Latest news with #Industry5.0
Cision Canada
15-07-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Oxipital AI and Convergix Partner to Deliver Advanced Visual AI-Powered Automation
Powerful Partnership brings together intelligent machine vision and best-in-class system integration to accelerate manufacturing modernization. BEDFORD, Mass., July 15, 2025 /CNW/ -- Oxipital AI, a leading provider of AI-powered machine vision systems, is proud to welcome Convergix Automation Solutions into its Preferred Partner Program and to continue its long-standing collaboration with the company. Through the integration of Oxipital AI's advanced visual artificial intelligence with Convergix end-to-end automation solutions, this partnership is bringing next-generation robotic inspection and picking solutions to market that enhance operational efficiency, reduce labor reliance, and ensure consistent, safe, and profitable production for end customers in several key industries. By combining Convergix's deep expertise in industrial automation with Oxipital AI's cutting-edge AI capabilities, we're unlocking smarter, more adaptive solutions that drive real value for our customers. - Darryl King Post this "Convergix worked with Oxipital AI since its inception, so joining their preferred partner program was the next logical step in our ongoing relationship," said Darryl King, President, Consumer of Convergix Automation Solutions. "Our partnership with Oxipital AI represents a powerful step forward in delivering intelligent automation. By combining Convergix's deep expertise in industrial automation with Oxipital AI's cutting-edge AI capabilities, we're unlocking smarter, more adaptive solutions that drive real value for our customers." "Working with Convergix over the years has been incredibly easy and beneficial for both companies. Under this newly expanded relationship, the teams will collaborate intensely to incorporate Oxipital AI's visual artificial intelligence technologies into Convergix market-leading automation solutions to enable greater adoption by several previously underserved industries," said Mark Chiappetta, President & CEO at Oxipital AI. "With record demand for our products, this partnership marks an exciting step forward as it enhances our ability to deliver transformative solutions to manufacturers at scale." About Oxipital AI Oxipital AI is a leader in AI-enabled machine vision technologies for quality product inspection and robotic guidance in critical industries such as food processing, agriculture, and consumer goods production. The company's mission is to deliver actionable insights through deep object understanding to customers as they embrace Industry 5.0 and unlock previously unachievable levels of resiliency, efficiency, and sustainability in their manufacturing operations. More information can be found at About Convergix Convergix Automation Solutions designs, engineers and integrates hardware and software to automate its customers' operations. Convergix specializes in creative, custom solutions and serves customers in a broad range of industries. With approximately 900 employees and 20+ locations worldwide, Convergix is a leading global diversified automation provider. Our vision is to become the ultimate trusted partner, capable of solving any industrial automation challenge with our passionate people, world-renowned processes and diverse experience. More information can be found at
Forbes
09-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Danone's Academy Wants To Train 20,000 AI-Ready Workers
AI upskilling Danone is turning its Opole, Poland, nutrition plant into more than a model factory. It's making it the heart of a global training push. By 2026, the dairy and beverage giant says up to 20,000 frontline workers across its global network will be trained to use AI tools, cobots, and digital twins. The initiative, known internally as the Industry 5.0 Academy, aims to build the kind of skills that are in short supply. Why Industry 5.0 Needs More Human Skills Coined by European policymakers and industry analysts, Industry 5.0 extends the Industry 4.0 playbook of sensors, data lakes and robotics by putting people at the center of advanced manufacturing. Danone argues that AI cannot deliver its full value unless factory teams are confident prompt-writers, data interpreters and cobot partners. That shift isn't theoretical. Around the world, manufacturers are looking to find workers who can interpret data, write prompts, or collaborate with AI systems. The problem isn't just hiring, it's retraining the workforce already in place. 