The company is trying to recover the lost funds, but it may be out of luck.

Clearly, automation will affect labor in 2025. But we maintain that when implemented well, automation elevates our employees and empowers our American workers to make U.S. businesses more competitive on the global stage.This is our why. Now Chang Robotics president, Kate McAfoose, will address the how. These are remarks she shared at a recent Delaware Valley Goods Movement Task Force quarterly meeting panel.New automation brings new challengesYes, new challenges emerge with increased automation and digitalization. As an engineering firm, our company is coming from an engineering culture into companies ranging from manufacturing to warehousing, transportation, e-commerce, healthcare, and government spaces. Many are Fortune 500; some are smaller, but the challenges they face are the same:They want to maintain staffing from within their regions, but they must be sure theyre meeting quality requirements and regulatory benchmarks.They want to build a resilient supply chain within the U.S.So how do they transition manual workers to jobs informed by digital technologies?Smart technologies and asking the right questionsAs part of our robotic solutions, we integrate smart sensors, internet of technology (IoT) platforms, data collection, and analysis. We also provide C-suites with a dashboard to track key metrics, and identify areas where performance may be lacking. The dashboard answers questions such as Are we maintaining uptime? Are we meeting production requirements? Are the quality measurements in line?Perhaps the client needs to improve operational efficiency to maintain profitability. In healthcare, nursing staff may be burned out due to a shortage, leading to physical exhaustion or extended shifts. Or a government facility might be readyor requiredto transition to autonomous shuttles.In all cases, the process involves finding the repetitive tasks that are not necessarily high skilled, then finding ways to automate those functions. Now the challenge is to upskill the staff and operators to new trades as were implementing the systems.Training the trainers is keyOur company has a philosophy called train the trainer. As we implement new technology, we walk side by side with the operators for roughly 3-6 months. We make sure they understand and can operate the system; then we help them champion the system. In addition to the new level of employment, they earn the metaphorical badge of honor for having learned a new trade.We focus on empowering employees who can go home and say, My job is cool. I get to work with robots. Its not a situation of humans being replaced by robots, but in positioning them with collaborative robots that can drive efficiency and quality but cannot function without human interaction. If we implement the change in this way, everyone wins.A new world, with room for manyHow many people go through high school thinking, I want to specialize in goods movement or I want to work in automated transport? This is not a career path people have considered as a cool future role. But as these functions become better understood, the respect for their power will grow.There will still be a range of skilled and lower-skilled positions in the automated workforce. More positions will naturally focus on the maintenance and planning of the automated facilities. People will be required to perform maintenance and testing functions and to plan and maintain the spare parts inventory. These roles are vital to the operations success and will naturally gain a much bigger seat at the organizational table.Automation also applies to quality control. For example, if youre automating plasticware production, the utensils must come off the line cleanly, with no excess edges. The moment one piece fails to meet quality standards, it can cause a backup in the entire line, leading to a shutdown and requiring manual labor to resolve the issue. If youre operating with a smaller staff, youll need to pull workers from other areas, further slowing down production. Everyone involved will continually learn and adapt.Jobs remain, but skillsets are shiftingIts critical to avoid the assumption that automation leads to job reduction. Its a drive for as much production and quality enhancement as possible, but it will require a specialized team to achieve. Ideally, its the same team you already have, but differently trained.Traditionally, manual warehouse labor roles have very high turnover. After 6 months, many workers feel the job is repetitive and unappealing, or they leave to avoid night shifts or seek higher pay elsewhere. When this happens, the training investment is lost, and the next employee must be trained. However, when automation is implemented effectively, the need for manual labor decreases. Ideally, this reduction can occur through natural attritionwhen an employee moves on rather than advancing, the company may not need to hire a replacement.Automation can streamline roles that involve heavy lifting, high workplace injury risk, and increased burnout or boredom. People will leave less often. Effective automation can reward companies and workers in new ways.Technology for a bright futureWhat does this mean for our childrens future? Kate has a child in kindergarten right now. I have no idea what she will do. Maybe shell pursue data science or data analysis, but the truth is, the roles of the future most likely dont even exist yet. But they will be necessary. And so will she.We will continually need to strive for the right decisions and balance, with a focus on innovation and action. This is how the next generation of companiesand employeescan continue to win.Matthew Chang is founder and Kate McAfoose is president of Chang Robotics.

