News/Operations
AI advances faster than corporations can possibly adapt, executives warn
Executives at Semafor's World Economy Summit highlighted a growing disconnect between AI's rapid technological advancement and corporate America's ability to adapt organizationally. While AI is enabling breakthrough innovations like Formula 1 teams using digital twins instead of physical testing, legacy companies are struggling to rewire decades-old business processes quickly enough to keep pace with the technology. What you should know: AI is delivering on ambitious promises faster than many anticipated, creating practical solutions that were impossible just years ago. Sassine Ghazi, CEO of Synopsys, a chip design software company, pointed to Formula 1 as an example where teams now create...
read Oct 16, 2025Hampton Roads, Virginia tests AI waste sorting to cut landfill use by 50%
The Southeastern Public Service Authority (SPSA) in Hampton Roads is implementing an AI and robotics-powered waste sorting facility in Portsmouth that could cut landfill waste by 50%. The facility represents a major pivot for SPSA after losing its primary revenue source when the Navy stopped purchasing steam in 2023 and a catastrophic fire destroyed the Wheelabrator facility. What you should know: The new mixed-waste sorting system uses artificial intelligence and image recognition to identify and remove recyclable and organic materials before they reach landfills. The technology can pull out approximately 50% of materials from the waste stream, extending landfill life...
read Oct 16, 2025eInfochips partners with InOrbit.AI to simplify robot fleet management
eInfochips, an Arrow Electronics subsidiary specializing in product engineering, has formed a strategic partnership with InOrbit.AI to deliver comprehensive edge-to-cloud robotics solutions for large-scale autonomous mobile robot (AMR) deployments. This collaboration addresses the growing demand for scalable robot operations across warehouses, industrial facilities, and manufacturing environments by combining hardware expertise with AI-powered orchestration capabilities. What you should know: The partnership merges eInfochips' robotics development capabilities with InOrbit's Space Intelligence platform to create end-to-end solutions for enterprise robot deployments. eInfochips brings expertise in hardware design, power and motor control, sensor fusion, edge AI, functional safety, and digital twin technology through their...
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How they do it, not what they do it with: PepsiCo cracks enterprise AI with novelty
PepsiCo has cracked the code on enterprise AI adoption, but not in the way most companies expect. While businesses worldwide scramble to deploy the latest AI tools, the beverage and snack giant is taking a fundamentally different approach: buying best-in-class technology while fiercely protecting ownership of core business processes. This strategic balance—embracing external innovation while maintaining internal control—represents a significant departure from the outsourcing-heavy model that dominated enterprise technology for decades. Dr. Athina Kanioura, PepsiCo's Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, shared this philosophy at Salesforce Dreamforce 2025, outlining an approach that other enterprises can adapt for their own AI transformations....
read Oct 13, 2025How-to: Amazon Quick Suite enables AI assistants to access enterprise data with standardized protocol
Amazon Quick Suite now enables organizations to connect their AI assistants directly to enterprise applications through a standardized protocol called Model Context Protocol (MCP). This capability addresses a critical challenge: allowing AI agents to securely access organizational data and take actions across multiple business systems without requiring complex custom integrations. MCP functions as a universal translator between AI systems and enterprise applications. Instead of building individual connections between your AI assistant and each business tool—a process that traditionally required extensive custom development—MCP provides a single, standardized approach that works across platforms. This matters because it dramatically reduces the technical complexity...
read Oct 10, 2025Nestlé’s best uses AI to optimize supply chains and cut carbon emissions
Nestlé, the world's largest food company, is deploying artificial intelligence across multiple business operations to optimize demand forecasting, recipe development, and sustainability initiatives. The Swiss multinational is using AI not as experimental technology but as productive systems that deliver measurable results in supply chain management and environmental tracking. What you should know: Nestlé has moved beyond pilot projects to implement AI systems that actively improve business operations and sustainability efforts. The company uses AI to predict container arrival times at ports, create statistical forecasts, and enhance demand planning accuracy. Machine learning models analyze historical research and development data to accelerate...
