Leading industrial robot companies continue to acquire AI firms: ABB will integrate artificial intelligence into its entire business line.

"Promoting the development and application of artificial intelligence is not an option, but a necessary path to maintain competitiveness and drive industry progress." Recently, at the artificial intelligence strategy launch event held by global industrial robot leader ABB, Dr. Sami Atiya, President of ABB Robotics and Discrete Automation, told The Paper that ABB is embedding artificial intelligence into its entire business line, with over 100 AI projects currently underway.

Atiya stated, "ABB has accumulated deep experience in the field of artificial intelligence. Since 2014, we have continuously created value for customers through AI-enabled automation and electrification solutions. The rapid development of generative AI has triggered a new round of industry transformation and industrial leap. Machines are becoming smarter, more powerful, and easier to use, lowering the threshold for enterprises of all sizes to apply automation while also meeting users' demands for greater flexibility and intelligence in the face of labor shortages and uncertain environments."

ABB is a technology leader in the field of electrification and automation, formed by the merger of Sweden's ASEA and Switzerland's Brown Boveri in 1988. It is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, with operations in over 100 countries and regions worldwide, employing approximately 105,000 people.

According to reports, ABB is advancing AI technology innovation and implementation through a combination of organic growth and mergers and acquisitions, building an AI application ecosystem. By investing in promising AI startup technology companies, ABB continuously expands new technologies, understands new industries, and explores new business models.

The Paper learned that at the beginning of 2024, ABB acquired the Swiss startup Sevensense to expand its position in the next generation of AI autonomous mobile robots. Additionally, it acquired a majority stake in the engineering company Meshmind to enhance its R&D capabilities in artificial intelligence, industrial IoT, and machine vision.

Currently, ABB's four major businesses—electrification, motion control, process automation, robotics, and discrete automation—have all applied artificial intelligence to serve customers across various industries.

Atiya stated that in 2023, ABB's R&D investment exceeded $1.3 billion. Since 2019, ABB's R&D investment has surpassed $6 billion, with an increasing proportion allocated to software investments.

Atiya stated, "Artificial intelligence has elevated robotic technology to a new level, enhanced human-machine interaction capabilities, equipped robots with a broader range of skills, generated insights, and optimized processes. While robots are very suitable for heavy, monotonous, repetitive hazardous tasks, with artificial intelligence they can move beyond previous frameworks into a more free and flexible space; this is also the value of artificial intelligence."

In addition to serving customers, ABB has also deployed artificial intelligence in its own operations to improve work efficiency and product quality. For example, at ABB's robot super factory in Shanghai's OmniCore controller production line, using AI + 2D vision screw hole positioning technology has increased accuracy to 100%; the predictive maintenance solution using artificial intelligence has been deployed since August 2020 during the robot system testing phase to further enhance production efficiency and product quality.

"China is the world's largest robot market and one of the leaders in the global artificial intelligence field," said Han Chen, President of ABB Robotics Business in China. He stated that ABB actively embraces the new era of artificial intelligence by deeply integrating AI with robotic technology to provide higher levels of autonomy through next-generation intelligent robotic solutions that create greater value for customers in key sectors such as automotive, 3C (computer/communication/consumer electronics), education as well as emerging fields like healthcare, retail, and new energy.

Han Chen stated that China positions artificial intelligence as a strategic technology leading the future; it is the core driving force behind a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation as well as a major battleground for developing new productive forces. As one of the first countries to release an AI strategy globally, China has recently introduced multiple action plans and incentive programs to promote cross-industry integration applications of artificial intelligence across various fields while building AI industry clusters to deeply advance industrial renewal and accelerate the layout for developing the AI industry.

According to research data from CCID Consulting, China's artificial intelligence industry will achieve significant development over the next 10 to 15 years. It is expected that by 2035, the industry scale will reach 17.3 trillion yuan with a global share of 30.6%.

Currently, ABB's business in China covers R&D, manufacturing, sales, engineering services, etc., with total investments exceeding 20 billion yuan; about 85% of sales revenue comes from locally manufactured products, systems, and services. China is ABB Group's second-largest market globally.