The Fast Company Impact Council is a private membership community of influential leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual membership dues for access to peer learning and thought leadership opportunities, events and more.Sterile, isolating, and stressful: Todays hospitals can kindle deep discomfort. Because they must be designed adequately for everyone, theyre designed perfectly for no one. So, what would our healthcare experience look like if physical hospitals were to disappear altogether?Artificial intelligence that is generative, predictive, and integrated, combined with the power of edge computing in every background device, will transform our very notion of hospitals. Healthcare will become a lifestyle so seamlessly woven into our daily experience that it will be invisible.Why is this the future of healthcare? The trends are already apparent:Evolving economics: As baby boomers transition to Medicare, millennials, Gen X and Gen Z are emerging as the primary healthcare consumers. These groups place an emphasis on convenience and personalization, and this social shift is influencing how we access care.Modern living: Biometric data collection is being increasingly integrated into our homes and daily routines, and predictive AI is streamlining diagnostics and preventing diseases.Converging technologies: Healthcare delivery has traditionally required specialized devices for every test and procedure, but the limitations of cost and size are fading. Advances in computation will converge functionalities, revolutionizing the patient experience in the process.Strategies for successIn light of these trends, my firm has recently explored strategies for success in a changing healthcare landscape. They reflect our belief in a gradual transition toward decentralized healthcare and the integration of AI technology, celebrating our gradual societal progression towards an improved future, rather than a utopia that appears overnight. Here are some of these strategies.Lean into wearable technology. Soon, health data will be paired with pattern-recognition AI to identify and predict all risk factors for disease. This is a future inflection point where almost all healthcare becomes preventative medicine. For example, instead of learning about our heart disease after a cardiac event, AI will accurately warn us of our impending heart attack decades before it happens.Treat mental health as a community endeavor. The human body emits numerous indicators of psychological stress: elevated heart rate, tense muscles, and insomniawhich can be read by advanced biometric devices like an open book to our minds. Combined with large language model and diffusion model AI, a radical change in behavioral health could be at our fingertips. With AI-driven behavioral medicine available anywhere, anytime, communities could invest in public infrastructurelike augmenting parks to combine mental health with public green spaceto increase accessibility and fight social stigma.Repurpose obsolete infrastructure: By 2051, gas stations may be obsolete, and diagnostic equipment that is expensive today will be cheaper, smaller, and more powerful. Repurposing existing gas stationsand other outdated infrastructureinto neighborhood health stations could efficiently disperse essential health services throughout communities.Create personalized care environments: Unbound by location, cost and data availability, we can enjoy more personalized healthcare. For example, combining a labor and delivery room with augmented reality will make birth more comfortable by bridging the personal environment of a home birth with the medical sophistication of a specialty clinic. Floor-to-ceiling digital screens that respond to cortisol levels to create a calming atmosphere while displaying critical health information would have positive health impacts and improve patient satisfaction.Integrate diagnostic screening into the home: Households will become data collection centers and bathrooms can become labs of the future by integrating AI into existing buildings. For example, imagine household appliances that track the type of food you keep on hand as a marker of your overall health or screen your biowaste for signs of sickness in real time. Your own digital health avatar will be updated every time you cook a meal or brush your teeth.Today, a visit to the hospital entails finding a place to park in a busy lot, picking the right door to enter, and winding your way through confusing corridors past services you dont need, and ride elevators with people who cough without covering their mouths. Designers and architects have an opportunity to design a better way of doing things.Its a safe bet the future of healthcare will be a messy evolution of technology, culture, and economy. Markets are demanding more personalized on-demand service, technology is getting smaller and cheaper every day, and AI continues to advance. As designers, we believe this leaves us free to envision healthcare first and foremost as experiences rather than buildings or places. By embracing solutions that are opportunistic and incremental, we can create a future where healthcare is invisible and omnipresent. As we move into a future where technology will diminish the constraining power of location, cost and data, designers must resolve to increase our commitment to human flourishing. We must work together to deliver healthcare that delights.Mike Sewell isdirector of innovation at Gresham Smith.

