I just returned from SAP Sapphire 2025 in Orlando, and while SAP painted a compelling vision of an AI-powered future, I couldn’t help but think about the gap between their shiny new announcements and where most SAP customers actually are today. Let me cut through the marketing hype and give you the analyst perspective on what really matters. The Cloud Migration Elephant in the Room SAP’s biggest challenge isn’t building cool AI features – it’s that the vast majority of their customer base is still running on-premise ERP systems. While SAP was busy showcasing their AI Foundation and enhanced Joule capabilities, I kept thinking about the thousands of companies still on SAP ECC 6.0 or older versions, some of which haven’t been updated in years. Here’s the reality check: nearly every exciting AI announcement at Sapphire requires SAP’s cloud solutions. The AI Foundation? Cloud-based. Enhanced Joule with proactive capabilities? Needs cloud infrastructure. The new Business Data Cloud intelligence offerings? You guessed it – cloud only. For the average SAP shop running on-premise systems, these announcements might as well be science fiction. They’re dealing with basic integration challenges, struggling with outdated user interfaces, and fighting to get reliable reports out of their current systems. The idea of AI agents autonomously managing their supply chain seems laughably distant. AI: Useful Tool, Not Magic Wand Don’t get me wrong – the AI capabilities SAP demonstrated are genuinely impressive. The ability for Joule to anticipate user needs and provide contextual insights could indeed improve productivity. But let’s pump the brakes on SAP’s claim of “up to 30% productivity gains.” I’ve been analyzing enterprise software implementations for years, and productivity gains of that magnitude typically come from process improvements and workflow optimization, not just from adding AI on top of existing inefficiencies. If your procurement process is broken, an AI agent won’t fix it – it’ll just automate the broken process faster. The more realistic wins will come from: Reducing time spent searching for information across multiple systems Automating routine data analysis and report generation Providing better decision support through predictive analytics Streamlining repetitive tasks in finance, HR, and supply chain operations These are valuable improvements, but they’re evolutionary, not revolutionary. The Partnership Strategy: Hedging Their Bets SAP’s partnerships tell an interesting story. The Accenture ADVANCE program acknowledges that many mid-market companies need significant hand-holding to modernize their SAP environments. The Palantir integration suggests SAP recognizes they can’t be everything to everyone in the data analytics space. The Perplexity collaboration admits that their AI needs external data sources to be truly useful. These partnerships are smart business moves, but they also highlight SAP’s dependencies. If you’re planning an SAP transformation, you’re not just buying SAP – you’re buying into an ecosystem of partners and integrations that adds complexity and cost. What This Means for Your SAP Strategy If you’re currently running SAP on-premise, Sapphire 2025 should reinforce one key message: the innovation train is leaving the station, and it’s heading to the cloud. But before you panic about missing out on AI capabilities, consider these pragmatic steps: For On-Premise SAP Customers: Audit your current state first. Most companies I work with aren’t maximizing their existing SAP capabilities, let alone ready for AI enhancements. Plan your cloud migration timeline. SAP’s 2030 end-of-support deadline for older systems isn’t going away. Use that as your forcing function. Focus on data quality. AI is only as good as the data it works with. If your master data is a mess, AI won’t help. Start small with cloud integration. Consider hybrid approaches that connect your on-premise core with cloud-based analytics and AI tools. For Companies Already in SAP Cloud: Evaluate which AI features actually solve business problems you have today, not theoretical future use cases. Pilot before you scale. The productivity claims sound great, but test them in your environment with your data. Invest in change management. The biggest barrier to AI adoption isn’t technical – it’s getting people to change how they work. The Bottom Line: Evolution, Not Revolution SAP Sapphire 2025 showcased legitimate innovations that will improve how businesses operate, but let’s keep expectations realistic. The companies that will benefit most from these AI capabilities are those that have already modernized their SAP infrastructure and cleaned up their business processes. For the majority of SAP customers still on legacy systems, the real question isn’t whether AI will transform their business – it’s whether they can execute a successful modernization program that positions them to eventually take advantage of these capabilities. Your Next Steps Here’s what I recommend you do this week: Assess where you stand on your SAP modernization journey. Are you cloud-ready, or do you have years of technical debt to address first? Map your business cases for the AI capabilities that caught your attention. Can you quantify the value they’d deliver in your specific environment? Build a realistic roadmap that acknowledges both the exciting possibilities and the practical constraints of your current SAP landscape. Start the conversation with your leadership about long-term SAP strategy. The decisions you make in the next two years will determine whether you’re positioned to benefit from the AI revolution or left behind with legacy systems. The AI future SAP is promising will arrive eventually, but for most companies, the path there runs through cloud migration, data governance, and process optimization. Focus on building that foundation first, and the AI capabilities will follow when you’re actually ready to use them effectively.   The post SAP Sapphire 2025 appeared first on Gigaom. #sap #sapphire

