ESD

Your Next Oil Change Could Soon Cost $120 As Iran Crisis Threatens Broader U.S. Economy

ANN ARBOR - Americans may soon feel the economic impact of the escalating Iran conflict in one of the most familiar parts of daily life: the cost of an oil change. Industry analysts are warning that synthetic oil changes — already approaching $100 for many vehicles — could surge to $120 or more if tensions

By |2026-05-20T09:42:03-04:00May 20th, 2026|Auto Tech, ESD|

Big Tech Wants To Turn Suburbs Into AI Infrastructure

ANN ARBOR - Homeowners could soon host mini AI data centers in exchange for energy savings, battery systems, or recurring payments as tech companies scramble for electricity and computing power. Imagine a quiet suburban neighborhood where homes are no longer just places to live — but part of America’s artificial intelligence infrastructure. Garages hum softly

Michigan Doubles Down On Mobility Innovation As AI, Robotics And Autonomous Systems Reshape Manufacturing

SOUTHFIELD - Michigan is once again putting taxpayer-backed resources behind its effort to become the national center for next-generation mobility, autonomous systems, AI-driven manufacturing, and advanced industrial technology. The Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Technological University announced a new funding round for its “Make It in Michigan Mobility Prototyping Grant Program,” offering up to $500,000 in

By |2026-05-14T09:37:03-04:00May 14th, 2026|Engineering Society of Detroit, ESD, Industry 4.0|

GM Cuts IT Jobs As Detroit Automaker Faces Mounting Cost Pressures, EV Transition, And AI Disruption

DETROIT -  Automotive News reported Monday that General Motors has eliminated additional information technology jobs as the automaker continues restructuring efforts aimed at lowering costs and accelerating its transition into a software-driven automotive company. The layoffs come as GM faces a difficult balancing act: funding billions of dollars in electric vehicle development, battery plants, software

By |2026-05-11T17:04:25-04:00May 11th, 2026|Auto Tech, Engineering Society of Detroit, ESD|

Could Chinese EVs Crush Detroit?

Part 1 or a two-part series on the Chinese auto threat to Michigan.  DETROIT - For generations, Detroit was the beating heart of American industrial power. In the decades following World War II, Michigan’s auto industry dominated not only the United States, but much of the global automobile market as well. During the 1950s and

Michigan Is Racing To Retrain Workers Before AI Reshapes The Economy

LANSING - For decades, Michigan feared factory layoffs. Now economists, technology executives and workforce experts increasingly warn the next major employment disruption may hit office workers instead. Artificial intelligence is beginning to automate tasks once performed by accountants, programmers, marketing specialists, administrative assistants, customer service representatives, analysts and even some engineers — and some of

By |2026-05-07T17:05:12-04:00May 7th, 2026|Artificial Intelligence, ESD, Industry 4.0|

Michigan’s White Collar Recession Has Started — And AI May Accelerate It

ANN ARBOR - For decades, white collar workers believed college degrees and office careers offered protection from the economic disruption that devastated factory towns across the Midwest. Automation was supposed to threaten assembly lines — not office cubicles. But economists, labor researchers and major national publications are increasingly warning that artificial intelligence could reshape professional

By |2026-05-06T17:13:51-04:00May 6th, 2026|Artificial Intelligence, Auto Tech, ESD, Featured, Industry 4.0|

GM’s $6 Billion Bet on Gas Engines Could Save Michigan Jobs as EV Demand Slows

DETROIT - General Motors is pouring more than $6 billion into U.S. manufacturing in just 12 months, a massive capital commitment that underscores a growing reality inside the auto industry: the transition to electric vehicles isn’t happening as fast as expected. The latest piece of that investment—about $830 million across key Midwest plants—is aimed squarely

By |2026-05-05T11:18:49-04:00May 5th, 2026|Auto Tech, Engineering Society of Detroit, ESD, Featured|

Michigan Can’t Find Enough Childcare Workers—State Launches New Recruiting Tool

Labor shortages in early education are now hitting Michigan’s workforce and economy. State officials say a new career tool could help—but questions remain about whether it’s enough. Photo credit: Stock Image.  LANSING - Michigan is facing a growing shortage of childcare and early education workers—and state officials are now rolling out a new tool they

By |2026-04-21T13:04:38-04:00April 21st, 2026|ESD, Government/Politics, Politics, Politics/Government|

From Desktop to Dirt: MSU Puts Weather, Pest Data in Farmers’ Hands With New App

EAST LANSING - Michigan State University AgBioResearch has launched a mobile version of its long-running Enviroweather system, giving Michigan farmers real-time access to critical weather and crop data directly from the field. The new Enviroweather Mobile app marks a major shift from desktop-only access to on-the-go decision-making—something growers say is increasingly essential as farming becomes

By |2026-04-18T18:12:45-04:00April 18th, 2026|ESD, Hemp|