Weve come across many impressive speedboats, watercrafts, and yachts with each one of them exuding luxury and being highly functional. Lexus LY 680, Platypus Craft and Mayla Yacht being a few that we loved. Now another one joins the list, and it is all real. The Vedanta Speedboat, conceived by Alexis Dornier in collaboration with Tresno Seery of Outborn Watercraft, offers a balanced fusion of naval engineering and 1960s American muscle car aesthetics.At 12 meters in length, this sleek vessel is designed for Indonesian waters, showcasing a distinctive combination of bold, angular lines and refined materials that reflect the timeless appeal of vintage muscle cars. Dorniers innovative approach blends the functionality of modern boating with the powerful design influences of the automotive world, creating a visually striking yet highly functional watercraft.Designer: Vedanta BoatThe exterior of the Vedanta Speedboat is defined by its elongated, navy-green hull, a nod to the dynamic shapes of muscle cars, with a modern twist. Its sharp contours and inflatable elements are balanced to enhance both aesthetics and practical performance. The design borrows the robust spirit of vintage automobiles, emphasizing sharp, aerodynamic edges that not only serve a visual purpose but also enhance the boats ability to cut through water with remarkable efficiency. Its a sophisticated merging of engineering and artistic vision that sets the boat apart in the world of luxury vessels.Inside, the boat is as meticulously crafted as its exterior. The interior design takes cues from muscle car seating with modernized bucket seats designed for comfort and shock absorption, allowing passengers to enjoy smooth rides, even in rough waters. The boat can comfortably seat up to 12 passengers, making it an ideal choice for group excursions. A 1,300-liter fuel tank ensures that the boat can travel long distances at high speeds of up to 42 knots, allowing for both leisurely cruises and thrilling rides, while the inclusion of air conditioning ensures that the passengers remain cool in the hot Indonesian climate.Beyond its performance and comfort, the Vedanta Speedboat also pays attention to smaller yet essential details. It features integrated night vision technology, enhancing the safety and navigability of the vessel in low-light conditions, a particularly useful feature for those traveling after dark. The interior is bathed in warm overhead lighting, and two mini-sunroofs allow for fresh air and natural light, offering a more open, airy atmosphere for the passengers. Practical features, such as a foldable table and steel containers integrated into the bench seating, increase convenience while maintaining a minimalistic aesthetic.Additionally, the boat includes a well-appointed sound system and a marine toilet, ensuring that passengers enjoy a comfortable and leisurely experience throughout their journey. With its functional yet stylish design, the Vedanta Speedboat is not just a mode of transport but a statement of modern luxury. Every detailfrom the choice of materials to the interior layouthas been thoughtfully considered to merge form and function, resulting in an exceptional boating experience.The post This 1960s muscle car-inspired speedboat has everything on-board for an exciting water adventure first appeared on Yanko Design.

Tinos is a mysterious and alluring island in the Cyclades and it serves as a haven for those yearning for a slower rhythm of life. On this lovely island land, sea, and wind unite to offer an experience that is both elemental and deeply resonant. The PNOS Tinos is nestled amid its rugged and rolling hills, and it perfectly captures the islands essence of slow living. It functions as more than just a simple getaway, and here meaningful experiences are more essential than luxury.As a part of Design Hotels, this serene retreat features a stylish trio of villas that showcase contemporary Cycladic architecturestrikingly modern yet harmoniously integrated with its surroundings. PNOS Tinos is just a ten-minute walk from the tamarisk-lined sandy shores of Agios Fokas beach and a short drive from the islands main town, Chora.Designer: Aristides DallasDesigned by Greek architect Aristides Dallas, PNOS is a testament to the elemental forces of earth, wind, and water, reflecting the dynamic influences that shape the island of Tinos. Dallas views architecture as frozen music, which, as Goethe suggested, comes alive through human interactiona philosophy beautifully displayed in the meticulously designed volumes of the retreat.The subterranean structures are carved into the landscape and bring to mind the image of traditional homes that offer a protective and cocooning embrace. Lightweight, elegant, and whitewashed cubic forms lie above these structures, and they create a dance of light and shadow, which pays tribute to the timeless architecture of the Cyclades. Water flows and moves between these elements, forming an ongoing and dynamic dialogue between nature and man-made.Each two-bedroom