GLOBAL MANUFACTURERS EMBRACE AI

AI, workforce evolution, and cybersecurity survival strategies for a rapidly changing world.

- By Team ET Now Machinist

In 2025, global manufacturers are no longer cautiously stepping into digital transformation—they’re running full speed toward it. That’s the unmistakable message from the 10th Annual State of Smart Manufacturing Report, conducted in March 2025 by Sapio Research in collaboration with Rockwell Automation.

Based on responses from 1,560 leaders across 17 countries, the report offers a revealing, data-backed look into how the manufacturing world is being reshaped by artificial intelligence (AI), workforce evolution, cybersecurity needs, and shifting leadership priorities.

AI HAS MOVED FROM EXPERIMENT TO ESSENTIAL

For years, artificial intelligence hovered around the edges of manufacturing— interesting, full of potential, but ultimately a “someday” technology. Not anymore.

A staggering 95% of manufacturers surveyed say they’ve either already invested in AI or plan to within the next five years. That’s not just a statistical milestone—it’s a cultural one. AI is now seen as the nervous system of modern manufacturing.