As industrial AI transitions from predictive analytics to more autonomous roles, organizations must rethink data governance, human oversight, and sustainability. Chief technologist Arti Garg from AVEVA outlines the challenges and solutions for responsible deployment of advanced AI, ensuring safety and reliability in physical environments.

Data is key. Industrial systems generate vast amounts of disparate information that can now be connected and correlated more efficiently, providing real-time support for diagnosing problems. AI-powered robots could operate in hazardous environments, reducing human risk.

Governance is crucial. AVEVA’s framework emphasizes security, efficiency, and human safety, with guardrails determining where automation can act and where human supervisors remain responsible. Garg argues that AI should augment human decision-making, not replace it.

Sustainability is another priority. AI can help manage complex power systems and monitor its own environmental impact. Garg is involved in developing a standard methodology to measure the impact of AI across various factors, including electricity, energy, resources, water, and carbon.

The next phase could see AI further integrated into the physical world, from autonomous robots and drones to AI-assisted coding. However, realizing this potential requires organizations to rethink business processes, establish safeguards, and give workers new ways to apply their expertise, ensuring not only autonomy but also efficiency and safety.