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UL Solutions Expands Marketing Claim Verification Into AI

William Attardi on September 29, 2025

UL Solutions Inc. announced that it is expanding its evaluation and verification services into the high-growth industrial software sector, advancing what is known as the industrial metaverse—virtual manufacturing environments that use data, AI, digital twins, augmented reality, and other tools to optimize physical machines and factories. UL Solutions’ related Marketing Claim Verification provides a third-party evaluation, indicating that the industrial software and advanced automation tools performed as claimed and are backed by credible evidence. Verification helps confirm that the systems powering these immersive manufacturing environments meet the performance, security, and interoperability benchmarks necessary to drive the next wave of digitalization. UL Solutions Expands Marketing Claim Verification Into AI – electrifiED

US Economy Expands at Surprising Pace in Second Quarter

William Attardi on September 26, 2025

An uptick in consumer spending helped the U.S. economy expand at a surprising 3.8% from April through June, the government reported in a dramatic upgrade of its previous estimate of second-quarter growth. The department had previously estimated second-quarter growth at 3.3%, and forecasters had expected a repeat of that figure. A category within the GDP data that measures the economy’s underlying strength came in stronger than previously reported as well, growing 2.9% from April-June, up from 1.9% in the first quarter.  US Economy Expands at Surprising Pace in Second Quarter – tEDmag

Energy Audits Need a Digital Upgrade

William Attardi on September 26, 2025

Traditional audits still have merit, but often they miss live inefficiencies. Artificial Intelligence tools reduce human error and generate immediate insights that could mean measurable savings. Automation is not new to manufacturing but the scope of the technology is leading to novel applications as industry leaders rethink energy management. Traditional audits still have merit, but often they miss the live inefficiencies that persist in production systems. Artificial Intelligence tools reduce human error and generate immediate insights that could result in measurable savings for those systems. Can AI Help Conduct an Energy Audit and Find Savings Opportunities? | Enterprise Data | American Machinist

MLB Will Use Robot Umpires in 2026

William Attardi on September 24, 2025

Robot umpires are getting called up to the big leagues next season. Major League Baseball’s 11-man competition committee on Tuesday approved use of the Automated Ball/Strike System in the major leagues in 2026.  Human plate umpires will still call balls and strikes, but teams can challenge two calls per game and get additional appeals in extra innings. Challenges must be made by a pitcher, catcher or batter — signaled by tapping their helmet or cap — and a team retains its challenge if successful. Reviews will be shown as digital graphics on outfield videoboards. Robot umpires approved for MLB in 2026 as part of challenge system | AP News

Nuclear Power Could Be a $10 Trillion Industry That ‘Holds the Answer to the World’s Power Shortages’

William Attardi on September 23, 2025

Nuclear energy represents a $10 trillion potential market opportunity that could hold “the answer to the world’s power shortages,” according to a new report from Bank of America. To meet the growing demand for global electrification stoked by energy-intensive projects like the data centers underpinning the AI arms race, global nuclear capacity will have to triple by 2050, the firm estimated. Investment is expected to reach more than $3 trillion in the next 25 years. Small Modular Reactors, or SMRs are typically designed to produce around 500 megawatts or less of energy compared to a traditional nuclear power plant’s 1,000 MW or more. Unlike traditional nuclear power plants that may take years — if not decades — to bring online, SMRs are cheaper and faster to build, with “modular” parts that can be mass-produced and slotted together on an assembly line.  Nuclear power could be a $10 trillion industry that ‘holds the answer to the world’s power shortages’

TikTok’s Algorithm to Be Licensed to US Joint Venture Led by Oracle and Silver Lake

William Attardi on September 23, 2025

Tech giant Oracle will spearhead U.S. oversight of the algorithm and security underlying TikTok’s popular video platform under the terms of a deal laid out this week by President Donald Trump’s administration. All the final details still need to be nailed down among several joint venture partners that will include Oracle, investment firm Silver Lake Partners and possibly two billionaires — media mogul Rupert Murdoch and personal computer pioneer Michael Dell. . Although he no longer runs Oracle as its CEO, company co-founder Larry Ellison remains a top executive while also overseeing an estimated personal fortune of $390 billion. Ellison, 81, now could be in line to become a behind-the-scenes power player in the media, having already helped finance Skydance’s recently completed $8 billion merger with Paramount, a deal engineered by his son, David. The U.S. administration would not have a stake in the joint venture nor be part of its board, according to a senior White House official.  Oracle will manage TikTok algorithm for US users under Trump deal | AP News

