Robots, factories, security: AI is going physical.
EXPERT OPINION BY HEATHER WILDE RENZE @HEATHRIEL
Robots of Unitree Robotics company are displayed at the VivaTech technology startups and innovation fair at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, in Paris on June 17, 2026. Photo:
Most of the conversation surrounding AI tends to focus on its role as a digital assistant. And indeed, agentic AI has already proved itself quite capable in providing information and streamlining many digital tasks.
But when AI is applied to physical spaces, its potential becomes even bigger. Robotics already has a fairly lengthy history in physical automation, but in many instances, robotics alone is not enough.
Smart AI applications that have an impact
Smart AI applications that have an impact on real-world physical activities help facilitate a wide range of solutions that can have a real, meaningful impact.
1. Effective quality assurance
Manufacturing may not always seem like an obvious choice for AI, but this industry has been one of the top early adopters of the tech.
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In fact, Quality Magazine reports that in 2024, 63 percent of manufacturing companies were already using AI for their quality control processes.
The reasons for this are clear
The reasons for this are clear. Even a relatively small defect can cause major problems for the end user. Minor defects result in losses when an item is returned and replaced, but major recalls can cause billions of dollars in losses for a company.
AI image recognition and analysis can help counteract these risks by evaluating finished products at a higher level of detail than humans can.
Source: www.inc.com
