Last Updated on November 10, 2025 by Daily News Staff

Leading with Purpose in the Age of AI

(Family Features) In today’s AI-powered economy, transformation is no longer optional – it’s essential. Enterprises are eager to embrace generative and agentic AI, but many lack the clarity and confidence to scale it responsibly.

As a global leader in technology and consulting services, Cognizant is helping organizations bridge that gap – turning possibility into progress.

The Moment is Now

AI is reshaping industries, redefining roles, and revolutionizing decision-making. According to Cognizant Research, 61% of senior decision-makers expect AI to drive complete business transformation. Yet, 83% feel unprepared to embed AI into their organizations, citing gaps in talent, governance, and culture.

This disconnect presents a powerful opportunity.

“In the age of AI, transformation isn’t just about technology, it’s about trust, talent and the ability to turn possibility into progress,” said Shveta Arora, head of Cognizant Consulting. “The true impact of AI is delivered when organizations build trust, invest in adaptable talent and embrace bold ideas. By empowering people and embedding AI responsibly, leaders can bridge the gap between potential and progress, ensuring lasting value for business and society.”

A Trusted Voice in AI

As a recognized leader in AI strategy and enterprise transformation, Cognizant brings credibility and clarity to this evolving space. It has been named a Leader and Star Performer by Everest Group in their 2024 AI and Generative AI Services PEAK Matrix Assessment, underscoring its strategic vision and execution.

With thought leadership in AI strategy and enterprise transformation published across thousands of U.S. outlets, its position as a trusted voice in shaping the future of AI has been reinforced. It has also been recognized across the industry for excellence in client service and innovation.

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Its platforms – Neuro, Flowsource and the Data and Intelligence Toolkit – are driving real-world impact across industries. Furthermore, a strategic collaboration with a leading enterprise-grade generative AI provider enables secure and scalable deployment of agentic AI in regulated settings, ensuring adherence to compliance and data governance standards

Bridging the AI Adoption Gap

When a leading property intelligence provider’s IT systems were hampering progressing turnaround times, the company turned to Cognizant’s Gen AI-powered Data as a Service and Neuro Business Process (BP) platform. Driven by AI insights and learning, Neuro BP centralized business processing. It automated data collection, case reviews and decision-making to align with the client’s goals. Powered by the platform, the organization saw a reduction in processing time and errors and an increase in productivity.

Stories like these are still the exception.

Despite enthusiasm and investment – global businesses are spending an average of $47.5 million on generative AI this year – many feel they’re moving too slowly. The barriers include talent shortages, infrastructure gaps and unclear governance. These challenges can be overcome by moving from experimentation to execution. With clarity, credibility and conviction, organizations can scale AI responsibly and effectively.

Accelerating Enterprise AI Transformations

Unlike traditional software, AI models are contextual computing engines. They don’t require every path to be spelled out in advance but instead interpret broad instructions and intent, and adapt based on the context they are given. Agentic AI systems lacking business-specific knowledge can lead to generic or unreliable outputs.

To address this, enterprises need systems that can deliver the right information and tools to AI models – enabling accurate decisions, alignment with human goals, compliance with policy frameworks and adaptability to real-time challenges. This is the role of context engineering, an emerging discipline focused on delivering the right context at the right time to agentic systems. Context refers to the sum of a company’s institutional knowledge, including its operating models, roles, goals, metrics, processes, policies and governance – essential ingredients for effective AI.

To guide clients through their AI journey, Cognizant developed the Strategic Enterprise Agentification Framework, an end-to-end model designed to unlock productivity, market expansion and new business models.

At its core is the Agent Development Lifecycle (ADLC), which guides the development of enterprise agents and agentic AI systems across six distinct stages. Designed to align with real-world enterprise dynamics, ADLC supports seamless integration with business applications. This unique approach embeds context engineering into ADLC, ensuring agents are tailored to support real-world enterprise dynamics.

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To help bridge vision and execution, businesses can utilize the Neuro AI Multi-Agent Accelerator. This no-code framework allows rapid deployment of custom multi-agent systems.

People Power the Progress

Technology alone doesn’t transform enterprises – people do. With an AI-driven Workforce Transformation (WFT), Cognizant helps organizations reskill employees, redesign roles and build AI fluency. Integrated with the Agentification Framework, WFT is designed to accelerate transformation and support long-term resilience.

