Latest news with #industrialrevolution
Business Insider
02-06-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Smart manufacturing and services is the future, and a new master's program is training the talent to lead it
The fourth industrial revolution (also called Industry 4.0) has been upon us for years. It's characterized as an amalgamation of different technologies — IoT, robotics, Big Data, 3D printing, and AI — that help companies become more digitalized and smarter in terms of how they handle their business and operations. But like everything else, it was accelerated by Covid, according to Puay Guan Goh, a professor with the National University of Singapore. "During the disruptions and shutdowns, companies realized they needed to digitalize and become more efficient," he said. "They needed to be able to do remote coordination. This was about control of what was happening in their remote sites." Places like Singapore, where there is limited manpower, are ripe for smart manufacturing using robotics and automation, Goh said. "We recognize we can't compete on cost and therefore we need to have more efficient operations and value-added services in order to be more effective," he added. And for a country like the US, that is looking to possibly reshore manufacturing, especially for semiconductors, electronics, and automotive, but does not have access to low-cost labor, there will be a need for high-end smart manufacturing, he added. A big part of Industry 4.0 over the past two years has been AI, and Goh said it can apply to many different parts of the business. For example, procurement departments can identify better cost savings, e-commerce operations can optimize to generate more revenue, and hospitality companies can figure out how to run efficiently even when occupancy is down. A new opportunity to learn In this environment, it's not enough to just teach technical skills, but also business skills to understand the context of the technologies. "Technology doesn't exist in a vacuum," Goh said. "We must know what our business process is, what our key drivers are, what we are trying to apply [technology] toward, and then bring in data technology to have the most impact on the business." Navigating this world brought on by Industry 4.0 is at the heart of the National University of Singapore's Master of Science program in Smart Industries and Digital Transformation, for which Goh serves as Program Director. This multidisciplinary graduate degree program combines both business and technical perspectives, bringing together courses on technology transformation and different domains of technology and implementation. It draws on the expertise of NUS's Business School, School of Continuing and Lifelong Education, School of Computing, College of Design and Engineering, Faculty of Science, and Institute of Systems Science. Goh said the program attracts a broad base of students — from recent graduates to people who have working experience. Both want to have a better understanding of the digital transformation process, including the business concepts around digital transformation and more technical aspects like data programming, IoT, and data analytics. For those who are already working, they could be in positions within companies where they can drive change and explain the business need for digital transformation. For recent graduates, they could go on to take these sorts of roles, but also engineering or data science roles within companies, where being able to incorporate business language could be valuable. Key components of the program One integral part of the program is the core Capstone Project Course, where students work with a sponsoring company to produce an innovative solution to solve a business problem, leaning on what they've learned about smart industries and digital transformation. The MSc curriculum is also designed in accordance with the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) Singapore Smart Industry Readiness Index. It's intended to further aid companies in transforming their capabilities through the right talent and support Singapore's drive toward becoming a Smart Nation. The full-time one-year program (1.5 to 3 years for part-time) attracts students from across the world, though in the past the majority of students have come from Asia, with some coming from the Middle East and Europe. NUS is eager to welcome students from the United States as well, and has already taken steps to work with universities there. For example, students from USC Marshall MBA program recently joined students from NUS in Singapore for a global AI case competition, where the teams came up with ideas for AI use cases for a company of their choice. Applications for the MSc program in Smart Industry and Digital Transformation, beginning in August 2026, will be open from November 2025 to January 2026.
Arab News
29-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Middle Eastern states' action on AI will define their future
As the world plunges deeper into the era of artificial intelligence, a transformation as significant as the rise of the internet in the early 2000s is underway. AI is no longer a futuristic concept — it is the engine driving the next industrial revolution, with the potential to reshape global economies, redefine governance and revolutionize education, healthcare and national security. For the Middle East, this is not a distant horizon. It is an urgent present: countries must either embrace this new technological epoch with bold, coordinated investment in AI infrastructure or risk being sidelined in the global race for innovation and prosperity. At the heart of this new age lies the infrastructure that powers AI. This encompasses far more than algorithms or machine learning software. It begins with data centers — massive, energy-intensive facilities equipped with high-performance computing capabilities that allow AI systems to process and analyze staggering volumes of information. These data centers are the physical backbone of AI development, providing the computational muscle required for training large language models, real-time data analytics and AI-driven decision-making tools. Without such infrastructure, AI systems remain theoretical, unable to operate at scale or deliver meaningful impact. In addition to data centers, robust cloud computing platforms are essential. These platforms enable the seamless deployment, distribution and management of AI applications across various sectors — from public services to private enterprises — ensuring scalability, speed and accessibility across entire populations. Countries must either embrace this new technological epoch or risk being sidelined in the race for innovation and prosperity Dr. Majid Rafizadeh However, infrastructure in the physical sense is only one side of the equation. Human capital is equally important, if not even more so. The successful integration of AI into society depends on a skilled workforce — engineers, data scientists, machine learning specialists and policymakers — who can design, build, implement and regulate these advanced systems. Investment in education and training programs focused on AI, data science and ethical governance is essential to create a new generation of thinkers and leaders who can navigate the complexities of this technology responsibly. Without such investment in people, even the most advanced infrastructure will sit idle, underused or misused. Furthermore, AI development must be guided by a clear regulatory and ethical framework to ensure it serves humanity equitably. Governments