While tariffs create a clear incentive to bring manufacturing back to the U.S., this is far from an easy task. Building up the kind of manufacturing capacity the U.S. once had will take decades, as it did in China. This week, we’ll examine why it is so difficult to reverse a trend that dates back to the breakup of RCA in the 1940s — marking manufacturing as a low government priority — an issue that can’t be fixed in a few years. We’ll close with my Product of the Week, a hydrogen-powered horse robot (in prototype form) from Kawasaki named Corleo that should be far better than a motorcycle if it makes it to market. Reshoring US Manufacturing Is Difficult The call to “bring manufacturing back” resonates deeply in the American psyche, fueled by nostalgia for a perceived golden era, concerns about national security, and anxieties over global supply chain vulnerabilities. Electronics manufacturing, which encompasses everything from intricate semiconductors to consumer gadgets, is at the heart of this discussion. Yet, despite the political rhetoric and popular support, reshoring complex electronics manufacturing to the U.S. borders on impossible in the near term. The reasons are multifaceted and deeply entrenched, stemming from decades of global economic shifts, strategic investments by competitors, and fundamental differences in infrastructure, workforce, and policy environments. Why China Still Leads Electronics Manufacturing China methodically built itself into the world’s workshop for decades, particularly for electronics. This dominance wasn’t accidental; it resulted from strategic planning and the cultivation of several key advantages that the U.S. currently cannot match. Labor Dynamics and Scale While often cited, the simple “cheap labor” argument is now oversimplified, though it was the initial catalyst. Chinese labor costs have risen significantly. However, the sheer scale of the available workforce, coupled with decades of experience, specifically in electronics assembly and production processes, creates efficiency and flexibility that is difficult to replicate. More importantly, this vast labor pool allowed for the creation of manufacturing ecosystems on a scale unseen elsewhere. Foxconn City in Shenzhen, employing hundreds of thousands of workers in a single integrated campus, exemplifies this scale. It’s a model with no parallel in the U.S. Even as automation increases, the existing skilled and semi-skilled labor base provides a foundation and adaptability critical for the rapid product cycles common in electronics. Purpose-Built Infrastructure China didn’t just attract factories; it built the entire logistical ecosystem to support them. This infrastructure includes massive, modern ports optimized for container shipping, extensive high-speed rail networks for domestic component transport, dedicated manufacturing zones with reliable utilities, and dense clusters of suppliers. Component manufacturers, mold makers, testing facilities, and assembly plants often exist in close geographic proximity, enabling rapid iteration, troubleshooting, and production scaling — a robust supply chain ecosystem. While extensive, the U.S. infrastructure is geared mainly toward consumer logistics and lacks the hyper-specialized, manufacturing-centric density found in regions like the Pearl River Delta or the Yangtze River Delta. Recreating such an integrated infrastructure in the U.S. would require decades and astronomical investment. Robotics and Automation Adoption Counterintuitively, China is also a leader in manufacturing automation. Facing rising labor costs and striving for higher precision, Chinese manufacturers, often aided by government initiatives, have invested heavily in robotics and advanced manufacturing technologies, rapidly increasing their robot density. They possess the scale for manual assembly when needed and increasingly sophisticated automated lines for high-volume, high-precision tasks. This combination of flexible manual labor capacity and advanced high-precision automation enables Chinese firms to stay competitive across a wide range of manufacturing complexities. While the U.S. has advanced automation capabilities, the scale of deployment within integrated electronics ecosystems lags behind China. Aggressive Government Financial Support The Chinese government has treated the development of its manufacturing sector, especially in strategic areas like electronics, as a national priority. To support this goal, it has provided massive, sustained financial support through various mechanisms: direct subsidies to manufacturers, low-interest loans from state-owned banks, tax incentives, government funding for research and development, land grants, and, sometimes, less tangible benefits like expedited regulatory approvals. This coordinated, long-term state backing created an environment where companies could invest heavily in capacity and technology with reduced financial risk, fostering the