Build IT

Digital transformations have made an appreciable impact on society. Whether it's conspicuous guidance or subtle suggestion, technology influences our everyday decisions. Think about it: You landed on this very page because an algorithm willed it — via a social platform, a search result, or some other digital conduit.

This extensive development of information technology has disrupted just about every industry you can think of. It's gaining even more momentum with the help of innovations such as artificial intelligence, cloud tech, extended reality, and additive manufacturing.

Business Insider's ongoing series "Build IT" takes a deep dive into the technologies that are driving change across sectors, including banking, farming, fashion, music, sports, and more.

Read the stories ahead to learn how experts are using tech tools to improve companies of all sizes and create a world where IT and digital innovations have resounding authority.

To stop bugs with fewer pesticides, a tech startup is arming farmers with AI-powered sensors and insect monitoring

5 min read

How voice AI can slash healthcare clinicians' workloads — and offer companionship for older adults

6 min read

Augmented reality can show local residents future building plans in real time — and Tampa Bay wants in

5 min read

A data-center operator is future-proofing 300 facilities for the AI boom. Two executives share how they're making it sustainable.

8 min read

A nonprofit used AI to document 77 million miles of unmapped waterways. Here's why that matters.

4 min read

A busy port's new 5G network can help cargo ships 100 miles away stay connected to the mainland

5 min read

Zurich Insurance's new CRM is like Spotify for insurance agents — and it could improve customer service

4 min read

Farmers are using IoT to take the guesswork out of growing

7 min read

A travel-fintech app uses AI search to cut through digital clutter. It saves employees more than 1,500 hours every month.

4 min read

A Georgia health system gave location-tracking badges to 10,000 staff members for safety — it worked

5 min read

A hatch manufacturer started using augmented reality and ditched VPNs — it cut costs by thousands

5 min read

Leaders from the CIA, Dell Technologies, HP, SageCXO, and ezCater share how they keep up with AI development

12 min read

A tech leader at Accenture shares how AI and cloud tools in the public sector can evolve with regulation: 'It's still the Wild West'

7 min read

Adaptive-learning tech shows promise in helping students and teachers achieve classroom equity

5 min read

Crop loss is a huge problem for sustainability and food security. I'm using AI and computer vision to help fix it.

4 min read

MIT researchers say that AI is 'inherently sociopathic' — but that it can be trained to give ethical financial advice

6 min read

Anaconda's chief AI and innovation officer says Python can make on-premises IT solutions 'easier and safer' as companies seek stronger data protection

7 min read

I'm the chief product officer of a workforce software provider — here's how my company uses AI to help develop talent

3 min read

The founder of a software-development company says there's a 'huge demand' for training and education applications — extended reality can help

6 min read

How Penske uses AI to prevent costly truck breakdowns and improve repairs

4 min read

AI and security concerns fuel a shift to on-premises IT infrastructure as companies seek more control of data

6 min read

Tech has transformed in-person art-viewing experiences. AI is changing them even more.

4 min read

AI could become a lawyer's greatest help in the courtroom

7 min read

Some retailers are using cloud computing for sustainability transparency as the fashion industry approaches a greenwashing reckoning

6 min read

An AI startup focused on maritime safety is helping sailors navigate the ocean and avoid collisions

6 min read

Virtual reality could unlock better treatment for psychosis — a use case that's gaining traction globally

5 min read

'What are your clothes made of?' is a deceptively difficult question. AI can help answer it.

6 min read

AI is ushering in a new era of personalized marketing

7 min read

AI chatbots spew out nonsense too often. But there's a solution: retrieval-augmented generation.

7 min read

Waste-management facilities are using AI to turn trash into recycled treasure

5 min read

Virtual reality could revolutionize mental-health treatments, including ketamine therapy, for conditions like depression and anxiety

5 min read

Mental-health professionals explore AI-powered digital therapeutics to treat patients and improve care

5 min read

'We can save our planet faster': Robotics tech and software offer efficient reforestation solutions

5 min read

AI is helping fragrance companies unlock the sensational possibilities of smell

7 min read

These sustainability-tech companies use AI to improve ocean health by keeping plastics out, boosting coral reefs, and monitoring fish farms

5 min read

Cybersecurity experts harness AI to safeguard mobile apps against emerging threats

4 min read

Virtual-reality concerts could redefine the live-music experience — but it'll take more time

6 min read

Emergency dispatchers are using AI and cloud-based tools to help those in need faster

6 min read

Extended-reality workouts usher in an immersive era of virtual fitness on VR headsets

4 min read

Winemakers embrace AI and IoT tools to improve their vineyards and produce better wine

8 min read

Warehouse logistics systems find efficiency and productivity benefits in lightweight augmented-reality headsets

6 min read

Using AI in classrooms could help or hurt students — that's why educators should teach tech literacy, scholars say

6 min read

Fashion brands using AI to analyze trends could 'completely transform the creative process,' a consultant says

5 min read

Jack Harlow, Palaye Royale, and other music artists are using blockchain to connect with fans — and build profitable online communities

8 min read

5G-powered wearable tech could be the key to inclusive experiences for deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences at live performances

6 min read

AI is changing the healthcare industry and could transform the way patients get drugs and treatments

7 min read

A new group at Amazon is helping customers including PGA Tour and Bridgewater make generative-AI applications

3 min read

AI is accelerating the recruitment process — but tech leaders warn of bias and other risks

8 min read

Virtual-reality tech is helping real-estate agents and homebuyers save time and close deals — even remotely

5 min read

AI, autonomous systems, and digital connectivity could help ships cut emissions

7 min read

Beauty brands are combining AI and 3D-printing tech to make personalized skincare products that target your specific needs

6 min read

Extended reality is helping solve some of marketing's biggest challenges by creating memorable, immersive customer experiences

5 min read

Amazon and Shopify sellers are using AI to save time, better understand their customers, and improve their profit margins

4 min read

AI, machine learning, and robotics are making the retail supply chain more efficient and resilient after several rocky years

7 min read

Accessible tech is making travel more inclusive — and setting better standards for the hospitality industry

7 min read

Insurance companies are betting on AI and mass data analytics in a battle against fraud that costs billions

6 min read

Natural-hair care is getting a boost from AI as Black-owned beauty-tech companies harness personalized data to better serve customers

7 min read

3D-weaving tech that uses body-scan data from shoppers could mean a better fit, fewer returns, and a zero-waste future for fashion

7 min read

As cloud tech powers the world's most popular sports leagues, everyone from executives and coaches to players and fans reap the benefits

8 min read

AI sensors and WiFi networks that provide workplace insights are antidotes for some companies combating 'zombie offices'

8 min read

Food-truck owners from marginalized communities are cooking up success with cloud-based POS systems and analytics software

7 min read

Web3 music platforms are combining new tech with Web2 features to give artists better compensation and 'create dope consumer experiences'

8 min read

The farming industry is struggling with labor shortages and the climate crisis. But agtech like digital cow collars and AI-quality-control tools are solving problems in unexpected ways.

6 min read

Everlane slashed its carbon emissions by 22% with help from a high-tech startup. Companies all over the world are racing to do the same.

7 min read

Cash in or lose out: Banks are turning to AI, cloud computing, and Web3 to gain competitive advantage and customer loyalty

7 min read

Emerging tech, from AI to extended reality, is radically reshaping today's business world — and leaders who don't get on board ASAP will be left in the dust

9 min read