SAP executives, led by CEO Christian Klein, told IT and business leaders attending this year’s SAP Sapphire event that by tapping into SAP’s “flywheel” combination of the broadest suite of enterprise apps, context-aware data, and world-class Business AI, they can conquer uncertainty. In a kickoff keynote at the Orlando event, they unveiled a raft of new AI tools, business apps, and partnerships designed to help customers overcome these challenges, transform their operations, and “bring out your best.” Uncertainty “All of us face one problem – every company, no matter which industry or geography. And that problem is uncertainty,” said Klein. “Uncertainty about trade disruption, about new regulatory requirements, and about how AI will transform my business and impact my workforce.” SAP can’t take away macroeconomic uncertainty, he said, “But you have my commitment that we will help your business become more resilient and more resilient – especially in times like these. We will help you bring out your best.” Flywheel effect SAP can do this by utilizing what Klein and other senior SAP executives called the “flywheel effect,” explaining that in physics this is about bringing individual elements together to create new energy. “The first element of the SAP flywheel is our applications,” Klein explained. “Not only do we have the broadest application portfolio in our industry, we also run the most-mission critical business processes end-to-end. No one understands business and industry like SAP does.” The second element of the flywheel is data. “The apps give us the richest treasure of mission-critical business data, and no other tech company has more access to semantically rich business data,” he said. This data then feeds into the third element of the flywheel: AI. Having access to an enormous amount of business data is key to developing extremely powerful Business AI. SAP Business Suite “Then we make the flywheel spin by infusing AI back into the apps, which run your company,” Klein said before introducing the first of several on-stage demos showing how a company can manage uncertainty like shifting tariffs with the power of SAP Business Suite and AI. Expanding the flywheel theme, Muhammad Alam, member of the Executive Board of SAP SE leading SAP Product and Engineering, noted that the demo highlighted how the flywheel of apps, data, and AI is critical to the company’s quest to reimagine business applications. To achieve this, a company needs an application suite that is end-to-end and seamlessly integrated; a data layer that provides a harmonized data model with high-quality data, strong governance and a rich semantical context; and AI that is built on high-quality data and natively available in the apps used every day. Alam noted that while the concept of the flywheel effect isn’t new and most company CIOs have been working hard to achieve it, they have been frustrated by the disparate and heterogeneous applications landscape often built up over time out of necessity. Fragile balance Most companies spend a significant amount of time and money integrating the apps they use together and extracting and bringing together disparate data sets. “In fact,” Alam said, “We estimate that organizations can spend up to 80 percent of their effort and budget in putting together this fragile balance of apps and data, leaving only 20 percent of your resources to focus on value creation.” While this fragile balance has existed for a while, he explained that it breaks down completely in the age of AI, because to create exponential value you need to have your data available with the end-to-end business process context. “Enabling this in a disparate, disconnected landscape is close to impossible,” he said. The only real solution is to move to a best of breed as a suite, or what SAP calls “suite-as-a- service,” Alam told the audience. “The new SaaS is what will allow you to take advantage of the flywheel effect.” “In the age of AI, true differentiation will lie in how you create value from this end-to-end context for your organization,” he said. “This can only happen when you simplify and innovate your core, and not add another layer of complexity to your landscape.” This is what the SAP Business Suite offers. SAP Business Data Cloud Klein and Alam also emphasized the importance of the launch of SAP Business Data Cloud in February and its positive reception from customers and partners. Klein described it as “the crystal ball we need in times of uncertainty, because it offers you the biggest semantical data layer in the industry harmonizing SAP and non-SAP data.” Klein also announced the expansion of business data analysis capabilities in SAP Business Data Cloud through a new partnership with Palantir, while Alam unveiled a new partnership with Adobe to develop an intelligent application on SAP Business Data Cloud that combines SAP Cloud ERP data with data in the Adobe Experience Platform. To enhance the power of the flywheel, Klein and Philipp Herzig, CTO and chief AI officer of SAP, also made a series of AI-related announcements. “At SAP, our goal is to make every end user 30 percent more productive,” said Klein. Joule To achieve this goal, SAP is enabling end users to use human language to interact with Joule, SAP’s generative AI copilot, as our new UX, he said. Joule will provide answers to any business questions they have, while