sector’s rapid growth. Organizations like the IMF have analyzed this approach as having significant trade implications. Decades-Long Hollowing Out of U.S. Manufacturing The rise of China’s manufacturing prowess coincided with a decades-long decline in U.S. manufacturing capacity, particularly in electronics assembly and component production — excluding some high-end areas like advanced semiconductor design. This wasn’t a sudden collapse but a slow bleed driven by corporations seeking lower production costs and focusing on design, marketing, and software — the higher-margin ends of the value chain. The consequences are profound. Factories closed, equipment was sold off or scrapped, and crucially, entire generations of skilled manufacturing workers retired or moved into other sectors. The intricate networks of specialized suppliers that support complex manufacturing dwindled. Institutional knowledge — the practical expertise in running complex production lines, managing supply chains, and training technicians eroded. Rebuilding this isn’t just about constructing buildings; it’s about resurrecting an entire industrial ecosystem, complete with its human capital and specialized knowledge base. As analysis suggests, millions of jobs were lost over decades. If it took decades to dismantle, it stands to reason that it will take decades to rebuild, assuming the will and resources are consistently available. Immense Hurdles of Rebuilding: Time, Investment, and Policy Even if the U.S. were to embark on a serious reshoring effort, the practical challenges are staggering. Building Takes Time Constructing a large-scale, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, like a modern semiconductor fabrication plant (fab), is a multi-year endeavor. It involves site selection, complex permitting processes (environmental, zoning), massive construction, installation of highly specialized equipment, and rigorous calibration and testing. A single fab can take three to five years or more, from groundbreaking to full production, costing upwards of $15-$20 billion, assuming no significant delays. To make a dent in reshoring electronics, the U.S. would need not just one but dozens of such large facilities, plus countless smaller suppliers — a monumental undertaking spanning decades. Need for Long-Term, Unshakeable Incentives Building these facilities requires colossal capital investment. Companies undertaking such investments need certainty regarding the long-term economic environment to ensure a return on investment. Incentives like tax breaks or tariff relief are often discussed. However, U.S. policy, particularly regarding trade and tariffs, has proven highly volatile, creating uncertainty that disrupts predictability and discourages investment. Tariffs implemented by one administration can be altered or removed by the next or even adjusted month-to-month based on geopolitical shifts or trade negotiations. For a factory with a 10–20-year payback period, the risk that crucial incentives could disappear within a single presidential term is a major deterrent. Investors require policy stability that extends far beyond typical election cycles — something historically difficult to guarantee in the U.S. system. Without credible, long-term, and perhaps even legislatively locked-in incentives, the financial risks of massive reshoring investments are often too high for private companies to bear alone. US Lacks Skilled Labor for Electronics Work Beyond physical infrastructure and policy, there’s the human element. Skills Gap Decades of de-emphasis on manufacturing have led to a significant mismatch between the skills needed for advanced electronics manufacturing and those prevalent in the U.S. workforce. Modern electronics production requires highly skilled technicians proficient in robotics, process control, cleanroom protocols, quality assurance, specialized equipment maintenance, and engineers with deep expertise in manufacturing processes. While the U.S. excels in design and engineering, the pipeline for skilled manufacturing technicians and engineers has shrunk considerably. In contrast, China produces vastly more engineers and technicians annually, many specifically trained for manufacturing roles, although challenges remain in aligning skills with industry needs globally. Rebuilding America’s vocational and technical training systems to meet this demand will require long-term investment and a shift in educational and cultural priorities. Workforce Discrepancy There’s a stark contrast between public sentiment and individual career choices. Surveys consistently show overwhelming public support (around 80%) for bringing manufacturing back to the U.S., a sentiment that holds across party lines and contexts. Yet only 20%–25% say they would consider working in a factory. This disconnect reflects changing career aspirations, perceptions (sometimes outdated, though improving according to some studies) of factory work as monotonous