From Possibility to Progress

From strategic frameworks to enterprise platforms to workforce readiness, Cognizant equips organizations with the confidence to harness AI responsibly and at scale. In the age of AI, it’s not just about transformation – it’s about leading with purpose.

Explore more at cognizant.com.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

SOURCE:
Cognizant

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Last Updated on November 4, 2025 by Daily News Staff

(Family Features) Homeowners still have time to take advantage of a federal tax credit of up to 30% of the cost of eligible energy-efficient home improvements. The Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (also known as the 25C tax credit) can help offset the expense of updating or upgrading major home systems while also lowering energy consumption.

Understanding the 25C Tax Credit

Homeowners in the United States may be eligible when they install qualifying energy-efficient equipment in their primary residence such as all-climate electric heat pumps, insulation, windows and other improvements. The credit is subject to some limitations; for example, a homeowner can only claim up to $2,000 per year for a heat pump. The installation must be an addition or improvement to an existing home, not a new home, and can be used in combination with other tax credits or incentives such as local, utility and federal incentives and IRA programs.

The current version of this tax credit was implemented Jan. 1, 2023, and expires Dec. 31, 2025. In addition, rising energy costs and potential regulatory changes in 2026, such as updated guidelines on refrigerant, make late 2025 a strategic time to upgrade systems.

Smart Ways to Use the Tax Credit
Generally, energy-saving upgrades are some of the most common home improvement projects because they enhance the home’s overall function while increasing the potential for cost savings on energy bills.

Some qualifying upgrades do double-duty by enhancing the home’s curb appeal while reducing energy requirements. Common examples include windows, skylights and exterior doors.

Insulation and air sealing materials such as caulk and weatherstripping are also common choices, especially in older homes where insulation may be below current standards and settling has created gaps for air leaks.

Another common selection for homeowners looking to take advantage of the 25C tax credit is climate control systems, and an increasing number are turning to all-climate, all-electric heat pumps. One major reason is their high performance when it comes to energy efficiency. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, today’s heat pumps can reduce electricity use for heating by 65% compared to electric resistance heating. In fact, Mitsubishi Electric all-climate, all-electric heat pumps have an efficiency rating at 260-490% compared to traditional systems at or below 100%.

In addition to their proven track record, contrary to a popular misconception that all-climate heat pumps are only for milder regions, the systems can operate quite effectively in both high heat and extreme cold. As a result, they provide homeowners with greater comfort and control of their indoor climate.

Take Steps to Beat the Deadline
If you’re a homeowner planning to make upgrades and claim 25C tax credits, now is the ideal time to get your project underway.

• Choose qualifying equipment. While some brands’ complete product lines meet the qualification criteria, others do not. Do your homework to ensure the model you’re installing is eligible for the credit. Your salesperson may be able to provide information, or you can visit the manufacturer website or contact the manufacturer directly for details.
• Work with a certified contractor. Many reputable brands, including Mitsubishi Electric, offer a contractor network with highly skilled, knowledgeable and reputable installers.
• Save your receipts to file. When you prepare your 2025 tax forms, you’ll need to complete IRS Form 5695. Specifically, you will need to provide the manufacturer’s pin number and other details about your purchase, including proof of purchase.

Find more tips to get started on a tax credit home upgrade project at mitsubishicomfort.com/inflation-reduction-act.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

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Mitsubishi Electric 

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Despite naysayers and rising costs, data shows that college still pays off for students – and society overall

Stanley S. Litow, Columbia University

No industry has perhaps felt the negative effect of a radical shift in federal policy under the second Trump administration more than higher education.

Many American colleges and universities, especially public institutions, have experienced swift and extensive federal cuts to grants, research and other programs in 2025.

Meanwhile, new restrictive immigration policies have prevented many international students from enrolling in public and private universities. Universities and colleges are also facing other various other challenges – like the threat to academic freedom.

These shifts coincide with the broader, increasingly amplified argument that getting a college degree does not matter, after all. A September 2025 Gallup poll shows that while 35% of people rated college as “very important,” another 40% said it is “fairly important,” and 24% said it is “not too important.”

By comparison, 75% of surveyed people in 2010 said that college was “very important,” while 21% said it was “fairly important” and 4% said it is “not too important.”

