Author: 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
Economy and TradingGovernment

Government Shutdown Impact: 3 Critical Ways Small Businesses Suffer

Federal shutdowns create devastating ripple effects across America’s small business landscape. From frozen contract payments to halted SBA lending, the economic damage accumulates daily. Understanding these impacts helps businesses prepare contingency plans.

The ongoing government shutdown represents more than political gridlock—it’s an economic crisis for America’s small business community. While federal employees face immediate financial hardship, the collateral damage extends deep into the private sector, particularly affecting small enterprises that form the backbone of local economies. The history of government shutdowns in the United States shows these events create lasting economic scars that outlive the political disputes that cause them.

Contract Payment Freezes Cripple Government Vendors

by Natalie Brooks
Business SoftwareCloud Computing

Windows 10 Support Ends: How to Secure Microsoft’s Free Extended Security Updates Now

Microsoft has officially ended support for Windows 10 as of October 14, 2025. While your PC will continue to function, security updates have ceased. Here’s how to upgrade to Windows 11 or enroll in Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates program for free protection.

After years of warnings, Microsoft has officially ended support for Windows 10 as of Tuesday, October 14, 2025. This means the operating system that powered millions of personal computers worldwide will no longer receive critical security updates, technical assistance, or free software patches. While your existing Windows 10 installation will continue to function, the security implications are significant enough that Microsoft strongly recommends transitioning to newer solutions.

What Windows 10 Support Ending Actually Means

by Natalie Brooks
BusinessEnergy

Bloom Energy’s $5 Billion Brookfield Deal: Fueling AI Datacenters Despite Financial Challenges

Bloom Energy’s shares surged 27% after announcing a $5 billion deal with Brookfield to power hyperscale datacenters. Founder KR Sridhar’s stake now approaches $500 million, though the fuel cell maker has never turned a profit in 24 years of operation.

The artificial intelligence boom continues to create surprising winners, with fuel cell manufacturer Bloom Energy becoming the latest beneficiary. The company’s shares rocketed 27% following Monday’s announcement of a massive $5 billion, multi-year deal with real estate giant Brookfield to power hyperscale datacenters, particularly in European markets.

by Natalie Brooks
Assistive TechnologyComputer Hardware

AMD Showcases Its “Helios” Rack-Scale Platform Featuring Next-Gen EPYC CPUs & Instinct GPUs; Ready to Target NVIDIA’s Dominance

AMD has unveiled its Helios rack-scale platform at the Open Compute Project, featuring next-generation EPYC CPUs and Instinct GPUs. The platform leverages open standards and liquid cooling to compete with NVIDIA’s AI solutions.

AMD’s Helios Platform Targets AI Dominance

AMD has showcased its groundbreaking Helios rack-scale platform at the Open Compute Project (OCP), marking a significant step in its strategy to challenge industry leaders. The platform combines next-generation EPYC CPUs and Instinct GPUs in an open architecture designed for advanced AI workloads. This move positions AMD directly against competitors like NVIDIA, leveraging open standards to drive innovation in artificial intelligence infrastructure.

by Natalie Brooks