or physically demanding, and the availability of jobs in the service, tech, and gig economies. Even with training programs and improving perceptions, attracting and retaining a sufficient number of workers willing to take on demanding manufacturing roles, potentially at wages that must still compete globally (even with automation), presents a significant social and economic challenge. Catching Up: The Price Tag of Reshoring China’s manufacturing dominance was built on decades of massive, state-directed investment, which created systemic advantages and sometimes led to global overcapacity issues. For the U.S. to catch up, particularly in a mature industry where China already has established economies of scale and integrated ecosystems, the required investment would likely need to be even larger and more sustained. Closing that gap isn’t just about subsidizing factory construction. While initiatives like the CHIPS Act represent important progress, they address only a portion of the broader manufacturing ecosystem. Achieving true competitiveness would require coordinated public and private investment in workforce development, infrastructure, supply chains, and advanced manufacturing capabilities. Sustaining such an effort over decades would demand a level of political consensus and fiscal commitment that is historically difficult to maintain in the U.S. Wrapping Up The desire to reshore electronics manufacturing is understandable and driven by legitimate economic and security concerns. However, the practical realities paint a picture of immense difficulty, particularly in the near term. China’s entrenched advantages in scale, infrastructure, government support, and, increasingly, automation create a formidable barrier. Decades of U.S. manufacturing decline have left deep gaps in physical capacity, supply chains, and skilled human capital. Rebuilding requires not only time — years to build individual plants and decades to reconstruct ecosystems and workforces — but also unprecedented levels of sustained investment and, critically, long-term policy stability that is antithetical to recent U.S. political history. While targeted investments in strategic niches like advanced semiconductors are possible and underway, the wholesale return of the broad electronics manufacturing ecosystem seen in Asia remains, for the foreseeable future, an aspiration facing near-insurmountable obstacles. It’s a multi-decade marathon requiring unwavering national commitment, not a sprint that can be won with short-term policies or wishful thinking. Corleo: Kawasaki’s Hydrogen-Powered Horse Robot Imagine a future where transportation isn’t limited to wheels or wings, but steps confidently over rough terrain. Kawasaki is bringing that vision closer with “Corleo,” a fascinating hydrogen-powered, rideable quadruped robot — essentially, a robotic horse unveiled for Expo 2025 Osaka. This isn’t just science fiction — it’s a glimpse into practical future applications, as seen in Kawasaki’s concept video: Why a robot horse? Think about the advantages. Real horses are incredibly sure-footed and capable of navigating landscapes that would stop most motorcycles or ATVs cold. However, they require significant upkeep — feeding, stabling, and veterinary care — while motorcycles lack that all-terrain agility. Corleo aims for the best of both worlds: the potential sure-footedness of a quadruped — similar to advancements seen in other four-legged robots — combined with the lower maintenance of a machine powered cleanly by a 150cc hydrogen engine that generates electricity for its legs. The potential applications are exciting. Corleo could be invaluable for remote rescue operations. Picture sending a team of these into disaster areas or rugged wilderness where vehicles can’t reach. If developed with autonomous capabilities, Corleo could even venture into dangerous zones alone to locate and extract individuals, minimizing risk to human rescuers. Future Possibilities for Kawasaki’s Robot Horse Beyond rescue, imagine other uses: military transport in challenging environments (effectively bringing back the cavalry, but robotic!), unique, eco-friendly tour vehicles offering silent traversal through nature parks, or even as a fascinating, low-maintenance alternative for someone wanting an exotic pet without the biological demands. What could Corleo evolve into? Perhaps faster, more agile versions, integrated with advanced AI for complex tasks or specialized models for specific industries. It represents a stepping stone toward more versatile and adaptable robotic mobility, though the current capabilities are limited compared to the concept vision. Honestly, forget the sports car — a hydrogen-powered robot horse that can traverse mountains? Now that would make an incredible birthday gift for someone adventurous (hint: my birthday is coming up). Kawasaki’s Corleo isn’t just a robot; it’s a four-legged stride into the future — and my Product of the Week.

