AI Warships and the US Navy
Good morning! Today we celebrate World Health Day. In the supply chain world, the health of workers, customers, and communities is crucial to ensuring smooth and efficient operations. 💪
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Just this week, the US Navy had a conference where CNO and top admiral Mike Gilday announced some historic news: a brand-new artificial intelligence software will be working on autonomous warships. Shortly after this announcement, the Marine Corps declared their exploration of AI and autonomy 'everywhere' in their branch. Many are excited for this futuristic approach, stating it will be a game-changer for safety. However, some express concern about AI not following orders. Vice Admiral Scott Conn states that artificial intelligence 'must obey.' There will be learning curves, but it seems like a light at the end of the tunnel for transformation in the different branches.
Check out the featured article by GCaptain to read about how artificial intelligence could impact the future of warfare and safety within the naval and marine branches, as well as what experts are saying about its potential in modern-day situations. Will this AI be able to follow all directions and help in the future? Or will this technology prove to be unpredictable?
Featured Article:
US Navy Admiral Says AI Warships ‘Must Obey’ | G Captain
“This week marked significant AI-related announcements for the US Navy at the annual Sea Air Space conference.”
US Economy & Trade Issues 🇺🇸
US trade deficit reaches third consecutive month
It is reported that the United States trade deficit has grown for the third consecutive month, reaching $70.5 billion. The goods and services gap has widened by 2.7%, which is the widest it has been in four months. The economists' median estimate had been a $68.8 billion gap. The inflation-adjusted deficit was $104.6 billion, again the largest gap seen in four months. In February, exports of motor vehicles and capital equipment declined, but there was a three-year record high in travel exports or visitors to the US spending money.
A trade deficit occurs when a country imports more goods and services than it exports. This can happen for various reasons such as differences in currency exchange rates, labor costs, tariffs, and trade policies. A trade deficit can have positive and negative effects on an economy. On one hand, it can lead to increased access to goods and services and lower prices for consumers. On the other hand, it can lead to a loss of jobs in certain industries and an increase in a country's debt to other countries. It's important to note that a trade deficit is just one aspect of a country's overall balance of trade, which includes factors such as investment income and foreign aid.
Infrastructure & Repairs 🧰
Florida Testing New High-Tech Freeway System
News has emerged that Florida is testing a new type of freeway that could pave the way for future roadways. Truckers have been using concrete highways as a test run on Route 301 near Jacksonville for this $27 million project. The Florida Department of Transportation is funding this 4-mile stretch of light grey street. The 301 was selected because of its high trucker volume that passes through every day. This is the first major experiment with high-tech concrete in the southeastern United States.
Concrete roads are being used for a variety of reasons. First, they are more durable and longer-lasting than asphalt roads. They can withstand heavy traffic and extreme weather conditions without cracking or breaking. This means they require less maintenance and have a longer lifespan than asphalt roads. Concrete roads also require less maintenance than asphalt roads, as they don't need to be resurfaced as often and are less susceptible to damage from water, oil, and other chemicals. This makes them more cost-effective in the long run. Overall, concrete roads offer several advantages over asphalt roads, including durability, lower maintenance costs, better fuel efficiency, and increased safety. However, they may be more expensive to build initially and can take longer to construct than asphalt roads.
Let’s Get Global 🌎
🇷🇺 Restrictions on Russian Oil. Since the European Union banned the shipment of Russian oil, it has disrupted global shipping patterns. Currently, it takes around 16 to 18 days to ship gasoline and jet fuel, compared to just a couple of months ago when it only took 4 to 6 days.
iLevel With You 🏡
More topics for the average American household to consider…
🇺🇸 Washington's Advocate for Small Businesses. Small businesses have been neglected and lacked advocacy in Washington D.C. and the White House. It is time for an independent voice in the government that solely focuses on entrepreneurs and small shops.
🤝 Strategies for Collaborating with Diverse Suppliers. A recent study by Supplier.io has stated that there are 5 ways successful companies can boost business with minority-owned firms to attain a more diverse supplier base. The study found that companies that ranked higher on a success scale fell into 5 specific areas.
🛒 Expansion of Retailer's Own Brand Products in Grocery Industry. Grocery stores have noticed a significant increase in the sale of private-label food products, as opposed to well-known branded items. This increase amounted to almost 11.3%, which is double the percentage growth seen by larger, well-known brands. CEOs are now realizing that consumers pay more attention to labels than previously thought.
Get Smart 🧠
Ramp up that brain power for these advanced topics…
🤖 AI poses a threat to American workers. The brand-new AI technology known as the AI Genie is capable of doing tasks that were once exclusive to human workers, raising concerns about the future of employment. The impact of AI on jobs and the economy is already uncertain, but with the technology continuously evolving, the future is even more uncertain.
🚛 Enabling Hydrogen Accessibility for Truckers. Many truckers and trucking companies in California are worried about the future due to a recent regulation that requires half of all vehicles to be electric by 2030. They are concerned about the availability of a large supply of hydrogen for their trucks.
📸 Reduced fleet costs through the use of dash cams. A new study suggests that safety violations are adding to the long list of things increasing insurance costs for trucking companies. An AI-powered dashcam may be able to fix that problem by analyzing the truck's entire drive and providing insights into the driver's performance. This could help lower insurance costs and increase the fleet's overall safety score.
The Workday Dash is an aggregation of articles regarding the transportation logistics, trucking, and supply chain industries for December 23, 2024, from iLevel Logistics Inc.