villa offers a self-contained sanctuary purposefully crafted to foster an effortless sense of well-being. The interiors are adorned in earth tones and characterized by their refined simplicity, enriched with tactile materials that invite tranquility and calm. Handmade soaps, organic cotton linens, and natural fiber mattresses have been added to offer a peaceful rest. The living spaces are designed to be open and airy, seamlessly extending to the outdoors where private pools and shaded terraces offer breathtaking views of the Aegean Sea.Gardens adorn the property, and they showcase a harmonious blend of permaculture and landscape designed by Richard Gerritsen. This designed wilderness serves as a surreal visual element, and as an interactive space where guests can engage with the fruit trees and herb gardens, or spend some time in the tea garden. They can also harvest fresh produce from meticulously maintained vegetable patches.PNOS perfectly captures the ethos of slow living. It doesnt disturb or impose on the natural landscape, but instead, it listens and belongs to the space. It is the ideal space to breathe, relax, and surrender to the natural beauty of Tinos. You can enjoy a quick nap by the pool, or enjoy a lovely glass of wine at sunset this space is designed to offer an experience that feels intimate, cozy, and infinite.The post Modern Cycladic Design Meets the Tranquility of Island Life In This Slow Living-Centric Retreat first appeared on Yanko Design.

US feds are reportedly investigating a $32 million deal inked by CrowdStrike with a government reseller to provide cybersecurity tools for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) products the agency never used and said it didnt even purchase.On the last day of Q3 2023, the security giant signed a contract with top government software reseller Carahsoft Technology Corp. for use of its identity threat detection software by the IRS, according to a Bloomberg report. The timing seems to be a critical component of the investigation, as the transaction was large enough for CrowdStrike to meet Wall Street expectations for the quarter.Given that IRS usage hasnt materialized, some, including, Bloomberg said, CrowdStrikes own employees, have raised concerns about pre-booking the inflation of sales figures to meet investor expectations.However, a CrowdStrike spokesperson told Computerworld: We stand by the accounting of the transaction. Carahsoft did not reply to Computerworlds requests for comment.IRS: We never purchased CrowdStrike softwareAccording to two people who spoke with Bloomberg on agreement of anonymity, investigators for the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have been conducting interviews with CrowdStrike and IRS staff and collecting records related to the deal, including written documents exchanged between IRS, CrowdStrike, and Carahsoft employees.Investigators are asking witnesses about any interactions between CrowdStrike sales staff and IRS employees, and have repeatedly queried whether the agency purchased CrowdStrike software, to which theyve repeatedly been told no, according to the anonymous sources.Previously, CrowdStrike and Carahsoft said they had settled on a non-cancellable order, but they havent said whether there was indeed a purchase order in place from the IRS.After the deal was finalized and CrowdStrike reported its third quarter results, company shares jumped 10%. CEO George Kurtz even seemed to call the deal out in the quarterly earnings call, saying that identity threat protection wins in the quarter included an eight-figure total deal value win in the federal government.However, several months later, CrowdStrike appeared to backtrack, excluding roughly $26 million from its annual recurring revenue, citing a federal distributors intent to exercise transferability rights.Carahsoft, for its part, has been under scrutiny for some time now. The FBI searched its Reston, Virginia headquarters last year in a matter related to another partner, and federal prosecutors are performing a separate civil investigation into whether the company conspired to overcharge the government.Pre-sales a leadership problemExperts and analysts say the CrowdStrike-Carahsoft narrative emphasizes the pressure placed on enterprise IT buyers and sellers to sign deals before end-of-quarter (EOQ).Quarter-end deal pressure is one of the most predictable yet high-stakes dynamics in enterprise IT negotiations, Adam Mansfield, commercial advisory practice leader with IT negotiation advisors UpperEdge, told Computerworld.Vendor sales reps push hard to lock in revenue, typically tied to new product adoption, upgrades, or expanded usage, before closing their books, he said, often dangling so-called once-in-a-lifetime aggressive discounting to secure commitments.Scott Bickley, advisory fellow at Info-Tech Research Group, agreed. Buyers have been conditioned by vendors who are publicly traded to strategically position deals at EOQ and preferably at the end of the vendors fiscal year, he said.But