The message from Autodesk and the many companies that presented and exhibited at Autodesk University (AU) last month in San Diego was clear: for the product design and manufacturing (D&M), architecture, engineering, construction and operations (AECO), and media and entertainment (M&E) industries, AI is a driving force behind productivity.

Autodesk University Mainstage

Data, data, data

AI-driven productivity is customized to the specific needs of each industry, with various generative and multimodal AI models providing solutions for tasks like workflow optimization, manufacturing quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and design visualization. However, the value of AI across these sectors—and beyond—is determined by the quantity and quality of data used.

Quantity matters because more data enables AI systems to learn and improve. Quality, however, is more complex. It requires obtaining relevant data, ensuring data accuracy, and verifying that data usage complies with ethical standards.

Dell demonstrated how their workstations can run generative AI 3D content with NVIDIA Edify trained on Shutterstock ethically sourced content.

Customers are key

The importance of AI and data was evident throughout AU, with presentations and product demonstrations highlighting customer-centric solutions. Hardware providers showcased high-performance workstations equipped with powerful processors, optimized to support AI workloads. Meanwhile, data and asset management providers emphasized AI’s capabilities in extracting valuable information, managing metadata, and monitoring workflows in real time.

Lenovo displayed next generation workstations designed with a customer-centric focus. Partnering with Intel®, NVIDIA and Aston Martin, they offer high-end graphics, memory and processing power.

Autodesk’s Design & Manufacturing team showcased how they are addressing their customers' needs by delivering AI-powered efficiencies through Fusion, a cloud-based, unified platform for design and manufacturing. They also introduced Project Bernini, a research initiative focused on a new approach to generative AI. Unlike many generative models that prioritize the appearance of 3D objects, Bernini emphasizes generating structural 3D data from the inside out, which aligns closely with real-world production needs.

Experimental research project Bernini model generates shape and texture separately and does not confuse or meld those variables.

AI provides a wide range of possibilities based on industry-specific needs. For entertainment and gaming, AI can generate lifelike product and character models, while in manufacturing and design, it lays the foundation for real-world production. With tools like Fusion and research projects like Bernini, Autodesk aims to empower creators and makers to leverage AI for both efficiency and innovation.

This Mambapod was invented by Taiwanese photography accessory company Silence Corner.

It's a mini tripod that can also be used on non-flat surfaces, thanks to an innovative feature in one of the legs. Two small jaws can be unfolded from the leg, and dialed towards each other by rotating a handle at the bottom of the leg, essentially becoming an F-style clamp.

Alternately, just one of the jaws can be flipped out and used as a hook.

The clamping arrangement provides a lot more security than bendy legs, allowing you to hang your expensive SLR or smartphone in precarious places.

The Mambapod is a hit on Kickstarter, with over $200K in pledges at press time and 25 days left to pledge. Pricing starts at $129.

There have now been four or five years of huge ocean freight rate volatility, according to Drewry, which has cautioned its customers to expect little change in 2025, likely the fifth year in a row of high volatility. Shippers need to be aware that the shipping industry will continue to be disrupted and there are risks and a need for contingency plans and active vendor management, cautions Drewry.

TESTEX has launched the TESTEX MICROPLASTIC label, setting a new standard for reducing textile microplastic emissions. Using advanced LDIR technology, the label certifies textiles tested for particle emissions per ISO standards. As a member of The Microfibre Consortium, TESTEX collaborates on reducing fibre fragmentation, sharing data to support sustainability goals by 2030.

ITMA ASIA + CITME 2025, set for October in Singapore, has nearly sold out its 60,000 sqm exhibition space with strong interest from 731 global tech providers. The event, supported by CEMATEX and CTMA, will showcase innovations tailored for Asia’s growing textile hubs. Key sectors include finishing, spinning, and knitting, highlighting sustainable tech and automation trends.

October US container imports were 2,494,635 TEUs, marking the fourth month in a row of volumes exceeding 2.4 million TEUs, a threshold that has historically strained US maritime logistics, the November Global Shipping Report by Descartes Systems Group noted. For the first ten months of 2024, volumes grew by 13.1 per cent YoY. At seven of the top 10 US ports, transit time delays rose in October.

China’s latest fiscal announcements seem aimed at addressing medium-term structural impediments to economic growth from strained local government finances, but are unlikely to immediately boost or offset deflationary risk, Fitch Ratings said. It expects a budget deficit of 7.1 per cent of GDP this year. It believes fiscal stimulus will remain incremental and responsive to downside risks.

Turkiye’s overall export unit value index rose by 3.6 per cent YoY in September, while the overall export volume index fell by 5.2 per cent YoY. The country’s overall import unit value index rose by 4.7 per cent YoY in September, while the overall import volume index fell by 5.8 per cent YoY. Turkish trade sales volume rose by 12.7 per cent YoY and by 3.2 per cent month on month in September.

APTEXPO 2024 has opened at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, gathering over 300 international delegates and exhibitors to discuss industry resilience and sustainability. The event spans three days, featuring keynote speakers, panels, and over 200 exhibitors. Focused sessions address global market trends, digitalisation, and cooperation to build a stronger Asia-Pacific textile network.

As the world begins to recover from 2020 and the economic detriment, what is next on the horizon? Download our recorded webinar discussing the current economic state and the positive uptick in the market. You’ll learn about: Economic impact on business post-pandemic Best practices for moving your business forward How to plan for the remaining fiscal year...

