Peggy Smedley Show

Peggy Smedley and Al Ortega, James R. Birle endowed chair professor of energy technology, Villanova University and director of the National Science Foundation Center for Energy Smart Electronic Systems, talk about data centers, cooling systems, and sustainability issues within the data centers. He talks about the amount of power data centers use, saying in 2025 an equipment rack consumes about 100 kilowatts. 

They also discuss:

Peggy Smedley and Brian Kassalen, principal and construction industry leader, Baker Tilly, talk about AI (artificial intelligence) in construction. He says construction contractors have been slow to adopt technologies, but you can’t have a conversation today with a contractor without having some conversation about AI.

They also discuss:

• Historical labor challenges in construction and how AI can help contractors protect margins...

Peggy explores the explosive growth of agentic AI (artificial intelligence) in smart cities—and what it means for urban life. With the global market expected to surge from $1.88 billion in 2024 to $58 billion by 2030, she unpacks how AI is reshaping the way cities operate, grow, and serve their communities. From improved waste management to accelerated housing permits, Peggy breaks down the real-world use cases—and what’s coming ne...

Peggy Smedley and Al Ortega, James R. Birle endowed chair professor of energy technology, Villanova University and director of the National Science Foundation Center for Energy Smart Electronic Systems, talk about what’s driving growth in data centers. He says to think about the data centers as being the infrastructure heart.

They also discuss:

• Why the name changed from server farms to data centers—and a fun historical story.
• ...

Peggy Smedley and Luke Faulkner, director of technology integration, American Institute of Steel Construction, talk about AI (artificial intelligence) and how it is impacting the steel industry. He says the steel industry has been a slow adopter of technology, but that has accelerated by force of nature, and it has been determined AI is one of the top opportunities facing this industry.

They also discuss:

• The opportunities and...

Peggy talks about the rise of “AI ghosts”—digital personas built from a deceased individual’s data—and what they mean for identity, grief, and ethics in the age of generative AI. With real-world experiments already underway, she dives into how AI agents powered by large language models can create AI ghosts, raising urgent questions about memory, consent, and the future of emotional technology.

She also discusses:

• The who, what...

Peggy Smedley and Steve Clarke, president, Teresa Hayes, human resources manager, and Nathanael Forgy, operating technician apprentice, Logan Aluminum, talk about the labor shortage in manufacturing and how we got here. They each discuss the importance of manufacturing and opportunities for workers.

They also discuss:

• How to inspire the future generations and bring talent in the door.
• The impact of mentors in manufacturing.
• Th...

Peggy Smedley and Dennis Draeger, foresight director, Shaping Tomorrow, talk about how AI (artificial intelligence) is transforming white-collar work—and why even AI hallucinations can be valuable. He says we are used to automation impacting blue-collar work, well now with generative AI and business intelligence, it is really beginning to invade white-collar work.

They also discuss:

• The importance of a liaison between machines...

Peggy dives into the multitrillion-dollar future of humanoid robots and how they could transform both industry and society. With projections showing nearly 1 billion humanoids in use by 2050—primarily in commercial and industrial settings—she breaks down what this means for the workforce, business, and our lives.

She also discusses:

• The historical evolution of robotics and the birth of humanoids.
• The who, what, when, where, wh...

Peggy Smedley and Arthur Axelrad, cofounder and CEO, Dispatch Science, talk about TMS (transportation management systems) and how they have evolved. He says in the logistics and supply chain world, there are companies that have a mission to deliver parcels and all of that requires coordination, so TMS software is that segment of business management that specializes in managing the transportation of goods.

They also discuss:

• Ho...

Peggy Smedley and Jon Summers, research lead in data centers, Research Institutes of Sweden, adjunct professor of fluid mechanics, Luleå Technical University and visiting professor in thermofluids, University of Leeds, talk about rising energy costs and data centers. He says we are in a difficult position because data centers are scrambling for access to power.

They also discuss:

• The high energy consumption of AI infrastructur...

Peggy Smedley takes a deep dive into the future of autonomous vehicles and what it will take to get there. She explains how the path to full automation is long—but potentially transformative. Peggy breaks down each level of automation, from manual driving to fully autonomous systems, and where adoption stands today—and where it’s headed by 2030.

She also discusses:

• The role of AI in enabling autonomous vehicle technology and g...

Peggy Smedley and Akli Adjaoute, entrepreneur, founder, Brighterion and author, Inside AI, talk about whether generative AI is threatening humanity—or helping it. They explore whether future generations will trust themselves or rely on AI for life’s biggest decisions.

They also discuss:

• AI risks and consequences such as deep fakes, misinformation, privacy concerns, and inherent biases in AI systems—issues that could have signi...

Peggy Smedley and Roza Tapini, VP of people and culture at Epignosis, talk about the emerging workplace trend of quiet cracking and why it is so dangerous. She says quiet cracking is the emotional withdrawal at work, and shares how it is different from burnout and quiet quitting.

They also discuss:

• The importance of training and the likelihood of feeling more job insecure.
• The traits of people who are quiet cracking.
• How emplo...

Peggy explores the factory of the future and how AI (artificial intelligence) can help enable it. She says this could help address a core challenge in the manufacturing industry—the labor shortage—and with robots and AI we can catapult our businesses into the next generation of work.

She also discusses:

• Some global statistics and perspectives.
• The factors driving the need for robots and AI.
• NVIDIA’s AI factories and how they a...

Peggy Smedley interviews Tim Lindner, warehouse automation consultant, Voxware, about the evolution and future of robotics in warehousing and distribution centers. Tim also explores the concept of 'cobots', where humans and robots collaborate to improve efficiency, and shares insights on the practical challenges and potential benefits of robotic deployment in various warehouse environments. 

They also discuss:

• The transition f...

Peggy Smedley welcomes Patrick Halley, president and CEO of the Wireless Infrastructure Assn., to discuss the critical role of wireless connectivity in supporting infrastructure and innovations like AI, 5G cores, and network slicing. Patrick also highlights the importance of smart policies and infrastructure to maintain the United States’ competitive edge in wireless technology.

They also discuss:

• The impact of fixed wireless ...

Peggy explores the role of AI (artificial intelligence) in the future of work, looking at real numbers and success opportunities. She explains how AI is shifting skills needs in many industries, pointing to recent research.

She also discusses:

• A gen AI history lesson and the impact it will ultimately have in the future.
• A PwC claim that AI is making people more valuable, not less, even in the most highly automatable jobs.
• A ne...

Peggy Smedley and Josué Velázquez, research scientist and lecturer, MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics, talk about sustainability in supply chains. He says sustainability is part of MIT’s core mission, which focuses on solving the problems of humanity.

They also discuss:

• What happens in the sustainable supply chain lab.
• How generative AI is impacting the supply-chain sustainability conversation.
• How companies can appr...