Inside PepsiCo’s digital twin revolution | Fast Company

July 24, 2026July 23, 2026 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Reconfiguring a factory used to mean shutting it down, making costly bets, and hoping the design worked in the real world. PepsiCo found a way around that. Rather than rely on engineering blueprints to solve the problem, the company used a specialized laser to scan the facility and create a digital representation that was accurate to within a millimeter. It then used this 3D model to simulate the current manufacturing process and identify production bottlenecks. This exercise gave engineers a blank canvas to experiment with new layouts that would help expand and speed up production—all before touching a single machine.

“What you’re trying to do is optimize every part of the space, from the hardware and the software to how people navigate through the space,” says Athina Kanioura, PepsiCo’s CEO, Latin America, and global chief strategy and transformation officer. “We’re taking every data point within the design of the physical infrastructure to create millions and millions of simulations to design the perfect building.”

Visa Unveils AI Financial Assistant to Elevate Customer Banking Experience | Small Biz Trends

July 22, 2026July 21, 2026 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

In a transformative leap for the banking sector, Visa has unveiled its AI Financial Assistant, a value-added service designed to integrate artificial intelligence into mobile banking apps. This innovation not only enhances consumer trust but also aims to empower small businesses with direct access to actionable financial insights.

As more consumers turn to AI for financial guidance—over 66% according to recent surveys—banks remain the most trusted institutions for managing personal data. Michele Herron, Visa’s Senior Vice President, noted, “Consumers are already turning to AI for financial advice—but banks have the full financial picture.” By utilizing AI Financial Assistant, banks can elevate their roles from mere transaction facilitators to dynamic financial hubs.

How does this impact small business owners? Here are the key benefits that small businesses can leverage from this new service.

Cushing Crude Oil Inventories Dip, Impacting Prices and Storage Capacity | Small Biz Trends

July 22, 2026July 21, 2026 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Amid fluctuating oil prices and recent data indicating a significant decrease in crude oil inventories in Cushing, Oklahoma, small business owners may want to keep a close eye on how these developments could impact operational costs. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), storage facilities at Cushing fell below 20 million barrels recently, raising some concerns about supply levels and pricing dynamics.

Crude oil storage is critical for maintaining the balance of supply and demand in the market. Facilities depend on nuanced operational standards that dictate what constitutes effective storage. “Storage facilities require a minimum volume of product to remain operational, which can vary between different facilities,” explains the EIA. If levels dip below the threshold—a point referred to as “tank bottoms”—facilities cannot effectively function, which could lead to market instability.

Victims of 23andMe data breach to get $47m payout, judge rules | BBC News

July 8, 2026 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Victims of a 2023 data hack at genetics testing company 23andMe are set to receive a multi-million-dollar payout from the firm.

A California bankruptcy court judge ruled on Tuesday that Chrome Holding, which last year took control of 23andMe after its bankruptcy, should pay out $46.75m (£35m) in compensation.

23andMe compiles genetic profiles of people through DNA testing kits, but it was heavily criticised after as many as 6.9 million people had their data breached in the 2023 hack.

Representatives of Chrome Holding and 23andMe have been contacted for comment.

Australia dock workers call for 28-hour week in AI talks | BBC News

July 8, 2026July 8, 2026 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Australian dock workers are demanding a 28-hour work week with no loss of pay as the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation expands across the country’s ports.

The AI push is being led by port logistics giant DP World, which the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) said has put workers’ jobs “in the crosshairs”.

The union said, “If DP World wants AI and automation, then they must pay the social dividend. The new technology doesn’t have to cost our members their jobs or put their livelihoods at risk just so a terminal operator can boost profits.”

OpenClaw is finally available on Android and iOS | TechCrunch

July 2, 2026July 1, 2026 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

The automation crustacean is crawling to a mobile device near you.

By that I mean, OpenClaw — the free, open source AI agent that captivated the internet earlier this year — is finally available as an app on iOS and Android. OpenClaw announced the news on X on Tuesday.

On both platforms, you can pair your phone with the OpenClaw Gateway, a kind of routing layer that connects your requests to AI agents and the tools and skills those agents draw on to get things done.

Is AI Use Really Legal? Here’s Why You Need a Governance Plan | Entrepreneur

July 1, 2026July 1, 2026 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

The first wave of artificial intelligence adoption was driven by speed. Companies wanted faster research, faster drafting, faster customer service, faster sales, faster decisions. In boardrooms and management meetings, AI was presented as a productivity tool, a cost-saving mechanism, and in some cases, a competitive necessity.

That phrase is already giving way to something more serious. The next wave of AI will not be defined only by what companies can automate. It will be defined by what they can explain, defend, and govern.

That is where many businesses are dangerously unprepared. For all the excitement around AI, a basic legal question remains unanswered in many organizations: If an AI system produces a harmful, biased, false, or commercially damaging outcome, who is responsible?

How the World Cup Is Creating a Beer Boom Across America | Entrepreneur

July 1, 2026 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Two weeks of knockout rounds remain in the 2026 World Cup. That’s great news for America’s bars and restaurants in host cities, where beer sales soared 15.4% compared to the same weeks last year, according to Beer Institute. For an industry that has seen volume broadly flat or declining for years, it’s a welcome kick in the shin.

Massachusetts is leading the country, with on-premise beer sales nearly 30% over the first two weeks of play — driven in part by Scotland’s Tartan Army, which descended on Boston in force and nearly drank the city dry. The parent company of Sam Adams said its Boston Taproom sold four times its normal holiday volume in a single weekend, requiring an emergency beer delivery.

So what makes beer score points with World Cup fans? “Beer’s range of options makes it a strong fit for occasions like these,” said Heritage. “There’s a brew for every kind of fan, which is part of why it scales so well during an international event like this.”

What is quantum computing, and why does Trump care? | Mashable

June 30, 2026June 29, 2026 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

It’s been a week since President Trump signed an executive order directing a whole-of-government push on quantum computing — funding it, securing its supply chains, building its workforce, and making sure adversaries like China don’t get there first.

This marks a significant federal commitment to a technology that is either the next great computing revolution or the most expensive science experiment in history, depending on the expert opinion. But one thing it can do: replace AI as the carrier of long-term hopes for the tech industry. This would be the right moment for a switch, as the vibe shifts on AI itself: models are more expensive to train, returns are harder to demonstrate. Investors who have sent AI stock soaring may soon be looking for the next big thing to believe in.