Optimistic Outlook

Powering Up: Surprising Ways AI and Clean Energy Are Supercharging Our Grid's Makeover

Picture this: the power grid, not just an engineering marvel, but the lifeblood of our digital and eco-conscious era. With the AI revolution ramping up data center demands and green energy's rise pushing us towards a brighter, cleaner future, our trusty grid is facing a Herculean task. Can it keep the lights on and our planet cool as we plug into an ever-expanding digital world and strive for sustainability? Barbara thinks so, and she's leading the charge right at the frontier where technology meets electricity. Dive into an episode filled with groundbreaking ideas on using AI and innovative software to achieve both growth and sustainability.
Gridscale X: https://press.siemens.com/global/en/pressrelease/siemens-launches-gridscale-xtm-paving-way-autonomous-grid-management

How Is Industrial AI Expanding Human Capabilities?

You’ve probably heard many perspectives on AI since the rise of ChatGPT, but this one is different. In this Optimistic Insights, Barbara shares how Industrial AI is allowing Siemens to redefine what's possible for humans.  The modern factory has always produced more data than human capacity for analysis and application can handle. Suddenly, AI is transforming this massive output of data from mere stored information into a goldmine of actionable insights. Barbara explains how this remarkable collaboration between humans and AI is not only resulting in gains in productivity; it's also propelling gains in sustainability. Barbara's compelling insights on this episode serve as a beacon of inspiration for your own digital transformation journey. 
Show notes: 
Barbara with Anne Neuberger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fidlHNw-T-k 
Industrial AI: https://www.siemens.com/global/en/products/automation/topic-areas/artificial-intelligence-in-industry.html 

3D Printing Unleashed: Digital Threads of an Industrial Future

3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, ranks among the most promising developments in the effort to revitalize American manufacturing and localize supply chains. But what are the technologies that can help upstart additive companies to scale operations and industrialize 3D printing? And how can this make U.S. supply chains more resilient? In this episode, Barbara gets answers to these questions from Brian Neff, CEO, Sintavia, a leading additive manufacturing firm supplying vital components to the aerospace industry, as they explore the important role of digital threads in transforming production. Get ready to learn how Sintavia has fully embraced software to drive their operating model – how this will enable them to quintuple their business without making additional investment – and the potential for these solutions to be adopted by other small- and medium-sized enterprises. 
Show notes:
Sintavia and the digital thread: https://blogs.sw.siemens.com/additive/sintavia-is-pushing-the-additive-manufacturing-factory-into-the-future/

Level Up: The Video Game Ideas Fueling Your Next Breakthrough

Can the future of manufacturing be almost like playing a video game? In this Optimistic Insights episode, Barbara looks back to CES in January and presents Siemens’ vision for the Industrial Metaverse, breaking down Siemens AG CEO Roland Busch’s keynote speech. Prepare to learn about the key building blocks for making the industrial metaverse a reality, including digital twins, and the world-changing potential for combining the real and virtual worlds in industry, infrastructure,  and transportation.
Show notes:
CES keynote: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C38ZX1BcGrE   
Report with MIT: https://www.siemens.com/global/en/company/digital-transformation/industrial-metaverse/the-emergent-industrial-metaverse.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiAoKeuBhCoARIsAB4Wxte43FPQ5PFyb2FU_xJqud7MYbBZvDjz3PsTvxU5M-a-8rfrqRK3q1waAt1zEALw_wcB&acz=1&gad_source=1

What's Driving the New Industrial Revolution?

Digital innovation is no longer limited to Silicon Valley. Some of the most exciting, and potentially world-changing, developments are happening in manufacturing plants across America as industrial automation systems interact with software and AI. What is the vision for applying tools that first emerged in consumer sectors in American industry? And what could the benefits be beyond forging an even more competitive, stronger U.S. manufacturing sector? To learn more, Barbara sits down with Del Costy, who leads Siemens’ work providing industrial technologies to U.S. manufacturers and the federal government. Listen to hear Del’s perspective, drawn from decades of industry experience, as he reflects on the changes he has seen during his career, including how platforms are democratizing advanced and emerging technologies. 
Siemens Xcelerator: https://www.siemens.com/us/en/company/digital-transformation/xcelerator.html
Virtual PLC: https://press.siemens.com/global/en/pressrelease/first-virtual-simatic-controller-enables-more-flexible-software-based-automation
Metaverse demo and FREYR partnership: https://press.siemens.com/global/en/pressrelease/freyr-scale-battery-cell-gigafactory-production-siemens-xcelerator