in the backend, very smart Joule Agents will take over tasks from employees across end-to-end processes. “Today we are proud to announce that we are making Joule available to you everywhere and giving you answers on everything,” the SAP CEO said. By combining Joule with WalkMe, the adoption platform acquired by SAP last year, Joule becomes an omnipresent, always-on, proactive, and personalized AI assistant. “No matter in which app the end user is working, SAP or non-SAP, Joule will be everywhere,” Klein said. In addition to making Joule available everywhere, SAP is also enabling Joule to answer everything through a new partnership with Perplexity whose CEO, Aravind Srinivas, joined Klein onstage to demonstrate how Perplexity’s answer engine will integrate with SAP data to provide trusted answers to everyday business questions. Business AI During his keynote section, Herzig highlighted the progress made with SAP Business AI. “We committed that 80 percent of our most-used transactions would be managed via Joule, and we have delivered more than 1,600 skills supporting a wide range of tasks across HR, finance, supply chain, and more out-of-the-box,” he said. “We also introduced Joule for developers and Joule for consultants, helping tens of thousands of people every day to achieve more.” Herzig said SAP is on track to deliver more than 400 AI scenarios by the end of this year, and he is thrilled to see more than 34,000 customers are already using SAP Business AI every day to transform the way they work. For example, he shared that British Telecom is already saving 85 percent of the time it took to find the right skilled candidates for jobs with Joule, which is also helping employees to complete HR tasks in 40 percent less time. “Our AI strategy is super simple, it’s really about three things,” Herzig said. “Joule as the new UI in the age of AI, its Joule Agents to reimagine business processes and AI Foundation on SAP BTP, which is becoming the operating system for AI.” Joule Agents While Joule transforms the experience layer, Herzig said, Joule Agents are transforming the business process layer, “reimagining business processes from the ground up.” Instead of designing enterprise apps around the principle of “insight-to-action,” Joule Agents streamline decision-making through reasoning and action. “With this, we are making a paradigm shift in enterprise software, going really from insight to action to reason and action with AI,” Herzig said. “Joule Agents will take your business processes to a completely new level.” Soon, he said, companies will have a huge team of agents – Joule Agents, third-party agents, and custom agents built in Joule Studio – as part of their workforce. To control and govern these agents, Herzig announced the launch of AI agent hub in SAP LeanIX. “SAP LeanIX already knows your business processes and enterprise application landscape, so it was just a logical step to expand the methodology to Joule Agents too,” he said. Among other innovations, Herzig announced that SAP is introducing more than 60 new and updated capabilities into AI Foundation, including a prompt optimizer in AI Foundation developed in joint collaboration with Not Diamond, a frontier AI lab out of San Francisco. Prompt optimizerautomatically converts existing prompts to different models, and a futuristic new partnership with Neura Robotics and Nvidia is designed to blend digital and physical worlds and help empower humanoid robots to achieve business outcomes. SAP runs SAP Rounding out the kickoff keynote, Sebastian Steinhaeuser, chief operating officer and newest member of the Executive Board of SAP SE, explained how the company has achieved considerable gains by running its own operations on SAP using the combined power of apps, data, and AI. “With Joule, our developers, consultants, and HR are seeing strong efficiency benefits today. Across SAP, we track several hundreds of millions in AI-powered efficiency gains committed to our budget.” Steinhaeuser also discussed the benefits of SAP Business Data Cloud, noting, “Earlier this year, we became customer zero of SAP Business Data Cloud, offering us distinct advantages: First, we can connect all data in one semantically rich data layer. Second, this helps us generate better insights faster, and across our financial, workforce, and sales planning. And third, we can fuel even better Business AI.” Next up, he said, we are excited to go live with the first set of intelligent applications, starting with People Intelligence. Moving to SAP’s own app layer, Steinhaeuser shared more about SAP’s own RISE with SAP journey. He also emphasized the importance of tools like SAP Signavio and SAP LeanIX in mapping process landscapes and enterprise architecture, for SAP’s own transformation journey. “Many of our meetings no longer start with PowerPoint, instead we use Signavio and LeanIX to discuss how we can improve our processes and architecture,” he said. Summary Summing up the keynote messages, Christian Klein said: “Together we have seen how the SAP Business Suite infused with Business AI can help you in times of uncertainty, and how we help you to get there faster, simpler, and at lower cost.” “Let me finish this keynote with a personal commitment which is really dear to my heart: We will continue to listen to your needs, we will continue to deliver great innovations, and we will stay by your side along the entire journey – especially in times of uncertainty – so that you can run your business in sheer harmony.” This story also appears on SAP.com. #sap #unveils #new #capabilities #help