must create laws and policies to protect privacy, prevent bias and guarantee transparency in AI decision-making. These frameworks are not merely bureaucratic necessities — they are foundational to public trust and international credibility. Amid this transformative moment, two Middle Eastern countries — Saudi Arabia and the UAE — have emerged as regional leaders in the AI space. Their efforts provide a compelling blueprint for what strategic foresight and sustained investment can achieve. Saudi Arabia, guided by its Vision 2030 agenda, has made AI a national priority. The Kingdom this month launched a groundbreaking state-backed company named Humain, dedicated to spearheading AI development and commercialization. Backed by the Public Investment Fund, Humain has quickly positioned itself as a major player by forging partnerships with leading global tech firms such as Nvidia and AMD. These partnerships aim to secure access to the high-performance chips and technologies that are critical for building AI infrastructure, including the deployment of new-generation data centers within Saudi territory. Such collaborations not only signal Saudi Arabia's technological ambitions but also reflect a broader commitment to building an innovation-based economy. But some other countries in the region risk falling dangerously behind. Economically, nations that fail to embrace AI risk losing out on billions of dollars in productivity gains and new job creation. AI is poised to revolutionize industries such as manufacturing, logistics, energy and finance. Countries that do not build the infrastructure to support these changes may see their industries fall into stagnation, lose competitiveness and suffer from growing unemployment and brain drain. Two Middle Eastern countries — Saudi Arabia and the UAE — have emerged as regional leaders in the AI space Dr. Majid Rafizadeh In terms of governance, the implications are equally troubling. Governments that do not incorporate AI into public administration will struggle to deliver efficient services, predict policy outcomes or manage resources effectively. They will miss out on AI-driven tools for urban planning, traffic management, resource allocation and even pandemic response. In contrast, countries that harness AI will be able to govern more smartly and respond to crises with agility. The same applies to national security. In an era where cyberwarfare, surveillance and automated defense systems are rapidly evolving, nations without AI capabilities will face significant vulnerabilities. Their inability to defend against cyberattacks or use AI in intelligence gathering and threat detection could compromise sovereignty and internal stability. There is also a societal cost. Without regulation and oversight, the use of AI can lead to serious ethical breaches, from algorithmic bias and privacy violations to social manipulation through disinformation. In the absence of proper guardrails, imported AI technologies could be used in ways that erode democratic values, undermine human rights and amplify existing inequalities. In conclusion, the global AI transformation is not a far-off fantasy — it is unfolding now. Just as the rise of the internet in the early 2000s transformed commerce, culture and communication, AI is redefining the contours of the 21st-century world. The Middle East must respond with urgency. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have shown what is possible with vision, capital and strategic partnerships. Their actions have not only accelerated their own national development but have also raised the stakes for the region as a whole. This momentum must continue and it must spread. Now is the time for other regional governments, private sector leaders and civil society to come together to forge national and transnational strategies for AI infrastructure development. This includes funding and constructing modern data centers, investing in broadband and cloud platforms, launching AI-focused education and training programs, and designing comprehensive ethical and legal frameworks for the responsible use of AI. The longer countries delay, the harder it will be to catch up. Inaction today will result in diminished sovereignty, economic irrelevance and technological dependence tomorrow.
Wall Street Journal
27-05-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Thyssenkrupp Plans to Become Holding Company of Independent Businesses
Thyssenkrupp TKA 8.76%increase; green up pointing triangle plans to make all of its divisions independent and open to outside investment, a major overhaul that aims to turn the German industrial group into a holding company after more than two centuries as a manufacturer. The company said Monday that it would start preparations to separate its materials-services and automotive-technology segments in the coming years and that its decarbonization-technologies unit would follow suit. It aims to retain a majority interest in its businesses in the medium term. The plan marks the latest attempt by Thyssenkrupp, which traces its roots back to industrial-revolution Germany, to reinvent itself. The company has long sought to reduce its complexity, become more competitive and spur profitability, but it has stumbled in its efforts. Thyssenkrupp in 2017 planned to combine its steel business with the European unit of India's Tata Steel, but the deal was blocked by European Union antitrust regulators in 2019. The company launched a plan to split its operations into two companies in 2018, but abandoned the proposal a year later. It opted instead to list its elevator unit, but ended up selling it to a private-equity consortium in 2020. The company has been confronting weak markets and macroeconomic uncertainty. It issued several profit warnings in recent years. In the year to September, Thyssenkrupp cut its outlook three times. Its new plan looks to replicate the playbook it followed for the spinoff of its hydrogen business, Thyssenkrupp Nucera, in which Thyssenkrupp kept a majority stake after the business was listed in 2023. 'We want to build on this. We are convinced that the segments can and will best leverage the global growth opportunities in their industries as independent entities,' Thyssenkrupp Chief Executive Miguel Lopez said. The core idea of the restructuring is to separate Thyssenkrupp's businesses and open them up for third-party investment, it said. Frankfurt-listed shares in Thyssenkrupp closed the day up 8.8%. The stock hit an all-time low in September, but has more than doubled in value since the start of the year, helped by the company's plans to list its warship business. The company is already working on the spinoff of Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, with the aim of listing of the business in Frankfurt by the end of 2025, it said. And it is in the process of negotiating a 50-50 joint venture with Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky's EP Corporate Group for its steel business. Thyssenkrupp sold a 20% stake in its steel operations to EPCG last year. In coming years, Thyssenkrupp will prepare its materials-services and automotive-technology units for the capital markets and to be standalone businesses as soon as conditions are met, and its decarbonization-technologies segment will also become independent, it said. The company said it aims to retain controlling interests in the businesses with the exception of the planned steel joint venture. Thyssenkrupp plans to present this strategic realignment to its supervisory board before the end of September. Write to Pierre Bertrand at