You won’t forget to grab this charger on your way out the door—seven LED glow options make sure you can’t miss it. With this deal, get a two-pack of these gorgeous, fast-charging/transferring, six-foot GloBright cords for just $24.99 (reg. $35.98). Practical and prettiful  There’s no reason tech has to come in just dull black or white. Up the vibe of your most utilitarian tool (your charger) when you grab these colorful Statik cords. Check out the seven different RGB colors of the LED lights that will light up any space in a cheerful, bright way. Live life wirelessly even when you’re plugged in, thanks to the 6-foot length. Easily reach the cord to an outlet while scrolling before bed, charging up in the car, or plugging into tech at the office. Durably designed Here’s the tech deets: These 100W cables can charge MacBooks, iPads, iPhones, and Android phones, supporting fast charging for enabled devices. They’re constructed with an exterior braided LED casing on a braided copper cable and zinc alloy housing for a durable build tested to withstand 30,000 bends. Data transfer speeds down the line at 480mb/s, so you can seamlessly access your tunes with Apple CarPlay or transfer important files between laptops. Use the included cable wrap to wind and carefully protect your charge cords from tangling. Stock up on extra chargers that are too bright to ever lose when you grab a two-pack of GloBright 100W USB-C cables for just $24.99. StackSocial prices subject to change. GloBright® 100W Fast Charge USB-C Braided LED Cables – $24.99 See Deal

Skip to content News Climate Hidden Antarctic lakes could supercharge sea level rise Subglacial water may boost sea levels by over 2 meters by 2300 The Antarctic Ice Sheet holds around 90 percent of all ice on Earth. But human-caused climate change is driving it to shed an average of 150 billion metric tons of ice each year, raising sea levels around the world. Mario Tama/Getty Images By Nikk Ogasa 43 seconds ago Beneath the great, white expanse of the Antarctic Ice Sheet, a mysterious realm of streams and lakes lies out of sight. Much about this hidden water world remains poorly understood. But a new study suggests that if scientists continue to overlook it, they might greatly underestimate global sea level rise. Factoring this subglacial water into computer simulations could boost projections of sea level rise over the next two centuries by about two meters, researchers report April 7 in Nature Communications. For context, scientists estimate that climate warming has raised sea levels by about 0.2 meters over the last century. Sign up for our newsletter We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.

Nature, Published online: 16 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01003-4Country doubles down on climate pledges in the wake of devastating floods.

A new technique improves the reliability of cat qubits by squeezing their probabilistic states. This could improve their reliability and lifetime, and pave the way for accurate quantum computing.

