reactors, hydroelectric plants, or other energy sources. The construction of AI infrastructure relies on oil for mining...
read Jul 16, 2025Westinghouse plans to build 10 nuclear reactors by 2030
Westinghouse plans to build 10 large nuclear reactors in the U.S., with construction beginning by 2030, interim CEO Dan Sumner announced to President Trump during a Pittsburgh roundtable. The ambitious project would generate $75 billion in economic value nationwide and $6 billion specifically for Pennsylvania, marking a significant expansion of nuclear power infrastructure amid Trump's push to quadruple U.S. nuclear capacity by 2050. What you should know: Each AP1000 reactor generates enough electricity to power more than 750,000 homes, representing substantial clean energy capacity. The announcement came during a conference on energy and artificial intelligence at Carnegie Mellon University, where...
read Jul 14, 2025VR training proves 30% faster than traditional methods for manufacturing skills
AI-powered virtual reality training is emerging as a solution to America's critical factory worker shortage, where only one qualified worker exists for every 20 open manufacturing positions. This technology could rapidly upskill workers while making technical training more engaging and accessible, particularly for younger generations who might otherwise avoid blue-collar careers. The big picture: The U.S. faces an unprecedented manufacturing labor crisis as baby boomers retire and college-educated workers lack the technical skills needed for modern factory jobs. David Gitlin, CEO of Carrier, an HVAC equipment maker, told The New York Times there is "one qualified worker for every 20...
read Jul 10, 2025Kaya AI emerges from stealth with $5.3M to digitize construction supply chains
Kaya AI has emerged from stealth mode with $5.3 million in pre-seed funding to tackle construction supply chain management through artificial intelligence. The startup's platform promises to reduce procurement management time by 80% and improve lead-time accuracy by 90%, targeting an industry that has remained stubbornly resistant to technology upgrades despite widespread adoption of cloud-based project management tools. What you should know: Kaya's AI-driven platform focuses on mission-critical infrastructure projects like data centers, where tight timelines and demanding schedules create the most challenging procurement environments. The platform includes an AI assistant called Jarvis that centralizes communications, automates ordering tasks, and...
read Jul 10, 2025LG plans to triple AI data center cooling orders by 2030
LG Electronics has unveiled a strategic roadmap to become a global HVAC leader by 2030, with a particular focus on AI data center cooling solutions. The company expects to more than triple its data center cooling orders in 2025 and is investing heavily in liquid cooling technologies, positioning itself to capitalize on the surge in demand for specialized thermal management as AI workloads generate unprecedented heat levels. What you should know: LG is making a significant push into the AI-era HVAC market through both hardware and software solutions. The company established a dedicated AI data center HVAC solution lab at...
read Jul 9, 2025South Korea builds out $19.9M micro data centers for domestic AI chips
South Korea's government is launching a KRW27.3 billion ($19.9 million) initiative to build micro data centers powered by domestically manufactured AI chips, targeting small and medium-sized enterprises, hospitals, and public institutions across non-metropolitan regions. The project aims to reduce dependence on US firms like Nvidia while providing local AI chipmakers such as Furiosa AI and Rebellions with real-world deployment opportunities to prove their technology in commercial settings. What you should know: The Ministry of Science and ICT will lead the construction of container-based data centers in regional areas from 2025 through 2029. These modular micro data centers integrate compute, storage,...
read Jul 7, 2025Physical AI helps construction giant predict weather delays and save millions
Brandon Barbello, co-founder of Archetype AI, argues that while artificial intelligence has rapidly transformed office work, the real breakthrough lies in "physical AI" systems that can interpret sensor data from construction sites, manufacturing facilities, and other physical environments. This represents a fundamental shift from text-based AI to systems that can process complex, multimodal data from the real world—potentially unlocking massive value in industries that have been largely untouched by the AI revolution. The big picture: Physical industries like construction, logistics, and manufacturing represent a major portion of the global economy but have captured only a fraction of AI's value, despite...
read Jul 2, 2025A Working (AI) Man: DroneDeploy’s Safety tech spots construction violations with 95% accuracy
DroneDeploy has launched Safety AI, a generative AI tool that analyzes daily construction site imagery to identify OSHA safety violations with claimed 95% accuracy. The technology represents a significant advancement over traditional object detection methods, using visual language models to "reason" about safety conditions rather than simply recognizing objects like ladders or hard hats. Why this matters: Construction remains the most dangerous industry for fatal workplace accidents, with over 1,000 workers dying annually in the US from slips, trips, and falls—highlighting the urgent need for better safety monitoring solutions. How it works: Safety AI uses visual language models (VLMs) to...
read Jun 27, 2025Arrive AI rings Nasdaq bell as smart mailboxes expand to India
Arrive AI is hitting multiple milestones simultaneously, from ringing the Nasdaq opening bell to securing new patents and launching an international partnership with India's Skye Air Mobility. The autonomous delivery company's momentum signals its evolution from a startup founded on a napkin sketch in 2014 to a comprehensive infrastructure provider targeting the last-mile logistics market. What you should know: Arrive AI's smart mailboxes, called Arrive Points, go far beyond simple package drop-offs with AI-powered features designed for secure, climate-controlled deliveries. The mailboxes offer temperature control, anti-theft mechanisms, hazardous material detection, UV/ozone disinfection, and facial recognition capabilities. They integrate with real-time...
read Jun 27, 2025Netherlands invests $82M in AI factory as Europe builds domestic tech capacity
The Dutch government has committed 70 million euros ($82.03 million) to build an AI factory in Groningen, a northern city in the Netherlands. This investment represents part of a broader European push to develop domestic AI infrastructure capabilities, with the project potentially receiving up to 200 million euros in total funding when combined with EU co-financing and regional contributions. What you should know: The Netherlands is making a significant public investment in AI manufacturing infrastructure through multiple funding sources. • The Dutch government pledged 70 million euros for the AI factory construction in Groningen. • Officials have applied for an...
read Jun 27, 2025EV-to-AI: Redwood Materials repurposes electric vehicle batteries to power data centers
Redwood Materials has launched Redwood Energy, a new business division that repurposes used electric vehicle batteries to power AI data centers through renewable-powered microgrids. The company unveiled its first 64 megawatt-hour microgrid in Nevada, which uses solar panels and recycled EV batteries to supply over 99% of the electricity needed for Crusoe's adjacent 2,000-GPU AI facility—demonstrating a potentially faster and cheaper alternative to traditional grid-connected power plants. What you should know: Rather than immediately recycling EV batteries, Redwood Materials now tests them for reuse in energy storage systems before they reach end-of-life. Many batteries retain more than half their capacity...
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