Optimistic Insights: The Unexpected Resurgence of American Manufacturing

For decades, American manufacturing shifted to other countries. Now, it’s growing again in the United States. To launch a new “Optimistic Insights” series, Barbara outlines the trends such as emerging technologies and what she calls “glocalization” that are driving American manufacturing’s resurgence. This episode will help listeners to understand the convergence between the tech economy and American industry. Explore the bright future ahead for workers eager to help American manufacturing lead the way in innovation, sustainability and prosperity.
Show notes:
Investing in American manufacturing: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231103426573/en/Siemens-to-invest-more-than-US500-million-in-U.S.-manufacturing-for-critical-infrastructure-in-2023
Industrial technologies expanding what’s humanly possible: https://www.siemens.com/us/en/company/topic-areas/industrial-automation.html
  

Gen Z and the power of multigenerational teams

Older generations have often misunderstood younger generations. And yet, as the U.S. workforce ages, the value of multigenerational teams will continue to grow. In this episode, Barbara talks with university recruiter Sophie Nicholas and intern Adrian Vasquez. You will learn about the workplace culture that Gen Z is shaping and what they hope to learn as the youngest of the five generations now in the workforce.  
Show notes:
Jobs at Siemens: https://www.siemens.com/us/en/company/jobs.html

COP28 and the keys to accelerating climate solutions

Successfully addressing the climate crisis requires significant progress by 2030. Will we get there? Christiana Figueres, a former UN climate leader who led the process securing the Paris Climate Agreement, offers expert perspective, defining the current state of the problem and how we can grow our ability to rapidly put solutions into action. Prepare to be uplifted about what’s possible and to learn about critical climate priorities slated for the UN climate conference COP28.
Christiana is a Founding Partner of Global Optimism, co-presenter of climate podcast Outrage + Optimism, and co-author of "The Future We Choose: The Stubborn Optimist's Guide to the Climate Crisis."
Show notes:
Christiana's TED talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/christiana_figueres_the_inside_story_of_the_paris_climate_agreement?language=en
Outrage + Optimism: https://www.outrageandoptimism.org/
Accelerating carbon reduction: https://www.siemens.com/us/en/company/sustainability.html
 
 
 

ARPA-I and the path to greener, safer transportation

Imagine self-healing concrete or traffic lights with “eyes” that save lives in crosswalks. Technology startup leaders join Barbara to discuss breakthrough innovations that could be accelerated by the launch of a new White House initiative: Advanced Research Projects Agency – Infrastructure (ARPA-I). Listen for inspiring, detailed insights from Ginger Krieg Dosier, Founder and Board Member, Biomason, and Angus Pacala, CEO, Ouster, as they discuss the power of applying emerging technologies and fresh R&D investment to transportation infrastructure.
Show notes:
White House fact sheet: https://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/news-updates/2023/06/13/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-announces-new-actions-hosts-inaugural-arpa-i-summit-to-highlight-the-next-generation-of-transportation-infrastructure-innovation-for-americans/
Ouster: https://ouster.com/
Biomason: https://biomason.com/

Green Radiology and decarbonizing healthcare

With American healthcare representing 10% of U.S. carbon emissions, decarbonizing hospitals and healthcare systems promises to deliver meaningful climate action. In this episode, Barbara brings listeners inside an innovative project reducing energy usage in imaging at University of California San Francisco (UCSF). The solutions will not only help to support decarbonization but yield immediate operational savings for hospitals and healthcare systems recovering financially from the pandemic. Guests are Dr. Sean Woolen, USCF’s Assistant Professor for Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging and Director of the Green Radiology, and Jerry Folsom, Global Head of Digital Portfolio for Healthcare and Life Science, Siemens Smart Infrastructure.
Show notes:
Study results: https://www.siemens-healthineers.com/en-us/press-room/press-releases/greenradiology
Smart healthcare: https://www.siemens.com/us/en/markets/healthcare.html
Press release: https://www.siemens.com/us/en/company/press/siemens-stories/usa/siemens-helps-put-sustainability-forefront-medical-imaging-care.html