AI @ Rockwell Automation
Summary
- Rockwell Automation has steadily increased its investment and integration of AI technologies from 2019 through 2025, evolving from anomaly detection (FactoryTalk Analytics LogixAI in 2019) to advanced generative AI collaborations with Microsoft and NVIDIA by 2024 and 2025.
- Key partnerships, including with Microsoft (expanded in Q4 2023) and NVIDIA (starting early 2024), have driven the adoption of generative AI for industrial automation, autonomous robots, and factory-scale digital twins, enhancing productivity, customization, and operational excellence.
- AI use cases focus on predictive maintenance, quality inspection, energy optimization, skills gap alleviation, and autonomous operations with an emphasis on reducing costs, improving customer experience (CX), and increasing revenue in manufacturing environments globally.
VIBE METER
5 AI Use Cases at Rockwell Automation
Skills Gap2025
Quality Inspection2025Customer Facing
Energy Optimization2025Customer Facing
Autonomous Operations2024
Predictive Maintenance2023Customer Facing
Timeline
2025 Q3
Continued focus on sustainability via AI, aiming to reduce emissions, waste, and optimize resources in global manufacturing operations.
2025 Q2
Introduced new AI machine vision technology to enhance quality inspection, reported AI helping address skill gaps and labor shortages globally, and showcased leadership in smart manufacturing leveraging AI in the UK and Europe.
2025 Q1
Focused on leveraging AI to optimize energy consumption for sustainability and emphasized AI's transformative impact on manufacturing innovation, including in India.
2024 Q4
Highlighted AI's role in simplifying automation to autonomy transition, reimagined product portfolio with AI capabilities, initiated AI-powered factory digital twins with NVIDIA Omniverse, and emphasized AI-driven operational optimization.
- Automation World: Seeking Simplicity in the move from Automation to Autonomy
- ControlGlobal: Rockwell reimagines portfolio with AI capabilities
- BizTimes: Rockwell Automation working with Microsoft to develop new AI solutions
- Rockwell Automation: Rockwell Automation Brings Autonomous Operations to Life Using NVIDIA Omniverse
- Rockwell Automation: How AI is Transforming Manufacturing
- Plex (Rockwell Automation): Exploring AI capabilities with Rockwell Automation
2024 Q3
Promoted use of AI for operational excellence via machine learning and predictive analytics to improve production, quality, and maintenance.
2024 Q2
Integrated NVIDIA AI software into autonomous mobile robots; Rockwell highlighted generative AI as #1 technology investment area in manufacturing for the coming 12 months.
2024 Q1
Announced plans to scale AI in manufacturing with NVIDIA partnership, aiming to advance factory digitalization and create the factory of the future with AI-enhanced automation.
2023 Q4
Expanded partnership with Microsoft focusing on generative AI to enhance automation. Introduced tools combining generative AI and industrial automation to assist with OT code generation, faster time to market, and productivity gains.
- Microsoft: Rockwell Automation and Microsoft Expand Partnership to Leverage Generative AI Capabilities for Enhanced Productivity and Faster Time to Market
- BankInfoSecurity: Rockwell Combines Generative AI and Industrial Automation
- The Futurum Group: Rockwell Automation and Microsoft Bring AI to Industrial Automation
- Control Engineering: Automation Fair 2023: What you need to know about AI, people & automation
2023 Q3
Fiix by Rockwell Automation launched AI-powered predictive maintenance software called Asset Risk Predictor to manage asset risks proactively.
2023 Q2: no updates
2023 Q1: no updates
2022 Q4: no updates
2022 Q3: no updates
2022 Q2: no updates
2022 Q1: no updates
2021 Q4: no updates
2021 Q3: no updates
2021 Q2: no updates
2021 Q1: no updates
2020 Q4: no updates
2020 Q3: no updates
2020 Q2: no updates
2020 Q1: no updates
2019 Q4: no updates
2019 Q3
Released FactoryTalk Analytics LogixAI module (formerly Project Sherlock) to detect production anomalies and alert operations using AI.