MB&F is a watchmaker you’d repeatedly turn to for high-stake complications and innovation, whether you’re in awe of the charm of the Horological Machines or the intricacies of the Legacy Machines. The watches in these collections are time tellers that “reinterpret fine watchmaking into kinetic, 3-dimensional sculptures” you can adorn on the wrist. Now somewhere in between the Horological and the Legacy Machines, is the Special Projects collection of undefinable timepieces spearheaded by the all-new SP One, which the company says, is its slimmest and perhaps the simplest watch, ready for everyday wear. Coming from MB&F, that would sound unfamiliar. But whether it is with the slightly affordable M.A.D.Editions timepieces, M.A.D.2 or the SP One – the slimmest and smallest timepieces in the Maximilian Büsser and Friends repertoire – there is a slight change in approach to watchmaking from the brand. The basic ethos remains unaltered, but the approach is more mass appealing than, for the longest time, being something unattainable for even some collectors. Designer: MB&F The exciting new Special Projects Oneis designed to be the thinnest watch in the brand’s collection, but it remains within the 3-dimensional architecture that’s true to MB&F’s popularity. This unique watch, which was initially nicknamed “Three Circles,” features a clean yet mindboggling dial: It’s transparent and features three components that seem to be floating in mid-air within the case. The case: Well, it’s another exciting story. The three gravity-defying components – the barrel, balance wheel, and dial – are sandwiched between sapphire crystals on the front and back. The case is pebble-like and really tiny. It measures only 38mm and is 12mm thick, and is completely bezel-free and has detachable lugs that allow the watch to be paired with a calfskin leather strap, so it can be worn as a dress watch. To that accord, MB&F provides the SP One in two models: platinum and rose gold. The platinum model with a sky-blue bevelled flange is priced CHF 63,000, and the rose gold edition with anthracite bevelled flange is priced lower at CHF 58,000. The visually distinguishing element on the SP One is also the crown, which sits at ten o’clock. The unconventional watch is powered by a completely in-house SP One movement, most of which remains hidden away behind the floating dials, but is visually connected by a three-spoked bridge that kind of seems to be holding everything in place on the absent dial. The manual winding movement offers a 72-hour power reserve and consists of 191 components and 31 jewels. The pleasant appearance of the SP One and its intricate horological genius make it look delicate, but that’s apparent. Being an MB&F, you would want to guard it with your life on land, underwater, it can handle up to 30m conveniently. The post MB&F SP One has a transparent dial, is brand’s slimmest and smallest watch ever first appeared on Yanko Design. #mbampampf #one #has #transparent #dial

SAP News Sapphire 2025: SAP mints business AI flywheel with Palantir on board SAP CEO Christian Klein put economic and geopolitical uncertainty at the centre of the opening keynote at the supplier’s global Sapphire event in Orlando By Brian McKenna, Enterprise Applications Editor Published: 21 May 2025 17:32 Christian Klein, SAP’s chief executive officer, put economic and geopolitical uncertainty at the heart of the opening keynote at the supplier’s global Sapphire event in Orlando. The European version of the event will be held in Madrid next week and is likely to repeat the same themes. Like other enterprise software suppliers, such as Oracle and Salesforce, SAP is invoking a trinity of capabilities for the artificial intelligenceage, in its case applications, data and AI. Klein said SAP has the “broadest suite of applications in theindustry”, the “semantically richest business data”, and AI that already makes SAP itself 30% more productive. Klein said the concept of a “flywheel”, making this troika go round, is driving SAP’s thinking and its offer to customers. British readers attuned to the increasing involvement of the controversial supplier Palantir in the NHS will have taken note of SAP’s announcement of a partnership with the firm, which the main Sapphire 2025 press release said would “facilitate joint customers’ cloud migration journey and modernisation programmes”. “Seamless connectivity between Palantir and SAP Business Data Cloud will enable customers to build a harmonised data foundation across their enterprise landscape. Together, the companies will responsibly deliver essential outcomes and support customers, including the US government, to quickly adapt to changes and disruptions,” it said. In the keynote, Klein hailed the Palantir partnership as building out the Business Data Cloudplatform that SAP announced in February 2025. “BDC is the crystal ball we need for these times of uncertainty. “Palantir is the maker of powerful data analysis software, and with SAP Business Cloud, our shared customers now benefit from real-time data integration and joint AI use cases.” Palantir chief executive Alex Karp said, in a video during the keynote: “We use Ontologyto manage large language models and Foundry to reconcile data. The combination of those products and SAP’s will, we believe, be extremely valuable for our collective clients and partners.” Foundry is Palantir’s data integration platform and Ontology is an element of it for building digital twins. Klein said, in the press statement: “With the expansion of Joule, our partnerships with leading AI pioneers, and advancements in SAP Business Data Cloud, we’re delivering on the promise of Business AI as we drive digital transformations that help customers thrive in an increasingly unpredictable world.” Joule is SAP’s generative AI assistant