read Oct 10, 2025Insurance brokerage Acrisure cuts 400 jobs globally as AI takes over accounting operations
Acrisure, a Grand Rapids-based insurance brokerage company, announced it will implement artificial intelligence for accounting operations, resulting in 400 job cuts globally—200 of which will come from its Grand Rapids headquarters. The decision highlights the growing tension between AI-driven efficiency gains and workforce displacement as companies increasingly turn to automation to streamline operations. What you should know: The AI implementation specifically targets accounting functions, representing a significant shift in how the insurance brokerage handles financial operations. Acrisure's move affects 400 positions worldwide, with half of the cuts concentrated at the company's Michigan headquarters. The decision reflects a broader trend of...
read Oct 9, 20255G-A networks reach 50 deployments as Huawei integrates AI for operators
Huawei says 5G-A networks and AI integration will reshape operator value creation and network innovation, with commercial deployments reaching 50 networks across 300 cities this year. The Chinese tech giant believes this convergence will drive new business models beyond traditional connectivity services, positioning operators to monetize AI capabilities and network performance guarantees. The big picture: The mobile communications industry is experiencing a fundamental shift as 5G-Advanced (5G-A) technology matures alongside AI integration, creating new revenue opportunities for operators worldwide. Commercial 5G-A networks are set to reach 50 globally this year, spanning over 300 cities with support from more than 100...
read Oct 8, 2025In remote era, AI tasked not only with automation but workplace supervision
AI is increasingly taking over not just workplace tasks but managerial roles, fundamentally reshaping traditional work structures from the physical office to corporate hierarchies. This shift raises critical questions about algorithmic governance and oversight, with the U.S. and Europe offering contrasting regulatory approaches to managing AI's expanding influence in the workplace. The big picture: Traditional work structures are dissolving as AI moves beyond task automation to occupy supervisory roles, dictating workflows and evaluating performance. The physical office, factory positions, schedules, and hierarchical management structures are becoming obsolete as AI systems take control. Algorithms are becoming "ubiquitous, impersonal, and, for now,...
read Oct 7, 2025Here are 5 ways AI is transforming aircraft maintenance operations
Aviation maintenance has long been a reactive discipline—technicians troubleshoot problems after they occur, often working against tight deadlines to get aircraft back in service. However, artificial intelligence is beginning to transform this high-stakes industry by predicting failures before they happen and streamlining complex repair processes. Veryon, a San Francisco-based aviation software company serving over 5,500 customers globally, recently launched AIRE, an AI-powered platform that demonstrates how machine learning can revolutionize aircraft maintenance. The system combines decades of maintenance data with predictive analytics to help airlines and aircraft operators shift from reactive repairs to proactive maintenance strategies. This technological shift matters...
read Oct 6, 2025Heavy (valuation) lifting: Warehouse packaging automation market to hit $7.5B by 2029
The global end-of-line and warehouse packaging automation market is projected to grow from $5.1 billion in 2024 to $7.5 billion by 2029, representing a compound annual growth rate of 7.9%, according to new research from Interact Analysis, a global market research firm. This $2.4 billion expansion is being driven primarily by warehouse applications rather than traditional manufacturing, as companies combat rising labor costs and respond to e-commerce demands for more efficient packaging solutions. What you should know: Warehouse packaging automation is outpacing manufacturing growth, despite manufacturing currently holding the majority market share. End-of-line manufacturing packaging automation accounted for 61% of...
read Oct 6, 2025Got AI? Merck’s collars for dairy cows predict illness 48 hours before symptoms appear
Dairy farmers are now using high-tech collars equipped with movement sensors, Wi-Fi, and AI to monitor cow health and optimize milk production. These wearable devices, manufactured by Merck, a healthcare company, can predict illness up to 48 hours before symptoms appear, allowing farmers like Tony Louters in California to intervene early and prevent costly milk losses. What you should know: The collars represent a major evolution in livestock monitoring technology, transforming from basic pedometers in 2013 to sophisticated AI-powered health monitoring systems. Each of Louters's 700 cows wears a collar that continuously tracks biometric data and sends alerts to his...
