Yazılar

Manufacturers Turn to AI to Manage Supply Chains Amid Tariff Volatility

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U.S. manufacturers like The Toro Company are using artificial intelligence to maintain lean “just-in-time” inventories despite ongoing global trade uncertainties and fluctuating tariffs. Toro’s supply chain chief, Kevin Carpenter, says AI helps the company process daily news—from policy updates to commodity prices—into actionable insights, guiding purchasing and inventory decisions.

Generative AI is being increasingly adopted in supply chains, capable of analyzing massive datasets and suggesting optimal actions. Industry research firm Gartner predicts AI software spending for supply chains could rise from $2.7 billion today to $55 billion by 2029. Leading providers include SAP, Oracle, Coupa, Microsoft, and Blue Yonder.

While AI improves efficiency and helps manage cost pressures, experts caution it is not a “silver bullet.” Human oversight remains essential for strategic decisions, with AI handling routine tasks like scheduling and ordering. Companies using AI can better react to uncertainty, reduce excess inventory, and protect profit margins amid rising costs and global disruptions.

SoftBank Acquires Foxconn’s Ohio EV Plant to Support Stargate AI Infrastructure Project

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SoftBank Group Corp (9984.T) is purchasing Foxconn Technology Group’s (2317.TW) electric vehicle manufacturing plant in Ohio to further its ambitious Stargate project aimed at building extensive AI data center infrastructure across the United States, Bloomberg News reported on Friday. The Stargate initiative, unveiled by U.S. President Donald Trump in January, represents a private sector investment potentially reaching $500 billion, with backing from SoftBank, OpenAI, and Oracle (ORCL.N).

SoftBank reportedly faced challenges in its financial planning for Stargate and sought Foxconn’s involvement to facilitate the development of data centers and related infrastructure, leading to the acquisition. The Ohio facility is expected to be repurposed as a data center site. Reuters could not independently confirm the report; SoftBank declined to comment, and Foxconn did not immediately respond.

The Stargate Project aims to generate over 100,000 jobs across the U.S., aligning with national goals to boost AI infrastructure and domestic technological capacity.

Google Set to Offer Significant Cloud Service Discounts to U.S. Government, FT Reports

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Google is preparing to offer steep discounts on its cloud computing services to the U.S. government, with a deal possibly finalized within weeks, according to the Financial Times. This move aligns with President Donald Trump’s broader push to reduce federal spending.

Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that Oracle will provide federal agencies with a 75% discount on its license-based software and a substantial reduction on its cloud services through the end of November. Google’s upcoming cloud contract is expected to offer similar discounts, the FT said, citing a senior official from the General Services Administration (GSA). Discounts from Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services are also anticipated to follow soon.

The GSA official told the FT, “Every single one of those companies is totally bought in, they understand the mission. We will get there with all four players.”

Neither Google nor the GSA immediately responded to Reuters’ requests for comment outside business hours. In April, Google agreed to provide a 71% discount on its business apps package for federal agencies through September 30, a deal that could yield up to $2 billion in government-wide savings if broadly adopted.