technology, which it says can “accompany business users throughout their day, in and out of the SAP application universe, to find data, surface real-time insights and streamline workflows. Joule’s new ubiquity includes an action bar powered by WalkMe that studies user behaviour across applications, turning the assistant into an always-available, proactive AI that can anticipate users’ needs before they arise – always adhering to SAP’s strict ethical AI guidelines”. The supplier also announced a collaboration with Perplexity, described as “an AI-powered answer engine company”. This is said to enhance Joule’s ability to draw on structured and unstructured data to solve complex business problems. Alongside SAP’s knowledge graph technology, SAP said Joule could now instantly answer questions with “structured, visual answers – such as charts and graphs – grounded in real-time business data within SAP workflows. For example, a user could ask the tool how recent external events might impact their business and get a forecast based on both current events and the company’s own business data”. WHO IS THIS QUOTE FROM? It is from the release. SAP also announced more Joule Agents spanning customer experience, supply chain management, spend management, finance and human capital management. The supplier also introduced an “operating system for AI development”. Called AI Foundation, it is said to give developers a single entry point for building, extending and running custom AI systems. The supplier will, no doubt, endeavour to say what these and other announcements will mean for SAP customers in Europe next week in Madrid, from 26-28 May. about Sapphire SAP will focus on Joule, agentic AI and Business Data Cloud at Sapphire; experts say it should also show how it can help customers deal with real-world issues. SAP Sapphire 2024: AI in all its forms – but not only AI. 2023: SAP Business AI and sustainability dominate Sapphire. In The Current Issue: UK critical systems at risk from ‘digital divide’ created by AI threats UK at risk of Russian cyber and physical attacks as Ukraine seeks peace deal Standard Chartered grounds AI ambitions in data governance Download Current Issue Microsoft entices developers to build more Windows AI apps – Cliff Saran's Enterprise blog Red Hat launches llm-d community & project – Open Source Insider View All Blogs #sapphire #sap #mints #business #flywheel

As robots increasingly make their way to the largest enterprises’ manufacturing plants and warehouses, the need for access to critical business and operational data has never been more crucial. At its Sapphire conference, SAP announced it is collaborating with NEURA Robotics and NVIDIA to enable its SAP Joule agents to connect enterprise data and processes with NEURA’s advanced cognitive robots. The integration will enable robots to support tasks including adaptive manufacturing, autonomous replenishment, compliance monitoring and predictive maintenance. Using the Mega NVIDIA Omniverse Blueprint, SAP customers will be able to simulate and validate large robotic fleets in digital twins before deploying them in real-world facilities. Virtual Assistants Become Physical Helpers AI agents are traditionally confined to the digital world, which means they’re unable to take actionable steps for physical tasks and do real-world work in warehouses, factories and other industrial workplaces. SAP’s collaboration with NVIDIA and NEURA Robotics shows how enterprises will be able to use Joule to plan and simulate complex and dynamic scenarios that include physical AI and autonomous humanoid robots to address critical planning, safety and project requirements, streamline operations and embody business intelligence in the physical world. Revolutionizing Supply Chain Management: NVIDIA, SAP Tackle Complex Challenges Today’s supply chains have become more fragile and complex with ever-evolving constraints around consumer, economic, political and environmental dimensions. The partnership between NVIDIA and SAP aims to enhance supply chain planning capabilities by integrating NVIDIA cuOpt technology — for real-time route optimization — with SAP Integrated Business Planningto enable customers to plan and simulate the most complex and dynamic scenarios for more rapid and confident decision making. By extending SAP IBP with NVIDIA’s highly scalable, GPU-powered platform, customers can accelerate time-to-value by facilitating the management of larger and more intricate models without sacrificing runtime. This groundbreaking collaboration will empower businesses to address unique planning requirements, streamline operations and drive better business outcomes. Supporting Supply Chains With AI and Humanoid Robots SAP Chief Technology Officer Philipp Herzig offered a preview of the technology integration in a keynote demonstration at SAP Sapphire in Orlando, showing the transformative potential for physical AI in businesses in how Joule — SAP’s generative AI co-pilot — works with data from the real world in combination with humanoid robots. “Robots and autonomous agents are at the heart of the next wave of industrial AI, seamlessly connecting people, data, and processes to unlock new levels of efficiency and innovation,” said Herzig. “SAP, NVIDIA and NEURA Robotics share a vision for uniting AI and robotics to improve safety, efficiency and productivity across industries.” With the integration of the Mega NVIDIA Omniverse Blueprint, enterprises can harness physical AI and digital twins to enable new AI agents that can deliver real-time, contextual insights and automate routine tasks. The collaboration between the three companies allows NEURA robots to see, learn and adapt in real time — whether