The Association for Advancing Automation in Ann Arbor has created a new Artificial Intelligence Technology Strategy Board comprised of leading experts to promote education and adoption of AI in automation.
The AI Technology Strategy Board will include senior executives from leading artificial intelligence and technology companies and is the first time the global trade association has added a technology group to its leadership since adding Motion Control and Motors in 2006. The association represents 1,100 companies from across the automation industry.
A3’s other technology group is robotics, vision, and imaging.
Artificial intelligence is layering atop robotics, vision, motion control, and other automation technologies to create new solutions, great flexibility, and expanding opportunities. Big tech companies — once focused more on phones than factory floors — now view manufacturing, robotics, and industrial automation as key segments of their business.
“Artificial intelligence — in many shapes and forms — will be the stitching that weaves together a new age of industry,” says Jeff Burnstein, president of A3. “As the global trade group of the automation industry, we need to help prepare our members to seize this potential.”
The creation of the technology strategy board is the culmination of a three-year effort to educate and inform automation leaders about the growing importance of artificial intelligence. The board’s chairman is John Lizzi, executive leader-robotics at GE Research, who has chaired and played a leading role in the A3’s AI efforts to date. Companies such as Amazon, GE, Google, Intel, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Siemens, and others have helped guide A3’s initiatives. Robert Huschka, A3’s vice president of education strategies, will serve as the association’s liaison to the new board.
Last fall, A3 hosted its first virtual AI conference, the AI & Smart Automation Conference, with more than 1,600 virtual registrants. Last year, A3 released the whitepaper, “Intelligent Automation: 6 AI Applications That Are Changing Industry.” Focused on real-world use cases for AI, the 20-page paper has become the most-read whitepaper in the history of the association. The association’s new website, AUTOMATE.ORG, has devoted an entire section to artificial intelligence. A3 is also set to begin work on new industry-recognized certification programs on AI and autonomous systems.
AI technologies will play a central role at A3’s two major trade shows in 2022, The Automate Show & Conference, take place June 6-9, in Detroit, and The Vision Show, Oct. 11-13, in Boston.
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