In context
In late 2023, industrial AI was gaining momentum as manufacturers sought to leverage domain expertise through intelligent automation. This partnership between a global IT services provider and a Silicon Valley AI specialist highlighted the trend of combining broad service networks with niche AI technologies to accelerate adoption.
What was reported
FPT Software, an IT services provider with operations in 28 countries, agreed to a strategic partnership with AITOMATIC, a Silicon Valley company specializing in industrial generative AI. The collaboration aims to promote industrial AI applications to customers worldwide, leveraging FPT Software's global presence and AITOMATIC's industry connections.
Central to the partnership is AITOMATIC's OpenSSA (Open-source Small Specialist Agents) technology, which transforms domain knowledge into agile, intelligent-agent systems. These lean agents are designed to encapsulate expert knowledge, enabling businesses to create bespoke AI solutions for complex industrial problems, such as energy optimization in electronics and predictive maintenance in cold chains.
FPT Software will also promote AITOMATIC's aiVA (Industrial Virtual Advisor) system, which provides expert guidance to human operators and managers in intricate workflows. The system aims to enhance efficiency and agility in industrial operations by offering domain-specific insights and best practices.
Why it mattered
This partnership underscored the growing importance of specialized AI agents in industrial automation. By combining global reach with advanced AI capabilities, it signaled a shift toward operationalizing deep industrial knowledge, potentially setting a precedent for future collaborations in the sector.
"With aiVA and OpenSSA, we're operationalizing wisdom, not just automating tasks."
Source: Robotics & Automation News (roboticsandautomationnews.com) · Published 2023-11-16 · “FPT Software and Silicon Valley’s AITOMATIC form strategic partnership on industrial AI”