Honeywell has announced a collaboration with Google to utilize Google Gemini, a generative AI, aimed at optimizing operations within the industrial sector. The deal, set to commence in 2025, is expected to reduce maintenance costs, improve productivity, and address the ongoing labor crisis.
Vimal Kapur, CEO of Honeywell, emphasized that the initiative seeks to enable assets to operate more efficiently and enhance workforce capabilities. He noted that the industrial sector is grappling with a generational labor shortage, exacerbated by declining birth rates.
The partnership will involve AI-powered agents that assist engineers and technicians in real-time, facilitating predictive maintenance and automating various tasks. Suresh Venkatarayalu, Honeywell's CTO, stated the goal is to transition from automation to autonomy in industrial operations.
Honeywell Forge, the company's digital platform, will leverage Google Cloud's advanced AI technologies to develop agents capable of answering operational queries. This strategic move comes as industrial companies face significant challenges due to an aging workforce and the need for advanced technological integration.
According to Honeywell, 82% of industrial firms identifying as AI leaders have yet to fully implement AI solutions, indicating a critical need for enhanced adoption in the coming years.