read Oct 6, 2025Botting the midnight oil: Aramark deploys 24/7 auto-kitchens to feed hospital staff overnight
Aramark has strategically invested in RoboEatz's Autonomous Robotic Kitchen (ARK) technology, partnering with ABB Robotics and WellSpan Health to deploy 24/7 automated meal service in hospitals. This initiative addresses a critical gap in overnight dining options for healthcare workers, nurses, doctors, and hospital visitors who often struggle to find quality food during late-night shifts. What you should know: The ARK system operates within a compact 400-square-foot footprint and can prepare up to four personalized bowl-based meals simultaneously from a selection of up to 80 fresh ingredients.• The robotic kitchen integrates seamlessly with Aramark's existing Point of Sale system, menu management,...
read Oct 3, 2025Accenture cuts 11,000 jobs in $865M bet on AI-agreeable workforce
Accenture CEO Julie Sweet announced the company is laying off employees who refuse to develop AI skills, as part of an 11,000-person workforce reduction costing $865 million. The IT consulting giant is betting that businesses will prioritize hiring AI-trained workers, despite widespread evidence that many companies are struggling to successfully integrate AI into their operations. What you should know: Accenture, a multinational IT consulting firm, is implementing a brutal six-month restructuring plan that prioritizes workers with AI expertise over existing employees.• The company has laid off 11,000 employees in recent months, with CEO Julie Sweet calling it "upskilling its reinventors"...
read Oct 3, 2025Ringing the AI bell: 70% of independent hotels say tech is crucial to compete with major chains
Independent hospitality businesses are increasingly adopting artificial intelligence to compete with major hotel chains, with new research showing 70% of property owners view AI as crucial for staying competitive. The technology is democratizing tools once exclusive to large corporations, allowing boutique hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, and vacation rentals to streamline operations while preserving their personal touch. What you should know: AI adoption among independent hospitality operators is driven by immediate efficiency gains and competitive necessity. Nearly 39% of current AI users say it provides a significant competitive edge, while 30% consider it essential for survival. Time savings and efficiency are the top...
read Oct 2, 2025Job alert: Y Combinator’s Liva AI offers $160K for ops lead in voice data collection
Liva AI, a Y Combinator S25 startup, is hiring a Founding Operations Lead to scale their human voice and video data collection operations. The San Francisco-based company aims to build "the world's richest library of human voice and video data" to power more realistic AI voices and faces that capture diverse ethnicities, accents, and professional backgrounds. What you should know: This is a demanding founding role requiring relocation to San Francisco and a commitment to working 12-hour days, six days a week.• The position offers $120K-$160K salary plus comprehensive benefits including free food, equipment, wellness support, and paid family leave.•...
read Oct 1, 2025Microsoft reorganizes its leadership files to intensify AI development efforts
Microsoft has appointed Chief Commercial Officer Judson Althoff as CEO of commercial business, allowing CEO Satya Nadella to focus more heavily on technical development as the company intensifies its AI competition efforts. The reorganization creates a new unified organization combining sales, marketing, and operations under Althoff's leadership while freeing Nadella to concentrate on datacenter buildout, systems architecture, AI science, and product innovation. What you should know: Althoff will lead a comprehensive commercial leadership team that spans multiple business functions. The new team includes leaders from engineering, sales, marketing, operations, and finance, creating a unified approach to Microsoft's commercial strategy. Althoff...
read Sep 29, 2025Survey: 73% of CIOs now use Macs primarily for AI processing
Apple Macs are gaining significant traction in enterprise IT environments, with 73% of CIOs now citing AI processing as the primary use case for Apple hardware according to a new MacStadium survey of 300 chief information officers. This shift represents a fundamental change from Macs' traditional role in creative work and app development, positioning them as critical infrastructure for AI workloads as enterprises prioritize artificial intelligence capabilities. What you should know: Enterprise adoption of Mac infrastructure is accelerating rapidly across multiple dimensions.• Apple technologies now account for an average of 63% of enterprise endpoints, with nearly all respondents (96%) expecting...
