Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK) and Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ: MSFT) have announced the expansion of their partnership to accelerate industrial automation design and development through generative artificial intelligence (AI). This collaboration aims to empower the workforce and speed up time-to-market for customers building industrial automation systems.
The first outcome of this expanded partnership will integrate Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service into Rockwell Automation’s FactoryTalk Design Studio. This integration will deliver industry-first capabilities that accelerate time-to-market for customers. By leveraging AI, engineers will be able to generate code using natural language prompts, automating routine tasks and improving design efficiency. Additionally, this collaboration will empower experienced engineers to accelerate development and mentor newcomers more efficiently. It will also assist in finding relevant help from vast collections of information to further educate developers.
The shortage of skilled labor and lost productivity are the biggest challenges facing industrial organizations and service providers today. These shortages are increasing the need, value, and complexity of automation projects at a time when the ecosystem of service providers is less equipped to deliver on time, quality, and budget. By incorporating generative AI technology, Rockwell Automation and Microsoft aim to address these long-term structural challenges.
Both Rockwell Automation and Microsoft recognize the potential of using AI to enhance automation across various roles, including decision-makers, control engineers, and operators. This partnership will enable customers to streamline their processes, drive worker productivity, and shape the future of technology in industrial automation.
Judson Althoff, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Microsoft, stated, “The explosive growth and interest in artificial intelligence is driving organizations to partner with Microsoft as a trusted cloud and AI provider. I am pleased to further strengthen our longstanding relationship with Rockwell by combining its expertise in industrial automation with Microsoft’s generative AI technology to help industrial professionals expedite the creation of complex control systems, optimize the efficiency of their operations, and spur greater innovation across industrial organizations.”
In addition to enhancing industrial automation, Rockwell Automation and Microsoft are also exploring ways to advance innovation in the industrial metaverse. Leveraging their respective capabilities in the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud datasets, simulations, and AI, both companies are working towards designing and building products more effectively, efficiently, and sustainably.
The collaborative work between Rockwell Automation and Microsoft will be showcased during Rockwell’s 2023 Automation Fair, which will be held in Boston, Massachusetts from November 6-9, 2023.
About Rockwell Automation:
Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK) is a global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation. With a mission to connect the imaginations of people with the potential of technology, Rockwell Automation makes the world more productive and sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rockwell Automation employs approximately 28,000 problem solvers dedicated to customers in more than 100 countries. To learn more about how the company is bringing the Connected Enterprise to life across industrial enterprises, visit www.rockwellautomation.com.
About Microsoft:
Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.
In conclusion, Rockwell Automation and Microsoft’s expanded partnership will leverage generative AI capabilities to enhance productivity and accelerate time-to-market for customers in the industrial automation industry. By incorporating AI into automation design and development, engineers will be able to automate routine tasks, improve efficiency, and mentor newcomers more effectively. This collaboration demonstrates a shared commitment to innovation and collaboration, shaping the future of technology in industrial automation. Both companies also aim to advance innovation in the industrial metaverse through IoT capabilities, cloud datasets, simulations, and AI. The collaborative work between Rockwell Automation and Microsoft will be showcased at the upcoming Rockwell Automation Fair in 2023.