Manufacturers are eager to see advances in artificial intelligence applied to their factories, envisioning using robots to repair and maintain complex machinery.
Since US startup OpenAI launched ChatGPT last year, there has been an explosion of interest in using AI in many fields.
And last week’s Hannover Fair for Industrial Technology in Germany focused on the potential of artificial intelligence in the manufacturing sector.
A young employee at US IT service provider HPE chatted with an AI-powered virtual assistant via a tablet in his hand, asking him to operate a robotic arm.
To solve technical problems, “factory workers no longer need to bring qualified professionals to the job site. Artificial intelligence takes care of the repairs,” says a data analyst at HPE. Thomas Meier presented a prototype.
The US company, which has about 60,000 employees, has been working with German startup Aleph Alpha with about 50 staff last year, which is seen as one of OpenAI’s main European rivals.
This innovation communicates with factory workers and can, for example, send the program a picture of the machine to detect problems or ensure it is installed correctly.
Aleph Alpha’s resources are modest compared to those available to OpenAI, which is heavily funded by Microsoft.
But German startups see at least one big advantage. Customer data can be stored in Europe.
“Improve efficiency
But Aleph Alpha CEO Jonas Andrulis told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that Europe’s contribution to the AI revolution must go “beyond regulation.”
At another booth at the Hannover trade fair, Siemens also showed applications for improving factory performance.
In partnership with Microsoft, the German industrial conglomerate will launch a new version of its Teams messaging platform this year.
Powered by ChatGPT, it is specifically designed to help workers and identify product defaults.
Microsoft and Siemens have rejected accusations that AI will lead to job losses, saying they are working with many clients in the automotive and aerospace industries.
Anthony Hemmelgarn, CEO of Siemens Digital Industries Software, says 70% of issues go unrecorded and certain tasks aren’t completed, so AI is “not taking anyone’s place.” .
“It’s all about efficiency,” he added.
Hannover Trade Fair organizer Jochen Koeckler says that another potential benefit of AI is to “alleviate the shortage of skilled workers”, especially in Germany.
Almost 58% of manufacturers in Europe, Europe’s largest economy, complain of labor shortages, according to a study released in December by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training.
For Andrulis, AI will undoubtedly be a massive upheaval in the world of work.
But he also tried to provide a guarantee. “AI is not going to take your job, but companies using AI will gain market share from companies not using AI.”