restocking shelves, inspecting infrastructure or resolving supply chain disruptions. SAP Joule AI Agents are deployed directly onto NEURA’s cognitive robots, enabling real-time decision-making and the execution of physical tasks such as inventory audits or equipment repairs. The robots learn continuously in physically accurate digital twins, powered by NVIDIA Omniverse libraries and technologies,  and using business-critical data from SAP applications, while the Mega NVIDIA Omniverse Blueprint helps evaluate and validate deployment options and large-scale task interactions. Showcasing Joule’s Data-Driven Insights on NEURA Robots The technology demonstration showcases the abilities of NEURA robots to handle tasks guided by Joule’s data-driven insights. Businesses bridging simulation-to-reality deployments can use the integrated technology stack to provide zero-shot navigation and inference to address defect rates and production line inefficiencies without interrupting operations. Herzig showed how Joule can direct a NEURA 4NE1 robot to inspect a machine in the showroom, powered by AI agents, scanning equipment and triggering an SAP Asset Performance management alert before a failure disrupts operations. It’s but a glimpse into the future of what’s possible with AI agents and robotics. #nvidia #sap #bring #agents #physical

Titomic Limited, an Australian company specializing in cold spray additive manufacturing through its proprietary Titomic Kinetic Fusionprocess, has signed a strategic partnership with U.S.-based advanced manufacturing provider nuForj. The agreement is intended to accelerate the commercialization of TKF in North American sectors including aerospace, defense, education, and industrial manufacturing. nuForj will act as a regional commercialization and technology partner for TKF, a process that deposits metal powders at supersonic speed without melting them. This solid-state method enables near-net-shape production, coating, and repair of metal components at high speed and efficiency. Under the partnership, the companies aim to establish a network of additive manufacturing hubs and implement training programs that introduce cold spray manufacturing techniques to engineering students and workforce development initiatives. “This partnership represents a leap forward in our global strategy,” said Jim Simpson, CEO and Managing Director of Titomic. “Working alongside nuForj allows us to bring TKF technology to critical U.S. markets with agility and deep local insight.” Dr. Patti Dare, President of Titomic USA, noted that the collaboration “paves the way for joint R&D initiatives and the deployment of advanced manufacturing hubs across North America.” Rudy Vogel, Founder and CEO of nuForj, added: “We believe Industry 4.0 technologies and digital transformation of the factory floor are essential to reindustrializing the U.S., powering new business models and driving productivity growth. Titomic Kinetic Fusion is an impressive technology for producing quality metal parts incredibly fast and efficiently, and we’re looking forward to making it accessible to scores of companies across the country committed to American manufacturing.” Titomic Kinetic Fusionsystem deployed for high-speed cold spray additive manufacturing. Photo via Titomic. Titomic’s TKF process differs from conventional 3D printing in that it does not require melting metal feedstock. Instead, metal powders are accelerated through a nozzle using compressed gas and fused upon impact, allowing for the production of corrosion-resistant and mechanically robust components. This approach reduces thermal distortion and enables rapid buildup of material on both new and existing substrates. The process is particularly suitable for large-scale applications and complex geometries, including part restoration and protective coatings in aerospace and defense systems. nuForj, based in the United States, focuses on integrating Industry 4.0 principles with digital factory solutions. Its collaboration with Titomic will support the deployment of localized additive manufacturing hubs designed to reduce logistical overhead and improve access to cold spray-based production services. In addition to offering contract manufacturing, nuForj is also positioned to serve as a training and education facilitator, helping to build a workforce familiar with advanced solid-state manufacturing methods. Strategic U.S. Investments Bolster Additive Manufacturing Ecosystem Recent developments in the U.S. additive manufacturing sector reflect a coordinated push toward reshoring industrial capacity through long-term material supply agreements and advanced hardware deployment. Mmetal 3D printer manufacturer Velo3D signed a million exclusive supply agreement with Australia-based Amaero to source refractory alloy powders, including niobium and titanium variants. As part of the deal, Velo3D will qualify Amaero’s powders for use across its Sapphire printer family and integrate them into machine licensing packages. Velo3D has committed to using these materials across its Rapid Production Solutionsservices, dedicating specific systems to C103 and titanium alloy output.  