Google and Siemens are collaborating on building AI for manufacturing and industrial environments. As part of the collaboration, Siemens will integrate Google’s cloud and AI technologies with its factory automation software.

Combining Google Cloud’s data cloud and AI/ML capabilities with Siemens’ Digital Industries Factory Automation portfolio will allow manufacturers to harmonise their factory data, run cloud-based AI/ML models on top of that data, and deploy algorithms at the network edge. This will enable applications such as visual inspection of products or predicting the wear-and-tear of machines on the assembly line.

The goal of the cooperation between Google Cloud and Siemens is to make the deployment of AI in connection with the Industrial Edge, and its management at scale, easier. This will allow employees to automate mundane tasks and improve overall quality while they work on the plant floor.

“The potential for artificial intelligence to radically transform the plant floor is far from being exhausted. Many manufacturers are still stuck in AI ‘pilot projects’ today – we want to change that,” said Axel Lorenz, VP of Control at Factory Automation of Siemens Digital Industries. “Combining AI/ML technology from Google Cloud with Siemens’ solutions for Industrial Edge and industrial operation will be a game changer for the manufacturing industry.”

“Siemens is a leader in advancing industrial automation and software, and Google Cloud is a leader in data analytics and AI/ML. This cooperation will combine the best of both worlds and bring AI/ML to the manufacturing industry at scale. By simplifying the deployment of AI in industrial use cases, we’re helping employees augment their critical work on the shop floor,” said Dominik Wee, Managing Director Manufacturing and Industrial at Google Cloud.