Still, as a scholar of education, economic development and social issues, I know that there is ample and growing evidence that a college degree is still very much worth it. Graduating from college is directly connected to higher entry-level wages and long-term career success.

A growing gap

Some people argue that a college degree does not matter, since there might not be enough jobs for college graduates and other workers, given the growth of artificial intelligence, for example. Some clear evidence shows otherwise.

An estimated 18.4 million workers with a college degree in the U.S. will retire from now through 2032, according to Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce. This is far greater than the 13.8 million workers who will enter the workforce with college degrees during this same time frame.

Meanwhile, an additional 685,000 new jobs that require college degrees – spanning from environmental positions to advanced manufacturing – will be created from now through 2032.

The gap between those expected to leave and enter the workforce with college degrees creates a serious problem. One major question is whether there will be enough people to fill the available jobs that require a college degree.

In 2023, foreign-born people made up 16% of registered nurses in the U.S., though that percentage is higher in certain states, like California. But restrictions on immigration could limit the number of potential nurses able to fill open positions.

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Nursing and teaching are two fields expected to grow over the next few decades, and they will require more workers due to retirements.

Other fields, like accounting, engineering, law and many others, are also expected to have more college-educated workers retire than there are new workers to fill their positions.

Worth the cost

The average annual salary of a college graduate from the class of 2023 was US$64,291 in 2024, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

The overall average salary for this graduation class one year after they left school marked an increase from the average $60,028 that the class of 2022 earned in 2023, equivalent to $63,850 today.

While there is not available data that offers a direct comparison, full-time, year-round workers ages 25 to 34 with a high school diploma earned $41,800 in median annual earnings in 2022, or $46,100 today.

Overall lifetime earnings for those with college degrees is about about $1.2 million more than people with a high school make, according to the recent Georgetown findings.

People who earn more generally have more money to support their families and contribute to their immediate communities. Their higher taxes also contribute to the U.S. economy, supporting needed services like education, public safety and health care.

People with college degrees are also more likely than those who are not college graduates to vote, volunteer and make charitable donations to help others in need.

College matters for individuals, but it clearly also helps improve the economy.

With 64 public colleges across the state, the State University of New York system is the largest post-secondary network of higher education schools in the country. For every $1 the state of New York invests in SUNY, the SUNY system returns $8.70 to the state in terms of economic growth, according to 2024 findings by the Rockefeller Institute, an independent public policy research organization affiliated with SUNY. And that is only one state.

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A new way forward

It isn’t likely that the expected number of college-educated people who will soon retire will suddenly decrease, or that the anticipated number of people entering the workforce will unexpectedly increase.

There are practical reasons why some people do not want to go to college, or cannot attend. Indeed, the percentage of young people enrolled as college undergraduates fell almost 15% from 2010 through 2022.

For one, tuition and fees at private colleges have increased about 32% since 2006, after adjusting for inflation. And in-state tuition and fees at public universities have also grown about 29% since 2006.

The total of federal student loan debt for college has also tripled since 2007. It stood at about $1.84 trillion in 2024.

I believe that in order to ensure enough college-educated people can fill the anticipated work openings in the future, universities and the government should embrace needed changes to increase both enrollment and completion rates.

Artificial intelligence will transform work worldwide, for example, and that shift should be incorporated into higher education curriculum and degrees. Soft skills – like problem-solving, collaboration, presentation and writing skills – will become more important and should be prioritized in the learning process.

I believe that universities should also prioritize experiential education, including paid internships that offer students academic credit. This can help students gain experience that is both accredited and is connected to direct career pathways.

Universities and high schools could also expand how much they offer microcredentials – or short, focused learning programs that offer practical skills in a specific area – so students can connect their education with clear career pathways.

These reforms aren’t easy. They require a commitment to change, and all of this work will require deep partnerships with the government. While that might be a heavy lift currently at the federal level, it is both possible and achievable to make advances on these and other changes at the state level.

American universities and colleges have always been key to preparing the workforce for economic opportunity. At the end of World War II, for example, Columbia University and IBM worked together to help create the academic discipline now called computer science.

This action did more than help one university or one employer. It fueled change across higher education and across private companies and the government, leading to massive economic growth.

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Universities have made countless other contributions to strengthen and expand the economy. Considering solutions to some of the challenges that stop students from going to college could help ensure that more students see the value in a college education – and a tangible way for them to connect it to a future career.

Stanley S. Litow, Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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