AI & Robotics: A New Wave of Industrial Automation

The robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) sectors are witnessing a strategic surge as major players double down on “embodied intelligence” robotics systems that don’t just execute motion but understand, learn, and adapt. A standout development: SoftBank Group has agreed to acquire ABB Robotics (part of the Swiss engineering group) for approximately USD 5.375 billion, signaling a push to merge AI and industrial robotics at scale. This acquisition highlights how AI-powered robotics is shifting from niche use cases into enterprise-grade infrastructure factories, logistics hubs, and service environments.

At the same time, new survey data from the Pittsburgh Robotics Network reveal that while 44% of U.S. respondents expect robotics to drive manufacturing back to domestic soil, many remain uneasy about the personal job impact and broader societal effects of automation.  The result: businesses have a window of opportunity but also a responsibility to implement AI/robotics solutions in a way that drives productivity and maintains workforce trust.

For B2B product and industrial companies, this trend matters deeply. Robotics integrated with AI (sometimes called “physical AI”) means vendors must rethink their value proposition: the conversation is no longer only about components or machines but about software-driven intelligence, continuous learning, interoperability, and lifecycle services. Companies that provide “robots + AI + analytics” are poised to gain differential advantage.