Nvidia to Invest $100 Billion in OpenAI to Help Expand the ChatGPT Maker’s Computing Power

William Attardi on September 23, 2025

Chipmaker Nvidia will invest $100 billion in OpenAI as part of a partnership announced Monday that will add at least 10 gigawatts of Nvidia AI data centers to ramp up the computing power for the owner of the artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT. Per the letter of intent signed by the companies, the first gigawatt of Nvidia systems will be deployed in the second half of 2026. Nvidia and OpenAI said they would be finalizing the details of the arrangement in the coming weeks. The Nvidia-OpenAI partnership also comes about 10 days after OpenAI said it had reached a new tentative agreement that will give Microsoft a $100 billion equity stake in its for-profit corporation. OpenAI is technically controlled by its nonprofit. OpenAI says it has 700 million weekly active users. Nvidia to invest $100 billion in OpenAI to help expand ChatGPT maker’s computing power | AP News

US and UK Sign Science and Technology Agreement

William Attardi on September 22, 2025

On September 18, 2025, President Donald J. Trump and Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed the Technology Prosperity Deal, a landmark science and technology agreement that will propel the U.S. – UK special relationship to new heights for the technological age and deliver wins for the American people and American innovation globally. The Technology Prosperity Deal establishes joint initiatives between the two nations’ premiere research and standards institutions across artificial intelligence, nuclear energy, and quantum computing to bring transformative benefits to citizens – from accelerating breakthroughs in health care, to lowering energy costs, and supporting national security. US and UK Sign Science and Technology Agreement – electrifiED

Trump’s Team Explores Government-Backed Manufacturing Boost

William Attardi on September 19, 2025

President Trump’s team is weighing a plan to spur the construction of factories and other infrastructure in a bid to jump-start the American manufacturing sector, according to documents and people familiar with the discussions. Under the plan, the administration would use money from  a $550 billion investment fund established as part of trade negotiations with Japan to invest in the development of semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, critical minerals, energy, ships and quantum computing. Some of the projects would be granted preferential treatment from the government, including expedited regulatory review. The administration is considering granting leases to companies that would give them access to federal land and water.  Trump’s Team Explores Government-Backed Manufacturing Boost – WSJ

ABB to Invest Additional $110M in US Manufacturing

William Attardi on September 19, 2025

ABB announced today that it will invest a further $110 million in the United States in 2025 to expand the R&D and manufacturing of its advanced electrification solutions as customers focus on improving energy efficiency and uptime while reducing their energy costs and will create nearly 200 new jobs . ABB will invest $15 million to create a new production line for Emax 3 in its Senatobia, Mississippi site. A $30 million project will double the footprint of ABB’s Richmond, Virginia facility adding a new test center, warehouse and new assembly lines. In Arecibo, Puerto Rico, an investment of more than $30 million will increase the size of the facility to accommodate three new production lines. A $35 million investment will increase the capacity of ABB’s manufacturing facility in Pinetops, North Carolina. From 2022-2024, ABB invested around $500 million in its US business. ABB has a presence in all 50 states. Today, approximately 75-80% of the revenues ABB generates in the US are from products manufactured in the US. ABB to Invest $110M in US Manufacturing – tEDmag

National Football League – American football began as a hybrid of soccer and rugby on post-Civil War college campuses. Football was wildly popular but disorganized in the early 1900s. In an effort to standardize and organize, the National Football League was formed in 1920 in Canton, Ohio.  The NFL is the premier professional organization for American football, with 32 teams in two conferences and almost 1,700 active players. In 2023, the NFL generated nearly $20B in revenue. With its teams valued at $190B combined, it is the most valuable sports league in the world. The popularity of the NFL has made it a global sport. In 2002 the NFL began featuring fantasy games on its site.  The NFL is the most valuable sports league in the world.  NFL teams are worth a total of $163B. Each team holds an average value of over $5.1B, almost as much as the NBA and MLB combined. The Dallas Cowboys, valued at $9B, are the most valuable sports franchise on Earth. (NY Yankees are at 8.2B….just saying).