A series of groundbreaking developments in the practical application of AI technologies were announced in the manufacturing industry between June 29 and July 5, 2025. This article details the latest AI technologies and their implementation examples directly applicable to the manufacturing industry that were revealed over the past week.
Humanoid Robot Enters Manufacturing Field in Earnest
Industrial Humanoid Revolution from Europe
In June 2025, the European manufacturing industry was shocked. Germany’s NEURA Robotics unveiled the third generation of its 4NE1 cognitive humanoid, Switzerland’s Hexagon unveiled its AEON industrial humanoid, and France’s Wandercraft, in strategic partnership with the Renault Group, unveiled its Calvin The third generation of the 4NE1 was launched by Hexagon of Switzerland and by Wandercraft of France.
These robots are not mere automation tools; they are AI-powered “cognitive” robots that safely collaborate with humans through sensor “skins” and AI perception systems to free workers from repetitive and heavy labor. They are expected to be a solution to the serious labor shortage problem, especially in the manufacturing and logistics industries.
Foxconn and NVIDIA’s Historic Partnership
Most notable, however, is an innovative initiative by Foxconn of Taiwan and NVIDIA of the United States. Both companies have announced plans to deploy humanoid robots on AI server production lines at a new plant in Houston, Texas, beginning in the first quarter of 2026.
The breakthrough aspect of this plan is that for the first time, NVIDIA’s products will be manufactured with the assistance of humanoid robots. The robots will be responsible for assembly operations, cable insertion, component pick and place, and other precision tasks that have the potential to fundamentally change the traditional electronics manufacturing process.
Accelerate practical application of AI predictive maintenance systems
From failure prediction to inventory management optimization
One of the most mature areas of AI use in manufacturing is predictive maintenance, and the latest trends in 2025 show AI being used to optimize the entire supply chain, going beyond mere machine failure prediction.
AI algorithms analyze machine data in real time to not only predict failures in advance, but also to automate spare parts procurement in conjunction with demand forecasts. This enables a shift from conventional “just-in-time” inventory to “just-in-time” MRO (maintenance, repair, and operations) inventory management, which simultaneously significantly reduces inventory costs and minimizes unplanned downtime.
In a real-world success story, chemical manufacturer Hexpol has successfully created a multi-plant parts sharing system to avoid long lead times between plants in neighboring states. devices to check inventory levels and instantly identify and reserve needed parts.
AI Quality Control System Innovations
Inspection accuracy that surpasses that of humans
In the field of quality control, AI-powered computer vision systems are revolutionizing manufacturing. The latest AI quality control systems perform product inspections in milliseconds, reliably detecting even the tiniest defects that would be missed by human inspectors.
According to a Rockwell Automation survey, 95% of manufacturers are investing in AI, with quality control being the top priority application for the second year in a row. This is because AI quality control systems have proven to go beyond mere inspection automation to simultaneously improve production speed and quality.
Quality inspections have often been a bottleneck in conventional production lines, but AI-equipped systems can increase production speed while inspecting all products with high accuracy. This allows production workers to focus on more advanced tasks such as root cause analysis and process improvement.
Integrated use of Digital Twin and AI
Optimization by virtual factory
The integration of digital twin technologies and AI has made the concept of the “virtual factory” a reality in the manufacturing industry. By creating detailed virtual replicas of machines and systems, performance simulation, failure prediction, and process optimization are now possible without physical intervention.
Particularly in new product development, the digital twin is used as a training environment for AI models, allowing them to be validated in a variety of scenarios before deployment in the real world. This simultaneously reduces development costs and time to market.
Convergence of Industrial IoT (IIoT) and AI
Building a Smart Factory Infrastructure
The convergence of Industrial IoT (IIoT) and AI is the foundation for the realization of a true smart factory. Enterprise IoT is projected to account for 72% of market revenue by 2028, and its integration with AI technology is driving that growth.
Advances in edge computing allow data processing to take place closer to the source of generation, enabling real-time decision making with low latency. This has made the creation of autonomous manufacturing systems that do not rely on cloud connectivity a reality.
Investment Trends and Market Growth
Active financing and market expansion
Investment trends for the first half of 2025 show increased investment in the field of robotics for the manufacturing industry. Notable fundraising included Gecko Robotics, an industrial infrastructure inspection robot, which raised $125 million to become a unicorn company with a valuation of $1.25 billion. Also, autonomous delivery robot Coco Robotics and AI-powered robotic beekeeping system Beewise raised $80 million and $50 million, respectively.
