Is “HAL” (“I’m sorry, Dave. I’m afraid I can’t do that,” 2001 A Space Odessy) taking over your Gmail?

“If you are the same business tomorrow that you are today, you’re probably not going to be successful.”  

Jared Kugel, founder and CEO of the e-commerce site Tire Agent

MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association

• The Artificial Intelligence Skills Mismatch Economy: Insights from the Wharton-Accenture Skills Index

  Ths report tracks the shifts, highlighting the need for employers to redesign work and compensation around real skill economics, for workers to market themselves as portfolios of high-value capabilities, and for educators to rebalance curricula toward scarce, job-ready skills, underscoring that skills—not titles—are now the true currency of the labor market.

• The List – The Butte Economic Development Corporation

  Highlights of what we’ve checked off in the last month.

• Montana Department of Commerce Allocates Grants to 25 Agricultural Businesses and Organizations

  “Commerce’s Agritourism Grants help Montana farmers and ranchers expand operations by developing new or enhancing established agritourism revenue streams, by creating agritourism opportunities with a focus on rural, under-visited and tribal locations, all while generating tourism revenue that will benefit local economies across the state,” said Commerce Director Marta Bertoglio.

Great Falls Montana Development Alliance

• Community Question: Should Great Falls Embrace Data Centers?

  Comparing data centers to coal plants in terms of scale and resource demands, participants weighed economic benefits against environmental risks, ultimately agreeing that the event’s open, respectful dialogue was a valuable step in helping the community understand and shape how Great Falls might engage with the growing data center industry.

Funding and Building your Montana Business

• It’s Never Too Late to Start a Company Even In Your 60’s.

  This trend extends beyond entrepreneurship, as broader research shows scientists and inventors are increasingly making their most significant contributions after age 40, reflecting the growing importance of experience and accumulated knowledge.

Regional Economic Development

• Huge Cheyenne, Wyoming Data Center Grows To 2.7 Gigawatts — Nearly Triple State Power Use

  Cheyenne has approved Project Jade, a Tallgrass–Crusoe AI data center using up to 2.7 GW of self-generated power, nearly triple the entire state’s power demand. That’s 50% larger than the 1.8 GW the companies announced in August.

YOUR MONTANA CAREER

• The 36 Questions That Lead to Love – This is Amazing.

  The idea is that mutual vulnerability fosters closeness. To quote the study’s authors, “One key pattern associated with the development of a close relationship among peers is sustained, escalating, reciprocal, personal self-disclosure.” Allowing oneself to be vulnerable with another person can be exceedingly difficult, so this exercise forces the issue.

Montana Energy and Transportation

• Is an “ElectricFish” at every gas station the next step in electric vehicle charging?

  The model can add up to 180 miles of range per stop and removes upfront installation costs for property owners through a revenue-sharing approach.

VR/AR, Blockchain, Bitcoin, Artificial Intelligence, The Internet of Things and Montana

• Is “HAL” (“I’m sorry, Dave. I’m afraid I can’t do that,” 2001 A Space Odessy) taking over your Gmail?

  Beginning today, Google has decided to gently, benevolently, and completely irrevocably merge its vast artificial intelligence consciousness into Gmail, an environment you already trust with your receipts, regrets, and unread newsletters. This upgrade, powered by Gemini 3, will introduce automation intended to reduce inbox overload, which is a polite way of saying you will no longer be consulted about how your email is organized.

Social Media, Connectivity & Communications in Montana

• I got stranded in Germany for days. It gave me faith in humanity.

  I was a fool. The 10-minute delay became 20. Twenty minutes became an hour. Virtually no one in our gate area had Frankfurt as their final destination. Frankfurt is the busiest airport in Germany and a de facto hub for nearly all Western Europe air travel. I went to the gate agent in Berlin and asked for more information. Turned out that our flight hadn’t even LEFT its original airport yet to come get us. Our connection window closed slowly at first, and then all at once.

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