Agentic AI in Transportation
Peggy Smedley Show
Peggy digs into how agentic AI (artificial intelligence) is poised to redefine transportation, sharing examples, growth projections, and new opportunities. She urges not to get caught up in the hype but rather focus on the way technology can provide real value and ROI (return on investment). She also discusses: · Some key use cases in the transportation industry. · A paradox that we must consider. · Five steps transportation leaders can take today.
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Cultural Agility
Peggy Smedley Show
Peggy Smedley and Paula Caligiuri, cofounder and CEO, Skiilify, and DMSB distinguished professor of International Business, Northeastern University, talk about cultural agility and why it is important for business. She is an organizational psychologist, and she has done research on helping people get better at working across cultures. They also discuss: · Helping individuals develop durable soft skills. · How AI (artificial intelligence) is going to change the job market—and society as a whole. · Cultural agility vs. contextual agility and the six competencies needed.
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The Talk of Tariffs
Peggy Smedley Show
Dan Miklovic, founder, Lean Manufacturing Research and leader, Third Eye Advisory, talk about tariffs and how tariffs impact the ability to invest in automation, AI (artificial intelligence), and the workforce. He says tariffs have their place and it is a very fine balance to walk. They also discuss: · When tariffs are in fact effective. · The challenges that exist with tariffs. · Examples of tariffs on specific products that can help reach goals. (9/16/25 - 937) What You Might Have Missed: IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data,...
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Agentic AI in Energy Market
Peggy Smedley Show
Peggy unpacks how agentic AI (artificial intelligence) is set to revolutionize the energy sector. With the energy market under pressure from infrastructure strain, cybersecurity threats, and the push for sustainability, she explains how AI agents can drive smarter, more autonomous, and more resilient systems across the grid. She also discusses: How many energy companies are using gen AI—and why they still haven’t seen breakthrough impact yet. Use cases for how agentic AI can help specifically in the energy market. A roadmap to scale agentic AI in the energy market. (9/9/25 - 936)...
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GIS at the Airport
Peggy Smedley Show
Peggy Smedley and Adan Banda, senior geospatial data manager, and Brandon Mann, geospatial analyst, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, talk about GIS (geographic information systems) and how the technology is applied to complex infrastructures. Adan says DFW airport is a very large airport—larger than the island of Manhattan—which requires a single source of truth. Brandon says people are flying more—a 5% increase year over year on commercial flights—and we are all getting busier, which means the integrated and coordinated systems need to be in place. They also discuss: How and...
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Soft Skills in Construction
Peggy Smedley Show
Peggy Smedley and Donna Laquidara-Carr, industry insights research director, Dodge Construction Network, talk about the soft skills needed to attract more workers to the construction industry. She says they did a survey about the cost of poor collaboration. They also discuss: How many interactions contractors have daily with people from other companies—and how many involve some sort of conflict. How many found positive team dynamics on their regular projects. Which is more important: communication or technical skills. (9/9/25 - 936) What You Might Have Missed: IoT, Internet of...
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Agentic AI Comes for Manufacturing
Peggy Smedley Show
Peggy unpacks how agentic AI (artificial intelligence) is poised to transform the manufacturing industry—and why 97% of industrial manufacturing CEOs say digital and tech transformation is now a top priority. With the sector facing a perfect storm of labor shortages, rising costs, and geopolitical pressures, she explains how AI agents can unlock smarter, more adaptive operations on the factory floor. She also discusses: The role of both virtual and embodied AI agents in reshaping industrial work. A five-step plan for manufacturers to pilot, scale, and succeed with agentic AI. The long-term...
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King, A Life
Peggy Smedley Show
Peggy and Jonathan Eig, author, talk about his book King, A Life, and what he learned about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., while writing the book. He says King was a person who had a lot of troubles and failures, and was prone to depression, and yet he continued to believe in God and America and believed it was worth all the sacrifice. They also discuss: The recently released pages of FBI files and the impact on the civil rights movement. How King’s ethical perspective on work could serve as a counterpoint to today’s culture. How journalism has changed—and how that impacts the work of a...
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Insight into Construction Worker Trends
Peggy Smedley Show
Peggy and Donna Laquidara-Carr, industry insights research director, Dodge Construction Network, talk about a new study and some of the biggest obstacles that are preventing more workers from joining the construction industry. She says there were two pieces to the study: surveying contractors and the general population. They also discuss: The top way construction professionals are drawn into the industry. How to expand beyond what we are doing now. The disconnect between the perception of what is keeping people out of construction and what is actually keeping people out of construction. ...
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Agentic AI Comes to Construction
Peggy Smedley Show
Peggy digs into agentic AI (artificial intelligence) and its transformative potential for the construction industry. She explores how this next evolution of AI—capable of autonomous reasoning and decision-making—can address some of the industry’s most pressing challenges from labor shortages to supply-chain complexity. She also discusses: The staggering growth forecast of the agentic AI market. Why small and midsized construction firms are still hesitant to adopt AI—and what the data says about this trend. Use cases where agentic AI can make a difference, including project scheduling,...
info_outlinePeggy Smedley and Jon Summers, research lead in data centers, Research Institutes of Sweden, adjunct professor of fluid mechanics, Luleå Technical University and visiting professor in thermofluids, University of Leeds, talk about rising energy costs and data centers. He says we are in a difficult position because data centers are scrambling for access to power.
They also discuss:
- The high energy consumption of AI infrastructures and data centers, and the need for more resource-efficient solutions.
- The environmental impact of data centers, including electronic waste and the depletion of critical raw materials.
- The ongoing research and technological advancements aimed at making data centers more energy efficient including emerging technologies like photonics, quantum computing, and neuromorphic computing that could potentially reduce energy consumption.
(7/15/25 - 928)
What You Might Have Missed:
At the Sustainable Data Center
All about Data Center Construction
IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, 5G, cloud, sustainability, future of work, podcast, Jon Summers, Luleå Technical University, University of Leeds
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