When we first chose “New Tech” as the focus for our annual Corrugated Issue, we had no idea that Artificial Intelligence (AI) would explode into the packaging arena and dominate almost every new tech conversation. The most predictable thing about changing technology is the rate at which it comes flying at us: faster every minute. For instance, I now know the difference between generative AI and agentic AI. Generative AI relies on user prompts and uses advanced machine learning to generate entirely new outputs; I think it’s what most people think of when they worry about robots taking over for human poets, artists, and musicians. Agentic AI, on the other hand, is like having a new employee—an agent, if you will—capable of collecting, sorting, and processing data points a zillion times faster than an ordinary human. (I’m still fact-checking whether “zillion” is the scientifically preferred term.)

In FY 2017, the Postal Service recorded its first net loss from operations, since FY 2013, of $1.3 billion, largely due to declining mail volume, the expiration of the exigent surcharge, and higher operating costs. However, including non-cash workers’ compensation costs and retirement expenses, the net loss from operations increases to a total net loss of $2.7 billion in FY 2017. This is an improvement of $2.8 billion compared to the total net loss in FY 2016. This improvement is the result of a $4.8 billion decrease in the retiree health benefits expense, and a $3.4 billion decrease in the non-cash workers’ compensation expense, offset by $2.4 billion in increased expenses that resulted from provisions in the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA) for unfunded retirement benefit costs. Liquidity also continues to improve in FY 2017 and is at its highest level since FY 2007. However, liabilities on and off-balance sheet for pension and annuitant health benefits continue to threaten the improvements in liquidity. The Postal Service experienced a decline in revenue for most of its Market Dominant products. Consumer price index-based price increases were not sufficient to offset the decline in mail volume and the reduction in additional revenue from the expiration of the exigent surcharge. Overall Market Dominant Mail and Services revenue declined 7.7 percent from the previous year. First-Class Mail revenue declined by 6.7 percent while Marketing Mail revenue declined by 5.7 percent. Periodicals revenue also saw a decline of 8.8 percent. Conversely, package services revenue increased by 0.3 percent compared to FY 2016. Click Read More below for additional information.

American Dollar to Canadian Dollar = 0.731094; American Dollar to Chinese Yuan = 0.136855; American Dollar to Euro = 1.052716; American Dollar to Japanese Yen = 0.006684; American Dollar to Mexican Peso = 0.055826.