Artificial intelligence meets industrial data | Control Design
Honeywell and Google Cloud have collaborated to connect artificial intelligence (AI) agents with assets, people, and processes to accelerate safer, autonomous operations for the industrial sector. This partnership aims to combine the multimodality and natural-language capabilities of Gemini on Vertex AI—Google Cloud’s AI platform—with the vast data set on Honeywell Forge, an Internet of Things (IoT) platform for industrials. The initial solutions developed using Google Cloud AI will be accessible to Honeywell’s customers by 2025.
Empowering Autonomous Operations
“The path to autonomy requires assets working harder, people working smarter, and processes working more efficiently,” stated Vimal Kapur, chairman and CEO of Honeywell. “By integrating Google Cloud’s AI technology with our profound domain expertise and the valuable data on our Honeywell Forge platform, customers will gain unparalleled, actionable insights that bridge the physical and digital realms to expedite autonomous operations, a pivotal growth factor for Honeywell.”
Tathagata Basu, global head and general manager of what is now the sustainable fuels and chemicals vertical for Honeywell Process Solutions, discussed human-AI teaming during the 2024 Honeywell Users Group meeting in Dallas, showcasing the collaborative future ahead.
Transformative Power of AI
Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, highlighted, “Our partnership with Honeywell marks a significant advancement in bringing the transformative capabilities of AI to industrial operations. With Gemini on Vertex AI alongside Honeywell’s industrial data and expertise, we are fostering new opportunities to optimize processes, empower workforces, and drive substantial business outcomes for industrial entities globally.”
Industrial AI Insights
Addressing the evolving industrial landscape with the retirement of Baby-Boomer workers, Honeywell’s 2024 Industrial AI Insights report revealed that while 82% of industrial AI survey participants consider their companies as early adopters of AI, only 17% have fully implemented their initial AI strategies.
Future Innovations
Looking forward, Honeywell is exploring the utilization of Google’s Gemini Nano model to enhance the intelligence of Honeywell edge AI devices across various verticals. This enhancement spans multiple use cases such as performance scanning, voice-based guided workflows, maintenance tasks, operational processes, and alarm assistance, all without the necessity to connect to the internet or cloud.
Further advancements include the integration of Google Threat Intelligence, incorporating frontline insights from Mandiant, into Honeywell's existing cybersecurity products like Global Analysis, Research and Defense (GARD) Threat Intelligence and Secure Media Exchange (SMX), enhancing cyber defense capabilities.