read Sep 29, 2025Trump administration makes AI top priority for government efficiency, IRS and more in sights
The Trump administration has officially designated artificial intelligence as a key priority in its fiscal year 2027 science and technology agenda, formalizing what many agency leaders have already identified as crucial for streamlining government operations. This White House directive comes as federal agencies increasingly view AI as essential for maintaining efficiency while operating with reduced workforce levels. What you should know: The administration's AI focus reflects broader government efficiency goals aimed at doing more work with fewer federal employees. Agency leaders across government have previously discussed how AI can streamline operations and reduce staffing requirements. The formal designation in the...
read Sep 29, 2025AI in the sky: Lufthansa to cut 4,000 jobs by 2030 using while expanding fleet
Lufthansa Group announced Monday it will eliminate 4,000 jobs by 2030 through artificial intelligence implementation, digitalization, and operational consolidation across its member airlines. The German aviation giant is leveraging AI to streamline administrative functions while simultaneously planning its largest fleet expansion in company history, targeting significantly increased profitability amid strong travel demand and constrained aircraft supply. What you should know: The job cuts will primarily affect administrative roles in Germany rather than operational positions, as Lufthansa integrates operations across its airline portfolio.• Most eliminated positions will result from removing duplicated work across Lufthansa's member airlines, which include Austrian Airlines, Swiss,...
read Sep 24, 2025Coast Guard drops $350M anchor in robotics to modernize operations
The U.S. Coast Guard has announced a $350 million investment in robotics and autonomous systems to enhance mission execution and operational capabilities across its fleet. This significant funding, delivered through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, positions the Coast Guard to modernize its operations with cutting-edge technology that reduces personnel risk while expanding mission reach in hazardous environments. What you should know: The Coast Guard has allocated $11 million for immediate upgrades to critical autonomous systems in fiscal year 2025 as the first phase of this broader robotics initiative. Key details: Three primary technologies will receive initial funding to replace...
read Sep 23, 2025Daytona 1000: Amazon opens automated warehouse facility creating 1k Florida jobs
Amazon has opened a new $200 million robotics fulfillment center in Daytona Beach, Florida, marking a significant expansion of the company's automated warehouse operations in the region. The facility represents part of Amazon's broader $38 billion investment across Florida and is expected to create over 1,000 jobs with starting wages of $19 per hour plus benefits. What you should know: The new fulfillment center on Bellevue Avenue showcases Amazon's commitment to advanced robotics technology in its logistics operations. The facility features cutting-edge robotics systems designed to streamline order fulfillment and package processing. Starting wages of $19 per hour plus benefits...
read Sep 22, 2025“AIT”? CIOs predict 18% IT workforce cuts as AI reshapes hiring needs
CIOs predict an 18% reduction in their IT workforces within the next two years, driven by automation, AI adoption, and shifting sourcing strategies toward contractors and third-party firms. This workforce contraction reflects a broader transformation in how organizations approach IT talent management, balancing cost pressures with the need for AI-enabled skills while potentially sacrificing institutional knowledge. What you should know: The Harvey Nash survey of 2,015 technology leaders across 62 countries reveals significant changes in IT hiring priorities and workforce expectations. Digital leaders believe hiring needs for existing tech positions will reduce by 18% over two years, with 18% of...
read Sep 22, 2025Trump deploys AI to automate immigration enforcement with $30M platform
The Trump administration is deploying artificial intelligence at an unprecedented scale to accelerate immigration enforcement, using algorithms to identify deportation targets and streamline operations from raids to detention. The centerpiece is ImmigrationOS, a new Palantir-developed platform launching Thursday that consolidates enforcement tools into a single interface, allowing agents to approve raids, process arrests, and route individuals to deportation—what acting ICE Director Todd Lyons described as "like Prime, but with human beings." What you should know: ImmigrationOS represents a fundamental shift from AI as a support tool to AI as a decision-making guide for immigration enforcement. The $30 million Palantir-built system...
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