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Many small-to-midsize banks and financial institutions are still running on-premise Microsoft Exchange email servers, whether in their own walls, or in the walls of their technology service provider. Microsoft recently announced that multiple hacking groups were targeting Microsoft Exchange servers in coordinated attacks, which could cause a damaging data breach for these organizations. With all...

The post Data Security for Banks and Financial Institutions: Top 4 Myths About Moving to the Cloud appeared first on Anders CPA.

Companies and candidates are continually asking, “what does the current hiring market look like?” And many are shocked by the response. The truth is that the market is incredibly short on good quality candidates right now, and many job postings are open for extended periods while companies search for candidates. So, how did the job...

The post Hiring Challenges Back to Pre-Pandemic Levels – 5 Ways to Recruit the Right Hire appeared first on Anders CPA.

Anders received a Marketing Achievement Award for best new website at the 2021 Association for Accounting Marketing (AAM) Summit. Anders won in the Website category which included website projects with budgets under and over $34,999. The nomination highlighted the firm’s newly redesigned website that launched in May of 2020. Anders worked with St. Louis web design...

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The latest vital signs featuring the affects of exposure to electronic cigarette advertisements on middle and high school students in the United States during 2014.

The latest vital signs report detailing the affects of exposure to electronic cigarette advertisements on middle and high school students in the United States during 2014.

Report on the latest statistical data regarding middle and high school students and tobacco use.

Infographic showing data regarding middle and high school students and tobacco use.

Report on the latest statistical data regarding adults and e-cigarette use.

Report on the latest statistical data regarding risky behavior among youth.

Report on the latest smoke-free laws that are affecting public places.

The latest statistical data regarding adult tobacco use in the U.S. during 2013-2014.

The latest data on the disparities of the adult population of tobacco use in the U.S.

The latest data regarding how advertising expenditures have been spent on sporting events in the United States during 1992-2013.

Data regarding the use of smoking and tobacco use among adults in 2014.

Data regarding the current use of cigarette smoking among adults from 2005-2015.

Data regarding the disparities with tobacco-related cancer incidences and death from 2004 until 2013.

Information regarding the current use of combustible and smokeless tobacco in the United States.

Information regarding Medicaid expansion for cessation coverage and the number of adult smokers enrolled.

Characteristics of e-cigarette use among middle and high school students in the United States during 2015.

Protein powders, yogurts, and bars make hitting our protein targets easy, but can contain UPFs. Here's what happened when health reporter Rachel Hosie quit them for a week.

Cathie Wood's Ark Venture Fund aims to disrupt venture capital by granting retail investors access to high-growth startups, tripling assets to $70 million despite lagging S&P 500.

Builders have too many new homes on their hands. But before they slash prices, they have another option: sell to investors in the rental market.

A Spirit Airlines flight diverted after being shot on approach to Haiti. JetBlue and American flights were also found to have been struck by bullets.

The Japanese conglomerate was part of an investment round unveiled by OpenAI last month that valued the ChatGPT maker at $157 billion.

Peter FitzSimons to discuss race relations in Australia at the NFSA

Vietnam War classic The Odd Angry Shot digitally restored for Canberra premiere

Countdown to Sounds of Australia; nominate your favourites today!

Fellowship to support preservation of audiovisual Indigenous heritage

The regulatory environment requires that organizations should not only provide supplier information, but also fully understand it

With the increase of decentralized workplaces and remote and hybrid work models, SaaS has overtaken on-premises apps and become critical to any company's success

Using P2P automation solutions, organizations can maximize the productivity of the whole procurement team and streamline the whole process in the most effective way.

Organizations cannot continue to digitally hoard knowledge. Investments in knowledge technology have to pay and provide an ROI. It all starts by making different decisions.

By enabling greater productivity and accelerated software development timelines, no code/low code is on the rise.

The need for comprehensive data management will always be important, and there are many other benefits of digital transformation, but CIOs don't need to delay GenAI projects until the completion of a giant data centralization effort. By adopting a more flexible approach that incorporates GenAI and next-generation BI tools, businesses can navigate the complexities of modern data ecosystems while driving innovation and maintaining a competitive edge in an AI-driven world.

The acquisition enables SMG to offer clients a single source for the best of CX and BX management

Together, they empower organizations to unlock the full potential of their data and teams

This innovative offering sets a new standard for secure digital storing, document preservation, and evidence archiving and management

Ahead of the KMWorld 2024 conference in Washington DC, Ville Somppi, senior vice president, industry solutions, M-Files, and Gabriel Karawani, co-founder, Atlas by ClearPeople, joined KMWorld's special TechTalk: Top Trends to Catch at KMWorld 2024

Tennr, the company automating the messy, manual work holding healthcare organizations back, is announcing the completion of a Series B funding round?led by Lightspeed Ventures with participation from existing investors a16z and Foundation Capital?having raised $37 million. Bringing Tennr's total capital raised to over $61 million, the latest funding will continue to support the company's technological breakthroughs in document automation for the healthcare industry.

The investment in Reality Defender demonstrates Accenture's strong commitment to helping clients confidently navigate the genAI driven threat landscape, mitigate financial fraud, and maintain the integrity of their digital communications