while urgency can create opportunity, it also carries significant risks, Mansfield pointed out. Committing to products and/or volumes that arent fully vetted, and misalignment of contract terms, can later cause financial damage, particularly when these new products come with non-cancelable subscriptions.The practice often creates more problems than it solves, agreed SaaS and service brand consultant Chad Perry. Deals get booked under false pretenses, contracts get renegotiated (or canceled) post-quarter, and the next thing you know, the company is explaining revenue recognition issues on an earnings call.While, at the end of the day, the blame may land in the sales department, pre-booking is never just a sales problem, he said. Its a leadership problem.Buyers opportunity in EOQ dealsFor buyers, EOQ deals can both exploit and be exploited, experts point out.In the case of IT buyers, understanding this pressure can actually be a strategic advantage, Perry noted. If you know the seller is under quarter-end stress, you have leverage, he said. You can negotiate better terms, push for extras, or even delay and see what they offer to close.Mansfield emphasized that the key for IT buyers is to seek out opportunity in vendor urgency, while at the same time maintaining control. This means ensuring pricing is truly competitive and securing proper concessions (such as protections). The worst-case scenario: Committing to costly products and fees only to see plans unravel due to business shifts, internal delays, lack of realized value, or vendor-side complications.Smart buyers use quarter-end pressure to their advantage, but never let it dictate the terms of their agreements, said Mansfield.

Now some hours after preorders for the iPhone 16e opened, every configuration remains in stock to deliver on February 28.Maybe Apple has made sufficient iPhone 16e models, since it isn't selling out as normalBack in September 2024, the iPhone 16 Pro Max was selling so well that within 18 minutes certain configurations were sold out. Apple will always make more, but the delivery date had immediately slipped back a week.That's common with Apple launches, so common that it's practically the norm for the MacBook Pro as well as the iPhone. It even happened with the costly Apple Vision Pro. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

There's been a lot of fear in the last few days that Apple left off MagSafe off the iPhone 16e because it somehow interfered with Apple's C1 cellular modem, but physics precluded that from the start. Here's how.Charging with MagSafeObviously, the iPhone 16e lacks MagSafe. There's been a lot said about it, and it's a problem for the device.Almost immediately, we heard whispers from case manufacturers that it may not have been cost-cutting, but instead was interfering with the C1 cellular radio. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Zaha Hadid Architects' new Capital International Exhibition & Convention Center (CIECC) in Beijing was inaugurated today, becoming the citys largest and most advanced venue of its kind.Image: Virgile Simon Bertrand/Zaha Hadid ArchitectsThe structure expands Beijings existing facility to over 6.5 million square feet with nine new exhibition halls, three new reception halls, a conference center for 9,000 delegates, and a hotel with 410 rooms.Image: Virgile Simon Bertrand/Zaha Hadid ArchitectsCIECC comes in response to the significant amount of growth Beijing has experienced in the service and digital technology industries. This expansion of the citys corporate sectors has increased demand for it to host conventions, international conferences, and industry expos.Image: Virgile Simon Bertrand/Zaha Hadid ArchitectsThe building is located in Beijings Shunyi District along the citys subway network and adjacent to Capital International Airport. The CIECCs central north-south axis se...

Following some apparent outages yesterday, Reddit is dealing with more issues Friday evening.Initially, when I logged in on my desktop browser, Reddit wouldnt load at all I would just run into error pages. In an incognito window, the site loaded, though it seemed to load slower than usual. I was also able to load the site on mobile Safari while logged out and after I logged in.Reddits status page said in a 7:58PM ET message that Were experiencing an elevated level of errors and are currently looking into the issue. In an 8:40PM ET message, Reddit said that The issue has been identified and a fix is being implemented.Downdetector shows a huge spike that, as I write this, topped out at around 80,000 outage reports. The spike started to go up shortly after 7:30PM ET, though as of shortly after 9PM ET, the volume of reports appears to have almost fully dropped. The company didnt immediately reply to a request for comment.Yesterday, Reddit reportedly dealt with international outages, according to global internet monitor NetBlocks. I personally didnt run into any issues during those outages.Update, February 21st: Reddit says its implementing a fix.