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AI's $500B Manufacturing Moment: Microsoft's CapEx Surge, Factory Boom & The Future of Procurement
Are we about to see the biggest manufacturing boom since World War II?
Manufacturing is experiencing its biggest transformation in decades, driven by AI breakthroughs and unprecedented government incentives. Greg Smyth and Will Drewery, co-founders of Diagon.ai, join Blake Menezes to dissect Microsoft's massive $120 billion annual CapEx commitment and a wave of new factory announcements totaling over $12 billion. What's driving this surge? "Business confidence is returning as the tariff situation stabilizes and GDP rebounds to 3%," explains Greg.
The conversation explores Jensen Huang's provocative concept of "two factories for every factory" - one producing physical goods, the other manufacturing intelligence through AI. Will emphasizes the productivity imperative: "Companies won't be able to compete without AI integration in strategic industries." They break down three critical provisions in recent manufacturing legislation that could save companies millions through equipment expensing and advanced manufacturing credits. The hosts also preview Albus, their AI procurement assistant that's revolutionizing how manufacturers source equipment by acting as "the most capable technical procurement person you could add to your team."
In This Episode:
Guest Bio
Patrick McGee is a Financial Times journalist and author of "Apple in China," examining how Apple became dependent on Chinese manufacturing infrastructure. As the Financial Times' Apple beat reporter from 2019-2023, McGee covered global supply chain dynamics and US-China trade relationships. His investigative work earned him the San Francisco Press Club Award in 2023. "Apple in China" has been recognized by The Economist as one of 2025's top 40 books and named a most anticipated title by major publications.
About the Show
The Movers and Makers podcast, powered by Diagon.ai, explores the future of manufacturing and supply chain innovation. Hosted by Diagon co-founders Will Drewery and Greg Smyth, the show covers factory-building strategies, manufacturing processes, and market insights. With expertise from Diagon, a leader in reshoring and streamlining manufacturing equipment procurement, the podcast offers valuable perspectives for engineers, executives, and enthusiasts aiming to optimize supply chains and drive efficiency in the industry.
Resources:
Publications/Articles Mentioned: The Economist magazine, Barry Weiss's Honestly podcast, Wall Street Journal article on Tesla's Optimist robot development with Chinese suppliers, "Breakneck" by Dan Wang (upcoming book), "Abundance" by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, Andy Grove's 2010 essay on manufacturing and innovation
Book: "Apple in China" by Patrick McGee (available at major bookstores)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prmcgee/
Twitter/X: @PatrickMcGee_
Website: https://patrick-mcgee.com/
Diagon.ai
Will Drewery LinkedIn
Greg Smyth LinkedIn
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By DiagonAre we about to see the biggest manufacturing boom since World War II?
Manufacturing is experiencing its biggest transformation in decades, driven by AI breakthroughs and unprecedented government incentives. Greg Smyth and Will Drewery, co-founders of Diagon.ai, join Blake Menezes to dissect Microsoft's massive $120 billion annual CapEx commitment and a wave of new factory announcements totaling over $12 billion. What's driving this surge? "Business confidence is returning as the tariff situation stabilizes and GDP rebounds to 3%," explains Greg.
The conversation explores Jensen Huang's provocative concept of "two factories for every factory" - one producing physical goods, the other manufacturing intelligence through AI. Will emphasizes the productivity imperative: "Companies won't be able to compete without AI integration in strategic industries." They break down three critical provisions in recent manufacturing legislation that could save companies millions through equipment expensing and advanced manufacturing credits. The hosts also preview Albus, their AI procurement assistant that's revolutionizing how manufacturers source equipment by acting as "the most capable technical procurement person you could add to your team."
In This Episode:
Guest Bio
Patrick McGee is a Financial Times journalist and author of "Apple in China," examining how Apple became dependent on Chinese manufacturing infrastructure. As the Financial Times' Apple beat reporter from 2019-2023, McGee covered global supply chain dynamics and US-China trade relationships. His investigative work earned him the San Francisco Press Club Award in 2023. "Apple in China" has been recognized by The Economist as one of 2025's top 40 books and named a most anticipated title by major publications.
About the Show
The Movers and Makers podcast, powered by Diagon.ai, explores the future of manufacturing and supply chain innovation. Hosted by Diagon co-founders Will Drewery and Greg Smyth, the show covers factory-building strategies, manufacturing processes, and market insights. With expertise from Diagon, a leader in reshoring and streamlining manufacturing equipment procurement, the podcast offers valuable perspectives for engineers, executives, and enthusiasts aiming to optimize supply chains and drive efficiency in the industry.
Resources:
Publications/Articles Mentioned: The Economist magazine, Barry Weiss's Honestly podcast, Wall Street Journal article on Tesla's Optimist robot development with Chinese suppliers, "Breakneck" by Dan Wang (upcoming book), "Abundance" by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, Andy Grove's 2010 essay on manufacturing and innovation
Book: "Apple in China" by Patrick McGee (available at major bookstores)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prmcgee/
Twitter/X: @PatrickMcGee_
Website: https://patrick-mcgee.com/
Diagon.ai
Will Drewery LinkedIn
Greg Smyth LinkedIn