'The global manufacturing sector faces a significant shortfall of skilled workers,' says Vikram Agarwal, Danone's chief operating officer. 'It's a commercial imperative for us to train our existing talent base and empower them to be active participants in Industry 5.0. Technologies like AI and robotics are already reshaping how we operate, but their true potential lies in the hands of our people.' Speeding Delivery of AI Training Danone's Academy program splits the learning into manageable pieces. Workers get micro-lessons on writing better prompts, analyzing sensor data, and using digital assistants. In-person and virtual workshops at Opole are blended with VR simulations and five-minute videos pushed to 130 sites around the world. The content is grounded in real work. Maintenance teams learn how to describe a machine issue to an AI co-pilot. Line leaders practice using sensor data to tweak production and cut waste. And digital assistants walk through standard procedures, flagging issues before they become expensive problems. Opole already has a track record with advanced tech. In 2022 the World Economic Forum named the plant a Global Lighthouse after it reduced change-over times by one-third and cut water use 22 percent through use of AI for process controls. Danone is now using the same crew, technicians, line leaders, even hourly workers, as peer trainers for colleagues in Brazil, Indonesia and beyond. Skill Shift: Why AI Training Is No Longer Optional The pace of AI development isn't slowing. That's why companies like Danone are treating training as an urgent priority. Every time AI capabilities improve, the skills needed to use it shift too. Workers in roles that once looked stable, such as customer service, planning, even packaging, are finding their daily tasks automated or redefined. The numbers back that up. The World Economic Forum says nearly 60% of workers will need new skills by 2027. About 44% of today's core competencies will become obsolete in the same time frame. And one in four jobs is likely to change or disappear altogether. At the same time, the upside is significant. McKinsey estimates that generative AI could unlock $2.6 trillion to $4.4 trillion in value each year. But only if the people running the systems know how to harness them. How Rivals Are Skilling Up Danone isn't alone in linking AI to frontline capability. Nestlé has rolled out its own internal large language model called NesGPT, designed to speed up product development and troubleshoot production issues. Thousands of staff, from engineers to packaging specialists earn 'prompt certificates' after a short internal course. Unilever, meanwhile, is pushing its AI-enhanced Manufacturing System to more than 120 plants worldwide. The company says early pilots delivered double-digit improvements in equipment efficiency. Procter & Gamble recently worked with academic researchers to quantify AI's impact internally. The end result showed that AI provided a significant boost to innovation and employee productivity. Taking the Necessary Next Steps Upskilling employees isn't just an HR line item, it's an insurance policy. Teams fluent in AI and automation can adapt faster during supply-chain shocks, plug cyber holes before they widen, and feel less tempted to jump ship for 'cooler' tech gigs. For Danone, bringing those skills into Opole now means every future plant upgrade, whether it's a cobot, a digital twin or the next-gen data stack, can be brought to the factory floor already primed to work on the very first shift. 'The Academy is just the beginning,' Agarwal claims. 'We are also creating a new network of 10 pioneering factories to pilot disruptive models of the Digital Factory of the future. Our ambition is to set new industry standards for human-machine collaboration, so we can better serve our customers, consumers and patients around the world' AI can cut costs, boost speed, and enable new products. But the biggest gains may come from something more basic: giving people the skills to make the tools worth using. As companies race to invest in digital capabilities, the winners won't be the ones with the flashiest algorithms, but the ones whose workers know how to put them to work on day one.
