This is you Robotics Industry Insider: AI & Automation News podcast.
The robotics and automation sector has hit a notable inflection point this week, with major developments shaping the future of industrial technology. SoftBank’s acquisition of ABB’s Robotics and Discrete Automation group marks one of the most significant deals of the year, signaling a shift in global leadership as ABB refocuses and SoftBank accelerates its push into smart manufacturing platforms. Industry observers see this move as pivotal, expanding the reach of artificial intelligence-powered robotics across supply chains and tightening the race between U.S. and Asian giants. At the same time, new collaborative robot deployments are transforming manufacturing lines. Stäubli Robotics’ launch of the MTC-900 plug-and-play machine tending solution is catching attention for seamlessly enhancing safety and productivity, while Güdel’s CoboMover is tackling the long-standing challenge of work envelope restrictions for both industrial and tabletop collaborative robots, improving flexibility without sacrificing precision.
Strategic integration of artificial intelligence has become a central theme for 2025. Robotics companies are rapidly embedding generative AI, as shown by MIT CSAIL’s creation of hyper-realistic virtual environments that allow robots to learn physical interaction before ever touching hardware, setting a new standard in robotic training and reducing deployment risk. ABB’s investment in LandingAI further demonstrates how intuitive vision AI is replacing cumbersome system configuration with imitation learning, dramatically slashing commissioning times and making smart robotic cells attainable for small and mid-sized manufacturers.
Investors and industrial operators face a dynamic landscape. Although the industrial automation sector has slowed after years of hyper-growth, market research from Spherical Insights forecasts a robust rebound, projecting the global market will swell from 228.9 billion US dollars in 2024 to nearly 591 billion US dollars by 2035, with a compound annual growth rate of 9 percent. Technologies like edge computing and the industrial Internet of Things now underpin real-time escalations and predictive maintenance, keeping operations lean amid unwavering pressure for efficiency and labor shortages.
Following the U.S. government’s newly proposed tariffs on robotics, global leaders are reassessing their reshoring strategies. Case studies are surfacing, such as Machina Labs partnering with major automakers to revolutionize metal forming, making mass customization viable with AI-powered robots. Meanwhile, interest in sustainability is driving adoption, with the Asia Pacific region holding 39 percent of the global market share and initiatives like “Make in India” and Europe’s “Green Deal” incentivizing adoption of green automation technologies.
Practical takeaways for listeners in the industrial sector include evaluating new plug-and-play collaborative robot platforms to rapidly increase safety and output, piloting generative AI tools for virtual robot training to reduce commissioning times, and watching the evolving M and A landscape for partnership opportunities. The future points toward intelligent automation ecosystems driven by AI, with collaborative robots and advanced machine learning expanding beyond manufacturing into logistics, construction, and even food prep.
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