Industrial operations are at a pivotal moment, shaped by rising complexity and workforce shortages, and further amplified by global uncertainties. This white paper – Physical AI: Powering the New Age of Industrial Operations – explores how advances in industrial robotics are redefining automation and creating new opportunities for resilience and growth.

Breakthroughs in hardware, artificial intelligence and vision systems are giving rise to “physical AI” – robotic systems capable of perception, reasoning and autonomous action. Three complementary robotics systems are emerging that will coexist in the target state: rule-based, training-based and context-based robotics. Transformation journeys from Amazon and Foxconn illustrate how these innovations are already reshaping their operations and delivering results today.

Yet scaling intelligent robotics requires more than technology. The paper highlights the need to embed a new physical AI technology stack, forge ecosystem partnerships and invest in workforce transformation. By acting now, manufacturers can lead a future where intelligent automation drives sustainable, adaptive and inclusive growth.