Meanwhile, SyBridge Technologies has expanded its partnership with Carbon, a 3D printing company known for its Digital Light Synthesisplatform. The expansion includes more than doubling its DLS-dedicated manufacturing space at its Chicago-area facility to accommodate increasing orders tied to reshoring efforts. SyBridge has produced nearly two million parts with Carbon’s platform, citing advantages in geometric freedom, mechanical consistency, and cost-efficient high-volume output. SyBridge CEO Byron J. Paul emphasized that the investment enables American firms to reduce supply chain exposure and establish scalable, tariff-free production capacity using engineering-grade materials. Ready to discover who won the 20243D Printing Industry Awards? Subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter to stay updated with the latest news and insights. Take the 3DPI Reader Survey — shape the future of AM reporting in under 5 minutes. Featured image shows Titomic Kinetic Fusionsystem deployed for high-speed cold spray additive manufacturing. Photo via Titomic. Anyer Tenorio Lara Anyer Tenorio Lara is an emerging tech journalist passionate about uncovering the latest advances in technology and innovation. With a sharp eye for detail and a talent for storytelling, Anyer has quickly made a name for himself in the tech community. Anyer's articles aim to make complex subjects accessible and engaging for a broad audience. In addition to his writing, Anyer enjoys participating in industry events and discussions, eager to learn and share knowledge in the dynamic world of technology. #titomic #nuforj #join #forces #expand

Wearing the Huawei Watch 5 feels less like strapping on a gadget and more like integrating a precision tool that understands how the body moves, reacts, and responds. The weight is the first thing that stands out. The 46mm titanium model rests lightly on the wrist without disappearing, balanced by the matte texture that resists scuffs after a day outdoors. The smaller 42mm stainless steel version has a tighter, denser profile. It presses more like a dress piece but still fits into the same sensor system and UI logic. Designer: Huawei The sapphire glass doesn’t smudge easily, and the curve catches light in a way that makes the LTPO screen appear flush with the case. Under sunlight, the 3000-nit brightness doesn’t just hold up. It cuts through glare on hiking trails and under car windows. The resolution makes analog watch faces pop, but it’s the edge-to-edge effect that keeps pulling attention back. There’s almost no visible bezel. Sliding through menus feels responsive, but you stop doing that after the first few uses. The real shift comes from Huawei’s new X-TAP technology. Instead of constantly swiping or pressing through layers of menus, I started using the fingertip sensor almost exclusively. It lives on the side of the case and doesn’t require precision pressing. Light contact is enough to trigger actions, and readings don’t feel delayed. Getting a blood oxygen scan in 10 seconds, straight from the fingertip, replaces the need for a separate pulse oximeter. It’s also noticeably more stable than traditional wrist readings during movement. The X-TAP module works in tandem with rear-facing sensors to produce a multidimensional scan that increases biometric accuracy. Pressure sensitivity goes granular with ten levels of force detection. Touch-based navigation and biometric interaction merge into a single system. X-TAP is no longer just an input method. It becomes the primary contact point for the watch’s health interface. The health data runs deep. Holding down the X-TAP sensor for three seconds triggered the full Health Plan scan, giving me eleven metrics in one minute. I didn’t have to dig into apps. Everything from heart rate variability to stress level and vascular stiffness showed up instantly. It’s the most consolidated overview I’ve seen on a wearable, and it became part of my morning routine before the day starts. Battery life aligned with expectations after a full day of real-world use. Between morning setup, health scans, call handling, and a late-day workout session, the Watch 5 still had reserve power at bedtime without needing to go into power saver mode. Charging overnight on the magnetic dock felt quick and uncomplicated. No repositioning was necessary. Huawei FIT 4 Pro: Specs and System Overview I haven’t had the chance yet to properly wear and test the Huawei FIT 4 Pro, so the hands-on experience will follow in the full review. In the meantime, here’s what stands out from the spec sheet and system overview. The FIT 4 Pro weighs just 27 grams and measures 9.5mm thick, making it one of the lightest full-display wearables in Huawei’s lineup. The 1.82-inch AMOLED display pushes an 80 percent screen-to-body ratio and delivers 2000-nit brightness for outdoor readability. The structure uses aerospace aluminum, while a sapphire-glass surface provides scratch resistance and clarity under pressure. Huawei’s new Sunflower Positioning System is integrated for real-time, activity-aware GPS adjustment. It automatically shifts positioning modes based on whether the user is walking, running, or cycling. There’s offline map support, route guidance, and AI-based delay compensation in high-speed activities like road cycling or skiing. For runners, the system offers pace and elevation data with 30 percent improved location accuracy. Trail runners can pre-load route segments with waypoints and checkpoint notifications. On the golf course, FIT 4 Pro identifies the current hole and displays hazard layouts, pin positions, and wind data. It supports over 15,000 course maps worldwide. Water sports support includes live route tracking for paddleboarding, sailing, and open-water swimming. The dive mode is rated for 40 meters and includes a built-in compass, real-time depth display, and vibration alerts for ascent safety. During apnea or free diving sessions, the watch logs total time, descent rate, and surface recovery. On the health side, it uses Huawei’s TruSense system with multi-region optical path analysis. That includes SpO₂, ECG, vascular stiffness, pulse wave analysis, and temperature tracking. HRV and stress metrics are supported, as is advanced menstrual