From making parts with A.I. to digitally cloning cars: What factories will look like in the future

Factories are expected to become a lot smarter in the future, powered by critical technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing and the metaverse.

Artificial intelligence could be used to converse with or make machine equipment, while so-called “digital twins” will help manufacturers clone products in the metaverse...

U.S. trains keep derailing. Why?

Washington lawmakers are scrutinizing the freight rail industry as a string of derailments unfold in 2023.

In the months since a Norfolk Southern train derailment devastated the town of East Palestine, Ohio, more freight cars went careening from their tracks in several parts of the country.

“Even one incident can have a dramatic impact on a community,” Ian Jefferies, CEO at the American Association of Railroads, said to CNBC in an interview. Jefferies said derailments overall were on the decline, citing Federal Rail Administration data. A small increase in reported derailments, however, was registered between 2020 and 2022.

Others within the industry say accidents have become more difficult to avoid as railroad companies pursue more demanding business plans. “Trains got heavier and longer,” said Mark Burrows, a former locomotive engineer. “It’s...

Your Expertise Is Killing Innovation

Well done! After years of study, hard work, and painful learning, you are unquestionably the expert. Your domain mastery and hands-on experience make you the go-to person for answers and advice.

Your expertise is your greatest strength. You can quickly assess a situation, evaluate options, make decisions, and pursue a course of action. In fact, in research conducted by Gary Klein and published in his book Sources of Power: How People Make Decisions, experts like you made decisions far more quickly than novices or generalists...