Overall, the market reached $16.5 billion in new industrial robot installations and more than 4.28 million robots in operation worldwide. In particular, the mobile robotics market is projected to exceed $5.5 billion in 2024 and continue to grow at an annual growth rate of more than 20% through 2030.
Contribution to Sustainability
Realization of green manufacturing
AI technology is also making a significant contribution to improving the sustainability of the manufacturing industry: AI-driven energy management systems analyze energy consumption patterns in real time and suggest more efficient ways to use energy, thereby reducing energy use while maintaining production levels.
Predictive analysis and optimized production planning minimize material waste and prevent overproduction, and allow for precise monitoring of carbon footprint.
Developing Human Resources and Addressing Workforce Issues
Closing the skills gap through technology
AI technology offers an innovative solution to the problems of labor shortages and skills gaps facing the manufacturing industry. Collaborative robots (cobots) have created a safe work environment with humans, and AI support systems have enabled a 2-year rookie to acquire the same level of judgment as a 30-year veteran.
The use of digital augmentation technology and real-time data insights has enabled workers to strengthen their skills and improve their decision-making capabilities, resulting in efficient factory operations with a small number of elite workers.
Future Outlook
The Age of Customized AI
Customized AI solutions for the manufacturing industry are projected to outperform general-purpose solutions beginning in the second half of 2025. AI systems trained with manufacturing-specific data will provide a deeper understanding of individual company processes and offer significantly higher ROI, from supply chain risk assessment to predictive maintenance to design optimization.
In addition, with the expansion of the servitization model, it will become important to provide services throughout the product lifecycle after the product is sold, and AI-based analysis of product usage data will be the key to creating new sources of revenue.
summary
In the week of late June and early July 2025 alone, a series of innovative technology announcements and examples of practical applications were made in the field of manufacturing AI. From the full-scale introduction of humanoid robots, to advanced AI predictive maintenance systems, to automation of quality control, to integrated use with the digital twin, these technologies are expected to make a significant contribution to productivity, quality improvement, and sustainability in the manufacturing industry.
Importantly, these technologies are not just a vision for the future, but real solutions that are being implemented today. For manufacturing companies, the implementation of AI technology is an essential element for maintaining competitiveness and future growth.
Source List
- TS2 Space – “Industrial Robotics & Automation Breakthroughs – June-July 2025”
https://ts2.tech/en/industrial- robotics-automation-breakthroughs-june-july-2025/ - NVIDIA Blog – “NVIDIA and Partners Highlight Next-Generation Robotics at Automatica 2025”
https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/automatica-robotics- 2025/ - The Robot Report – “Top 10 robotics developments of June 2025”
https://www.therobotreport.com/top-10-robotics-developments-june-2025/ - IIoT World – “The Rise of Industrial AI: Automation Trends to Watch in 2025”
https://www.iiot-world.com/artificial-intelligence-ml/artificial- intelligence/industrial-ai-trends-2025/ - Automation World – “AI, Robots, Supply Chain and Energy Tech Will Drive Manufacturing in 2025”
https://www.automationworld.com/factory/digital- transformation/article/55253334/ai-robots-supply-chain-and-energy-tech-will-drive-manufacturing-in-2025 - Rockwell Automation – “8 Key Industrial Automation Trends in 2025”
https://www.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/news/the-journal/8-key- industrial-automation-trends-in-2025.html - Reuters – “Nvidia, Foxconn in talks to deploy humanoid robots at Houston AI server-making plant”
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/nvidia- foxconn-talks-deploy-humanoid-robots-houston-ai-server-making-plant-2025-06-20/ - Rockwell Automation Press Release – “Ninety-Five Percent of Manufacturers Are Investing in AI”
https://www.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company /news/press-releases/Ninety-Five-Percent-of-Manufacturers-Are-Investing-in-AI-to-Navigate-Uncertainty-and-Accelerate-Smart- Manufacturing.html - AI Business Help – “AI News Weekly Roundup: June 28 to July 5th 2025”
https://aibusinesshelp.co.uk/ai-news-weekly-roundup-july-5h-2025 - Bloomberg – “Nvidia Partner Hon Hai Meets Sales Estimates on Strong AI Demand”
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-05/nvidia- partner-hon-hai-meets-sales-estimates-on-strong-ai-demand