Hans India
01-07-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Shaping future-ready learners: Education in the age of industry 5.0
The future of work is being drastically reshaped. In a world that is characterised by automation, artificial intelligence, and swift technological developments, the future of work is no longer about technical skills alone. It is being defined by a mix of human qualities—like creativity, flexibility, emotional intelligence—and applicable, real-world skills. This is the principle of Industry 5.0: a movement towards technology for human purposes, and learning that equips learners to flourish in this changing world. Education Industry 5.0 especially envisions the future of academic institutions as the facilitators of technical ability as well as human potential. Simply knowing concepts is not sufficient for students; they need to be able to implement them in real-world setups. Theory and practice have to converge, and knowledge has to be action-oriented. This is why experiential, skill-based learning patterns are rapidly becoming a standard that institutions seek to follow in order to remain contextually relevant in a world that is increasingly future-oriented. On top campuses around the world today, this vision is being brought to life by the combination of cutting-edge learning ecosystems centred on real-time application. For instance, Production Centres and Action Learning Labs are being optimised to mimic industrial environments—offering students a controlled but realistic environment where they can interact with live tools, processes, and problem-solving exercises. These formats enhance technical competence as well as foster teamwork, decision-making, and critical thinking—abilities that cannot be acquired from conventional lecture formats. Concurrently, the availability of various manufacturing labs in different disciplines is equipping students with the ability to engage and hone skills in particular fields, such as mechanical, electrical, electronic, and hybrid technologies. Through hands-on interaction with industry-level equipment and materials, students receive experiential learning that closes the gap between course curriculum and on-the-job demands. These initiatives are also in tune with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which puts focus on experiential learning, multidisciplinary learning, and the incorporation of vocational training within higher education. The policy acknowledges the fact that in order to develop the workforce that India would need for Industry 5.0, institutions need to embrace models that transcend rote learning and facilitate active, project-based learning. One other major step toward this is making lateral entry opportunities available into academic programs. This framework facilitates varied paths of learners by recognising previous learning, work experience, and personal career paths. It allows professionals, diploma holders, and students from different backgrounds to enter advanced levels of education without duplication—establishing a flexible structure that facilitates lifelong learning and career flexibility. At the centre of such changing dynamics in education are the realisations that employability during the Industry 5.0 era is not solely based on academic outcomes. There is a desire from employers for workers who will be able to contribute immediately—workers who can work with tools, address real-life problems, and work well across disciplines. Institutions offering opportunities for real-world experience, skill acquisition, and interdisciplinary learning are at the forefront of creating just such a workforce. The future will be claimed by students who can integrate technical knowledge with human intuition. As education becomes more aligned with business realities, it is no longer a place for teaching, but a starting point for innovation, grit, and real contribution. Industry 5.0 is not a future idea—it's an evolution that requires education systems to be responsive, equitable, and highly sensitive to the requirements of society as well as the economy. While experiential learning, modular program formats, and application-driven pedagogy become the driving forces, the education sector has the potential to make a generation ready not just for the future but also capable of driving change. (The author is Vice Chancellor, CUMT, Odisha)
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
AI can never replace humans, but upskilling is essential, says Dr. S. Rajesh, Director of Saveetha Engineering College
AI cannot replace humans, but humans need to upskill themselves and have a different set of skills to thrive in this AI era, said Dr. S. Rajesh, Director of Saveetha Engineering College . He was in conversation with The Times of India on the topic, 'Preparing students for international careers and preparing engineers for Industry 5.0'. Explaining that AI is just another tool, he said, 'AI can never be as sensitive as humans, and it cannot have emotions like humans. So, AI cannot replace humans. But humans need to upskill themselves and have a different set of skills to thrive in the world.' Times Conversations with Dr. S. Rajesh, Director of Saveetha Engineering College At a time when AI is taking over all aspects of our lives, emotional intelligence is vital for everyone, especially Gen Z and Gen Alpha , he said. Referring to a book titled '21 Skills for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari', he said, 'The author stresses the importance of emotional intelligence, including resilience and adaptability. Technology is changing every day, and skills that students have learned will become irrelevant, so much so that they may have to adapt to new jobs, new technologies throughout their lives. Lifelong learning becomes vital. For this, emotional intelligence is the backbone in today's era.' Emotional intelligence, resilience, adaptability, and soft skills become as important as technological skills in today's era, he said, adding that individuals should be equipped to use AI tools and possess emotional intelligence and soft skills to thrive in the 21st century. Talking about the industrial revolution, Rajesh said that Industry 5.0 is all about making Industry 4.0 technologies like AI, robotics, and IoT as human-centric, ethical, and empathetic as possible for a sustainable future. Explaining the importance of interdisciplinary learning, he said, 'Just having skills in computer science or AI is not going to help anyone. Individuals should have knowledge of one or two domains in addition to AI skills. For instance, an engineer should know about banking, fintech, or the finance market to develop an AI tool for the finance market.' Recalling the times when humanities and arts and science courses were losing their charm and everybody wanted to become engineers, he said that the humanities are making a comeback in the AI era since AI is going to do most of the coding and other tasks. 