Robot orders in North America remained largely unchanged in the first quarter of 2025, according to data released by the Association for Advancing Automation (A3). Companies ordered 9,064 units valued at $580.7 million, reflecting a 0.4% increase in units and a 15% increase in value compared to the same period in 2024. The rise in order value suggests a continued shift toward higher-cost automation systems, even as overall volumes remained stable.

Realbotix, a developer of AI-powered humanoid robotics, will debut a robotic customer service representative during a live demonstration at The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas from May 27 to 29. The activation is part of a new collaboration with ticketing company Tix4 Inc. and conversational AI firm Hollo.AI.

In aviation, corrosion remains an enduring risk to aircraft integrity, often intensified by exposure to harsh environmental conditions such as coastal humidity and de-icing chemicals. The challenge is particularly acute during winter months when salts used to maintain runway safety can accelerate metal degradation on aircraft exteriors. To combat this, airlines are increasingly deploying robotic systems to automate and streamline the cleaning process, minimizing the potential for corrosion-related deterioration.

At Automate 2025, Doig Corporation introduced Pallet EZ, which it describes as North America’s first off-the-shelf palletizing solution. Developed in collaboration with OnRobot and powered by the D:PLOY automation platform, Pallet EZ is positioned as a system that can be installed and deployed on the same day, without the need for programming expertise or third-party integration.

Universal Robots has introduced a new addition to its portfolio of collaborative robots (cobots), unveiling the UR15 at the Automate trade show in Detroit. According to the company, the UR15 is its fastest cobot to date, with a maximum TCP (tool center point) speed of 5 meters per second.

At Automate 2025, Realtime Robotics officially launched Resolver, a cloud-native software platform designed to dramatically simplify and accelerate the design, programming, and optimization of robotic workcells. Developed in response to persistent challenges faced by manufacturers and integrators, Resolver aims to streamline robotic deployments from concept to commissioning.

A recent survey by Gartner Inc. indicates that 70% of chief data and analytics officers (CDAOs) are now primarily responsible for shaping their organisation’s artificial intelligence (AI) strategy and operating model. The findings are based on the 2025 CDAO Agenda Survey conducted between September and November 2024, which included responses from 504 data and analytics executives globally.

At Automate 2025 Vention is presenting its third-generation controller, MachineMotion AI, along with AI-based robotics and modular automation systems developed in collaboration with NVIDIA. The MachineMotion AI controller combines motion, sensing, vision, and artificial intelligence into a single control platform. It operates using the NVIDIA Jetson Orin computing module and Isaac CUDA-accelerated libraries to support high-performance workloads.

India has the highest reported daily usage of generative artificial intelligence tools globally, according to data presented by Altindex.com and based on the Statista Consumer Insights survey. The survey found that 41% of respondents in India use AI tools as part of their daily routine, more than double the proportion in the United States and Europe.

In his first formal address to the College of Cardinals, newly elected Pope Leo XIV signaled that the Catholic Church will take an active role in addressing the societal implications of artificial intelligence. Drawing a parallel with Pope Leo XIII’s response to the industrial revolution in the late 19th century, the new pontiff positioned AI as a central theme in the Church’s ongoing commitment to defending human dignity and justice.