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3D Artist Tasuku Nakagawa showed this 3D visualization of fried food with realistic texturing, created with Blender.See more: https://80.lv/articles/fried-food-with-realistic-texturing-visualized-with-blender/

Photo Credit: Motorola Motorola Edge 50 (pictured) has a Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 AE SoC Highlights Motorola Edge 60 may pack a 5,200mAh battery with 68W charging support The handset will likely ship with Android 15-based Hello UI The Motorola Edge 60 could get a 50-megapixel selfie shooter Advertisement Motorola recently launched the Edge 60 Stylus and the Edge 60 Fusion handsets in India. The company is expected to introduce the base Motorola Edge 60 variant soon. The expected design and key features of the purported smartphone have surfaced online via leaks and reports. The moniker of the standard Motorola Edge 60 phone has now been confirmed via a certification site alongside the Motorola Edge 60s name. The company has yet to announce the launch date of either handset.Motorola Edge 60, Edge 60s Monikers Spotted on HDR10+ SiteThe monikers Motorola Edge 60 and Motorola Edge 60s are listed on the HDR10+ certification site. The listing suggests that the vanilla Motorola Edge 60 will likely launch in India alongside other global markets. The Motorola Edge 60s, on the other hand, may only see a China launch. The listing does not reveal any other details about the anticipated handsets. An older leak suggested that the Motorola Edge 60 may come with a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 SoC, paired with up to 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage. It may ship with Android 15-based Hello UI. It is expected to pack a 5,200mAh battery and come with a 68W charger in the box.For optics, the Motorola Edge 50 successor could carry a 50-megapixel Sony Lytia 700C main rear sensor and a 50-megapixel selfie shooter. The handset is tipped to get a MIL-STD 810H military-grade durability certification. It may sport a 6.7-inch 1.5K (2,712x1,220 pixels) curved pOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. Notably, Motorola will host a launch event on April 24. The company is expected to introduce the Motorola Edge 60 Pro and Razr 60 Ultra handsets. Instead of the Pro variant, the vanilla Motorola Edge 60 model could be launched on the same day as well. The Motorola Razr 60 Ultra moniker appears on the HDR10+ site as well.  KEY SPECSNEWSDisplay 6.67-inchProcessor Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 AEFront Camera 32-megapixel Rear Camera 50-megapixel + 13-megapixel + 10-megapixel RAM 8GBStorage 256GBBattery Capacity 5000mAhOS Android 14Resolution 1220x2712 pixels For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube. Further reading: Motorola Edge 60, Motorola Edge 60s, Motorola Edge 60 Features, Motorola Edge 60 Series, Motorola Sucharita Ganguly Sucharita is a writer with Gadgets 360 and is mostly found playing with her cat in her free time. She has previously worked at breaking news desks across organizations. Powered by coffee, The Beatles, Bowie, and her newfound love for BTS, she aims to work towards contributing to a better media environment for women and queer folk. More Related Stories

AI Agents for Beginners in 2025 — Start Learning Without Coding or a Tech Degree3 min read·Just now--🔥 Why AI Agents Are a BIGGER Boat Than Any Tech Wave BeforeRemember when the internet “became a thing”? Remember when mobile apps exploded? You missed those waves, right? Well, let me tell you straight:THIS BOAT IS BIGGER.And if you’re reading this right now? You’re early. Like “front-row seat at the gold rush” early. Let’s dive into the most common questions I’ve received and build your roadmap from total beginner to confident AI Agent builder.Photo by Gabriele Malaspina on Unsplash🤖 Top Questions from Beginners — Answered with No BSQ: Am I too late already?A: Heck no. You’re right on time. Call yourself an early adopter and wear that badge with pride.Q: Do I need a degree or tech background?A: Absolutely not. If you’ve got a Computer Science degree — great, that helps. But it’s not required. You just need a willingness to learn.Q: Where do I even start? This is all so confusing.A: Right here, my friend. And I totally get the confusion. It’s like trying to drink from a firehose at first. But I’ll guide you through it.Q: I can’t code. Like, not even a little. Can I still do this?A: YES. You can start with no-code platforms like n8n, which allows you to build workflows and agents visually. That said, learning a bit of Python will help a ton.Q: I’ve got no money. Is this even accessible to me?A: YES again. Many free resources exist. You don’t need a huge budget to get started. You just need motivation and an internet connection.📍 Your AI Agent Beginner Roadmap (Worth Its Weight in Gold)Let’s break this down so you don’t end up endlessly watching YouTube tutorials at 2 a.m. feeling overwhelmed.