'To thrive in this era, humans need to have a different kind of skill set. We will need engineers who are emotionally intelligent, good in humanities, and have domain knowledge. People should have a balance of all these three domains,' he added. Earlier, T-shaped learning was considered important, where students were expected to have broad knowledge of everything and deep knowledge of any one aspect, he said, adding that these days, students are expected to have broad knowledge of many things and deep knowledge of quite a few things, and this is called comb-shaped learning. AI turns out to be a useful tool to acquire skills. 'Learning will improve exponentially during one-to-one tutoring. But, with the Indian population and economics, it does not allow everyone to have a personalized tutor. But with the advent of AI, it has become possible,' he explained. AI can always help and support humans but never replace them, he said. Quoting the CEO of Google DeepMind , Demis Hassabis , he said, 'Hassabis tells us AI can help in drug discoveries and personalized treatments, and it is not very far. Within a decade or so, AI will help us to live a healthy and happy life.' Hinting that educational institutions are grappling to catch up with evolving technologies, Rajesh said that they should have the intent and attitude to change and adapt to new technologies. At Saveetha Engineering College, they have adopted lifelong learning as the philosophy of their curriculum, and it means nothing but learning how to learn, he said, explaining that whatever technology a student learns is going to become irrelevant by the time they graduate, and the only skill that a student can learn is lifelong learning. This skill – lifelong learning – cannot be taught; instead, it needs to be self-learned, he said, adding that students at their colleges are learning skills by making projects. Revealing that they have acquired the world's fastest GPU provided by NVIDIA at their Centre for AI and ML, he said that they are giving real-time projects to students, through which they learn new technologies. It has become essential for educational institutions to invest in new technologies, he said, explaining the evolution of physical AI, agentic AI, and Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). 'We are equipping ourselves with emerging technologies and replacing labs with Centres of Excellence ,' he added. Hinting that Gen Alpha and Gen Z generations prefer personalised learning and autonomy, Rajesh said that their college has adopted FlexiLearn , which is unique for India but not in developed countries. Under FlexiLearn , students can choose the subject, faculty, domain, and the schedule they want from the first semester onwards, he said, explaining that unlike a conventional college, here students can deep dive into technology subjects from the first semester onwards and learn fundamentals of engineering whenever it is required. This flexibility will enable students to learn future technologies and develop decision-making skills and time management skills, he added. He explained that FlexiLearn helps students build collaboration skills by having them sit with different peers in each class. As a result, their communication abilities are also improving. He added that the programme encourages interdisciplinary learning, which is a vital skill for thriving in the 21st century. 'At the college, we have a platform called GAME (Gamified Hybrid Adaptive Modular Education), and about 30% of subjects are offered in the game concept, where subjects are divided into smaller modules', he added. Saveetha Medical and Educational Trust by Times Internet's Spotlight team.
Hans India
28-06-2025
- Business
- Hans India
TiE Bangalore to host 10th Matrix Global Summit on July 1, 2
Bengaluru: The 10th edition of the Matrix Global Summit organised by TiE Bangalore will be held for two days from July 1 at NIMHANS Convention Centre here. This year, the summit will explore the deep-tech ecosystem in India. The summit will convene leaders from government, industry, and the startup ecosystem to discuss India's path toward building a USD 1 trillion innovation-led economy, said a release issued by TiE Bangalore on Friday. TiE, which stands for The Indus Entrepreneurs, is a global non-profit organisation dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship. 'As India aims to become a global deeptech powerhouse, this summit brings together entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and students to collaborate and co-create solutions that can drive meaningful change,' Madan Padaki, President, TiE Bangalore, is quoted as saying in the release. According to him, the summit will spotlight the convergence of breakthrough technologies including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, Industry 5.0, 5G, SpaceTech, Electric Vehicles (EVs), AgriTech, HealthTech, and Sustainability. It will also aim to create a collaborative platform where policy, innovation, and entrepreneurship intersect to shape the future of India's digital and deeptech landscape, the release added. The summit is supported by State Bank of India, STPI, India Mobile Congress and Karnataka Digital Economy Mission, among others.