cycle management using predictive learning models. Battery life is estimated at up to ten days on a single charge, with a 60-minute wireless charging time. Like the Watch 5, FIT 4 Pro runs across both Android and iOS via the Huawei Health app and supports contactless payments, Bluetooth audio control, and notification mirroring. Everyday Use Wearing both watches across the same day made one thing clear. The Watch 5 works best when the user wants deeper physiological awareness and structured interaction. The FIT 4 slots in for training sessions, tracking metrics at speed without overwhelming with data layers. Both connect cleanly to the Huawei Health app, regardless of whether you’re using Android or iOS. I synced steps and recovery scores from both models to compare, and the numbers aligned tightly. Notifications are handled well on both. Nothing feels crammed. Calls can be answered or declined with the side buttons, and messages display cleanly, though replying still needs your phone. Music playback controls, navigation, and wallet functions never glitched. Both watches stayed paired with the phone throughout, even with Bluetooth audio also connected. Gesture-based input is part of the new system, but that interaction set will be saved for the full review. Final Impressions This wasn’t just a hardware update. Huawei rebuilt the relationship between interface and intention. With X-TAP technology, the Watch 5 removes the barrier between sensing and doing. The FIT 4 Pro, on paper, takes the sport-first wearable formula and applies deep system engineering across positioning, tracking, and safety. More on that soon. For now, both devices push the idea that wearables can read the body in ways that feel less like monitoring and more like understanding. The post Hands-On with Huawei Watch 5 and FIT 4: A New Language of Contact first appeared on Yanko Design. #handson #with #huawei #watch #fit

Unveiled at a Berlin launch event under the theme “Fashion Next,” the new lineup balances high-precision health tracking, expressive industrial design, and a more universal approach to platform compatibility. The headline announcement is the Huawei WATCH 5, now joined by a re-engineered FIT 4 Series, all built to run on both Android and iOS devices. Designer: Huawei TruSense and the Rise of Fingertip Biometrics Central to the WATCH 5 is the introduction of Huawei’s TruSense System, anchored by the Multi-sensing X-TAP module. Rather than relying on wrist-bound photoplethysmography alone, X-TAP brings health interaction directly to the fingertip. It provides faster and more granular readings through a gesture-based input system. The device supports quick-tap gestures like Double Tap and Double Slide. This reduces the need for menu-diving or screen tapping during workouts or daily routines. These are not just shortcuts. They are structured interactions that keep the wearable experience fluid without compromising data access. The hardware reflects a deliberate balance of elegance and performance. Sapphire glass curves over aerospace-grade titanium and 904L stainless steel, a pairing typically reserved for luxury watches. For the first time, the WATCH 5 ships in two sizes, 46mm and 42mm. This brings comfort to a broader user base without diluting the design language. Rebuilding the FIT Platform The FIT 4 Pro stands as a complete rework of Huawei’s entry-performance tier. At just 9.3mm thin, it trades visual weight for technical density. New water-resistance support extends tracking to diving depths of up to 40 meters. A reworked air pressure sensor now delivers elevation data tuned for trail running and mountain climbs. Offline map support and sport-specific modes such as golf, diving, and trail training turn this into a multi-condition training device. Build materials signal a shift in direction. Aviation-grade aluminum and titanium alloy bezels bring FIT 4 Pro closer to the sophistication of the WATCH 5. Sapphire glass has also been added for enhanced durability, especially in high-contact outdoor use. Interoperability and Expanded Harmony Both the WATCH 5 and FIT 4 Series operate independently of a Huawei smartphone. iOS and Android support remains intact. Gesture controls and activity syncing are supported across Huawei’s broader ecosystem. The launch also included FreeBuds 6, which work seamlessly with the wearables. Open-fit audio now enters a higher fidelity tier thanks to new dual drivers and refined voice call algorithms. The MatePad Pro 12.2 was also introduced. Its value lies in its role as an accessory-level companion, especially with the tandem OLED PaperMatte display and Huawei Glide keyboard. Battery longevity has been improved across the entire range. Huawei is targeting users who expect multiple days of uptime without sacrificing display brightness or connectivity. These are not devices designed to stay tethered to a charger. Pricing and Availability Pre-orders are now open. The Huawei WATCH 5 starts at £399.99. The FIT 4 and FIT 4 Pro are priced at £149.99 and £249.99 respectively. FreeBuds 6 will be available at £139.99. All product lines will be available from the Huawei Store, with retail launch scheduled for May 26. Huawei’s wearables are no longer treated as a secondary category. With TruSense and X-TAP, the brand is defining a new path in user-driven health technology. Everything is wrapped in high-finish industrial craft. This is not a spec war. It is a recalibration of what daily smartwear should feel like when hardware and wellness are developed as part of the same conversation.The post Huawei Redefines Its Wearable Future with WATCH 5 and FIT 4 Series first appeared on Yanko Design. #huawei #redefines #its #wearable #future