The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into robotics has moved beyond speculation and is now a reality poised for significant growth. The ABI Research report, The Landscape of AI in Industrial and Collaborative Robotics, reveals that AI-augmented industrial and collaborative robots have reached a level of technological maturity conducive to widespread adoption, thereby offering tangible return on investment (ROI) potential for manufacturers and logistics providers.
“For years, the robotics industry has grappled with the 'sim-to-real' gap and the over-promising of nascent AI," remarked George Chowdhury, senior analyst at ABI Research.
"Our deep dive into the technology's readiness confirms that robust algorithms, particularly in Dynamic Policy Adjustment (DPA) and emerging Robotics Foundation Models, are now capable of delivering on the promise of true adaptive automation.” George Chowdhury
He emphasised that this development represents a paradigm shift in robotics, allowing machines to adapt to the unpredictable nature of real-world tasks rather than relying on rigid programming.
While traditional robotics solutions continue to support static manufacturing processes, significant growth is anticipated in "under-automated" markets. These sectors, including life sciences, high-value manufacturing—such as semiconductor production—and expansive logistics and warehousing, demand sophisticated manipulation that contemporary robots can now provide.
ABI Research's report highlights technological advancements reshaping the robotics landscape. Key innovations include reinforcement learning, large language model interfaces for human-robot interaction, new SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) technologies, agentic AI, and enhanced machine vision algorithms. The report also profiles leading companies contributing to these advancements, such as InBolt, T-Robotics, and NVIDIA.
Chowdhury pointed out that the critical challenge is translating this technical readiness into widespread commercial adoption. "Vendors must prioritise usability, transparency, and clear ROI metrics to overcome economic uncertainty and market skepticism," he added.
As the market for AI in robotics expands, businesses across various sectors need to consider how these advancements can enhance their operations and meet the demands of increasingly complex tasks.
The journey towards integrating AI into robotics is not merely about automation; it represents a fundamental shift in capabilities and opportunities.
