Author: Natalie Brooks

Economy and TradingPersonal Finance

Federal Reserve Signals Rate Cuts as Powell Acknowledges Shifting Economic Priorities

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell delivered his clearest signal yet that rate cuts are approaching, acknowledging rising unemployment risks alongside cooling inflation. The shift in tone sparked immediate market enthusiasm, with investors anticipating potential parabolic moves in the fourth quarter.

In a significant departure from his typically cautious communication style, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell delivered what markets interpreted as the strongest signal yet that monetary policy easing is on the horizon. During his Tuesday address to the National Association for Business Economics, Powell acknowledged mounting “downside risks to unemployment” while suggesting the central bank may need to move toward a more neutral policy stance.

Powell’s Pivotal Policy Shift

by Natalie Brooks
AI AnalyticsCloud Computing

OpenAI and Oracle’s Stargate Abilene: 450,000 GB200 GPUs to Power AI Supercluster

Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison announced during his Oracle AI World keynote that the OpenAI partnership will deploy over 450,000 Nvidia GB200 GPUs at the Abilene, Texas data center. The massive deployment will consume 1.2 gigawatts of power, equivalent to powering one million American homes.

In a landmark announcement that signals the accelerating scale of artificial intelligence infrastructure, Oracle CTO and Chairman Larry Ellison revealed during his Oracle AI World keynote that the company’s partnership with OpenAI will deploy more than 450,000 Nvidia GB200 GPUs at the Stargate Abilene data center campus. This represents one of the largest single AI infrastructure deployments ever announced, highlighting the massive computational requirements of next-generation AI models.

Unprecedented Scale of GPU Deployment

by Natalie Brooks
Assistive TechnologyBusiness Software

Firefox Adds Perplexity AI as Default Search Engine: What You Need to Know

Mozilla has made Perplexity AI a permanent search engine option in Firefox following positive user feedback. The AI-powered search provides conversational answers with citations, eliminating the need to sift through traditional results.

In a significant move for search engine diversity, Mozilla has officially integrated Perplexity AI as a default search option in Firefox for desktop users. This expansion follows a successful limited test earlier this year and represents Mozilla’s continued commitment to offering innovative search alternatives beyond traditional options.

From Testing to Permanent Fixture

by Natalie Brooks
Assistive TechnologyComputer Hardware

Intel’s Crescent Island GPU: 2026 Customer Testing Signals AI Chip Push

Intel confirms its Crescent Island data center GPU will reach customer testing in late 2026, representing the chipmaker’s strategic shift toward AI inference workloads. This comes amid intense competition and supply constraints in the AI chip market.

Intel has confirmed its upcoming GPU codenamed Crescent Island will enter customer sampling in the second half of 2026, signaling the semiconductor giant’s renewed determination to compete in the rapidly expanding artificial intelligence accelerator market. This development comes as Intel seeks to establish a foothold against dominant players Nvidia and AMD, particularly in the data center segment where AI workloads have created unprecedented demand.

Crescent Island GPU: Intel’s Strategic AI Play

by Natalie Brooks
Energy PolicyManufacturing

Manufacturing Day 2025: Why Skilled Workforce Development Must Be America’s Top Priority

As Manufacturing Day 2025 approaches, America faces a critical skills gap threatening manufacturing competitiveness. With 3.8 million jobs needing filling and potential reshoring increasing demand, technical education and apprenticeship programs offer viable solutions. This comprehensive analysis explores how certificate training, changing perceptions, and collaborative efforts can build the skilled workforce manufacturers desperately need.

As we approach Manufacturing Day 2025, the United States stands at a critical crossroads in addressing its manufacturing workforce challenges. The widening skills gap threatens to erode U.S. manufacturing competitiveness and undermine economic growth at a time when global competition intensifies. While certificate and license training programs demonstrate clear economic returns, most government funding continues flowing toward traditional college education rather than technical training pathways.

The Growing Manufacturing Skills Crisis

by Natalie Brooks