✅ Step 1: Learn the FundamentalsBefore building, understand the basics:What are LLMs?What’s a system prompt?What’s long-term memory in AI?What is Python?And seriously… who the heck is JSON?Start Here:“I want to learn about AI agents with the fundamentals to AI tech. Write me a short course on JSON for beginners with code samples, explained like I’m 10.” Open ChatGPT and type this: 👉 Pro Tip: Use ChatGPT to build your own mini-courses for free. It’s an underrated goldmine.✅ Step 2: Pick a Learning PathYou’ve got two options:a) Learn more deeply: Take structured, short courses like:DeepLearning.AI — AI Agent coursesHugging Face — Free agent tutorialsb) Jump in and start building: Try no-code tools like n8n. It’s a drag-and-drop tool to build agents and workflows. You can even deploy your projects in the cloud.💥 Yes, some devs will roll their eyes. But hey, learning is learning. And you’re building actual stuff — not just theory.✅ Step 3: Keep Building ProjectsHonestly, that’s the real secret sauce. Just build.Try automation projects.Make an AI assistant for your calendar.Build a chatbot that answers FAQs.Deploy a small agent that summarizes your emails.The more you build, the more you’ll learn. Even experienced engineers only scratch the surface of what’s possible.🚀 Final Words: You’ve Got This.Let me be crystal clear:YOU CAN DO THIS.It doesn’t matter if:You never went to collegeEnglish isn’t your first languageYou don’t know what a “terminal” isYou think JSON is a guy on TikTokAll you need is a computer, a bit of motivation, and a willingness to experiment. You are not late. You’re not behind. You’re actually ahead of the curve.This is the new internet gold rush, and you’re in the front seat.You don’t need a degree, money, or coding experience to start learning AI agents in 2025. Use free tools like ChatGPT, learn the basics (Python, JSON, LLMs), build with platforms like n8n, and most importantly — keep building. You’re early. You’re capable. You’ve got this.

With Star Wars Zero Company, developers Bit Reactor and Remedy Entertainment have said that they want to recapture the wartime feeling of the Star Wars universe that we have previously seen in Star Wars spin-off projects and side stories like the movie Rogue One and the Clone Wars animated series. In an interview with GameSpot, creative director Greg Foertsch spoke about zooming in on some of the grittier aspects of the setting. Bringing up The Clone Wars in particular, Foertsch spoke about how we got to see a war in Star Wars from a different perspective than what we usually get. While it had all of the Star Wars trappings one would expect, The Clone Wars also had an emphasis on regular soldiers at times, using the focus to tell new and interesting stories. “The Clone Wars offers us a lot of the tools we need mechanically for the game, which is great,” explained Foertsch. “But it’s also interesting, we haven’t seen that kind of zoom level in the Clone Wars, and so it’s a pretty unique spot to land that also offered a lot of great options for us from a game design perspective, to tell a really great story with some great mechanics added to it. That really opened the door for us to do a lot of things.” Creative executive Kelsey Sharpe also spoke about how the nature of the story in Clone Wars allowed the show to explore optimistic themes while sticking to its grounded atmosphere. Rogue One was also brought up in that regard, owing to its gritty atmosphere revolving around a small group of non-Jedi characters on a pivotal mission. “Even if you have a more grounded tone and you’re getting into the shades of gray of the Clone Wars era, there’s always hope,” said Sharpe. “There’s always the bonds between your allies, there’s always the mythmaking. And that’s what Star Wars is. That’s how we keep things feeling consistent across all the stories we tell.” Star Wars Zero Company was officially confirmed earlier this month. The game got a full reveal during the recent Star Wars Celebration event, where it was also announced that the game would be coming to PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S some time in 2026. The title also got a trailer that showcased its themes and a bit of gameplay. In Star Wars Zero Company, players take on the leadership of the titular Zero Company as they take on missions during the twilight of the Clone Wars. The title will feature turn-based tactical gameplay like we’ve previously seen in games like XCOM 2. During the course of a mission, players will be able to order their soldiers to take cover, setup Overwath, and even use tools like grenades to change the tides of battle. Bit Reactor and Respawn have also confirmed that Star Wars Zero Company will offer plenty of chances for players to customise their squads in various ways. Players will also be able to check out their crew as they hang out in The Den, where more soldiers can be recruited to fill out the ranks.