By Technology
Physical AI Is Leaving the Screen
For the last few years, most people have experienced Artificial Intelligence (AI) as something that writes emails, summarizes documents, generates images, and answers questions. That version of AI is already changing how people work, but it mainly operates in the digital realm. The next frontier is AI that can perceive, decide, and act in the physical world. Physical AI refers to intelligent systems that use cameras, LiDAR, tactile sensors, and other inputs to understand their surroundings, then take action through motors, actuators, and other control systems. It’s AI that thinks and moves, and it’s already visible in autonomous vehicles, robotic arms, precision manufacturing systems, and humanoid robots. Nevertheless, the technology remains in the early stages. AI is just starting to connect with the physical systems companies depend on, including factories, logistics networks, infrastructure, inventory, and workers. For enterprises, this is where things get really interesting and also a lot harder. Physical AI vs. agentic AI Though the rise of physical AI overlaps with excitement around agentic AI, they are not the same. An AI agent might search a database, update a CRM, draft a report, or trigger some other digital workflow. It can reason, plan, use tools and take action, […]
5 min read
