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   Artificial Intelligence is becoming commonplace across major industries and retail is no exception.The retail industry is looking for ways to keep up with the times and many companies have started implementing AI technology across the entire product and service cycle – from assembly to post-sale customer service interactions.Major retailers such as Walmart, Sephora, Walgreens, North Face, Uniqlo, West Elm, and Macy’s are using AI to enhance customers’ experiences at their stores while also improving security. AI Applications in Retail While hardware giant Lowe’s uses small robots to give directions and help customers navigate a large hardware store, Walgreens is using technology to track the spread of flu, based on the locations of customers picking up prescriptions so they can alert customers to the flu activity in their area and stock more flu-related products.Another example is makeup company Sephora, which now uses AI technology in many of its stores to scan c...

   Recent surveys on the U.S. labor market point to favorable employment opportunities for engineers and scientists, even in today’s struggling economy. According to statistics compiled at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the nation’s engineering workforce of more than 1.7 million professionals is expected to increase by 11 percent through 2016. In addition, studies of the science and engineering labor force conducted by the National Science Foundation note that the strong growth in technology jobs over the past two decades will continue, both in absolute numbers and as a percentage of the total labor market. Engineers and scientists are earning good starting salaries as well. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), 12 of the 15 highest-earning college degrees are in engineering. Starting salaries in petroleum engineering average $83,121, while mechanical, aeronautical, and industrial engineers can expect offers in the mid to...

   Although the change is gradual, the U.S. is gaining ground on a more sustainable future. Energy experts and environmentalists can argue it’s not occurring fast enough, but from transportation to engineering, improvements are being made. The Prius is Toyota’s third most popular car. Each year brings a new round of hybrid vehicles, making over 30 different hybrid cars at the start of 2012. Eco-friendly building options are becoming more affordable, and alternative fuels are being put to use. For instance, Green Mountain College in Vermont operates off a biomass plant that heats the entire campus using green woodchips, a local, renewable and sustainable fuel source. More city engineers are adding bike lanes and wider streets as commuter biking grows in popularity. In fact, each year the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) holds a Human Powered Vehicle Challenge where top engineering students design sleek pedal-powered vehicles capable of road use. By creating new p...

   The face of mechanical engineering is changing — dramatically. Engineers aged 55 to 60 are retiring, taking vital knowledge with them. The young engineers who will replace them are focused on specialization, branching off into sub-disciplines and job-hopping. These and other insights were revealed by ASME, the American Society of  Mechanical Engineers , a 130,000-member-strong worldwide professional society. “In the next 5 to 10 years, the challenge will be: how do you transition knowledge at companies like Boeing? People are coming out of school with a different perspective, and the information is changing so quickly,” said Karen Ohland, Senior Vice President, Knowledge and Community Sector, ASME. Additionally, there’s a rising trend among companies to try out “20-somethings” in work-study positions. Companies test these younger engineers part-time to see how well they perform — re-establishing de facto apprenticeship programs as an important avenue into the professio...

   If you’ve ever experienced a flooded home from a busted hose on a washing machine, dishwasher or refrigerator, you know the indescribable feeling of relief when a tradesman shows up at your door. Without hesitation,  skilled tradesmen  work in all weather conditions and often in the most undesirable places — like a muddy basement or crawl space — to repair the faulty water line and remove damaged insulation and flooring before mold and mildew set in. Tradesmen replace your initial panic with confidence that your largest personal investment will retain its value. Yet, why do we not openly recognize these humble and often underappreciated men and women who make it their life’s work to save and restore our homes? Fortunately, there are individuals and companies who want to celebrate what tradesmen do to help us get back into a repaired home, and on with our comfortable lives. One such company is IRWIN Tools, who initiated National Tradesmen Day as a way to give trade...

     The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently reported the addition of 165,000 jobs in April and a national unemployment average of 7.5 percent. Compared to the nine and 10 percent unemployment rates of 2010, the figure is promising. This May, however, could be a different story as employers typically increase hiring efforts in advance of the summer and holiday seasons. In particular, Tennessee-based discount retailer  Dollar General  plans to hire 10,000 new employees in May for its store and distribution center locations. With a presence in 40 states throughout the country, entry-level or management job seekers should seriously consider joining one of America’s fastest growing retailers. Under the leadership of Rick Dreiling since 2008, Dollar General has grown into the retail powerhouse it is today. Nearly 75 years after the company’s founding in 1939, Dreiling’s vision for Dollar General has transformed the retailer into its sector leader with nearly 11,000 l...