AI makes the impossible possible

Leading the way in this area is Anders Billesø Beck, Vice President of Technology at Universal Robots. His goal is to make automation accessible and as effective as possible for every company. With his extensive expertise and passion for using robots to improve human work, he is a key voice for the future of automation.

Here are his five forecasts for 2025:

#1: AI is coming of age
AI applications will take a decisive step in 2025 and make the transition from hype to practical implementation. In recent years, new AI start-ups have emerged at a rapid pace, but this year we will see consolidation and integration. Of course, new players with exciting innovations will continue to enter the market, but we will also see more mature solutions.

AI will also become more commonplace. It will no longer be perceived as a stand-alone technology, but increasingly as an embedded feature that improves existing systems. During the early "hype years" of AI, solutions were often explicitly marketed as "AI-driven" or as an "AI solution". From this year onwards, AI will increasingly be a "silent enabler" - a powerful tool that imperceptibly enhances and optimizes functionality in the background. Take the Cobot solution from Ocado, for example. It is not marketed as an "AI solution", but as a logistics pick-and-place system that uses AI.

The next wave of AI is also physical. AI that understands the laws of physics, can adapt to unforeseen challenges and can find its way in dynamic, real-world environments. We already saw the first signs of this in 2024, but this development will accelerate significantly in 2025. The integration of physical AI into robotics will open up opportunities for systems that not only process data but also interact meaningfully with the physical world. This will change entire industries and pave the way for my second prediction.

#2: Robots as baristas and chefs
For decades, robots were limited to industrial environments. Now they are increasingly spreading to other parts of our society. While humanoid robots are perhaps the best-known example - even if they are still far from market maturity - collaborative robots, so-called cobots, are making inroads in all industries - for example in film and television production. By the end of the year, each of us will probably have seen a movie, TV show or commercial in which a cobot was in charge of the camera. A good example of this is MRMC, which produces cobot-based camera solutions.

In the USA and Asia in particular, cobots are increasingly being used in the food and beverage industry, where they help prepare coffee or meals, for example. Cobots, which have been specially developed for hygienic food preparation, offer consistency and speed - especially at peak times. Companies such as the US fast food chain Chipotle are already using cobots in their restaurants, demonstrating that they do not replace workers, but increase productivity and improve working conditions.

However, cobots will not only be used more and more in kitchens and film productions, but also in industries such as construction. Companies such as Canvas are already using cobots for tasks such as finishing drywall, demonstrating how these versatile machines can alleviate the skills shortage in industries with high variability. Another example is Raise Robotics, which uses cobots for tasks such as installing fasteners for façade panels on high-rise buildings - a dangerous and monotonous task.

#3: Automation push in India
So far, major Asian powers such as China, Japan and South Korea have dominated the global robotics market. This will change in 2025: India will take on a leading role. The country is investing heavily in automation, supported by proactive government initiatives. The "Production Linked Incentive" (PLI) initiative, for example, offers subsidies for companies that set up production capacities in India in key industries such as the automotive, metal, pharmaceutical and food industries.

Three factors are driving India's automation potential. First, a young population with an average age of 29 years, compared to 45 years in Germany, provides a dynamic and adaptable workforce. Secondly, a thriving technology industry worth 115 billion US dollars in IT and business process management provides a solid foundation for innovation. And finally, thirdly, strategic government investment in digitalization, industrial automation and skills development creates an ideal growth environment.

These factors, combined with the "Make in India" initiative, highlight the country's enormous potential. In the last year alone, India has risen from 10th to 7th place in global robot installations - an increase of 59%.

#4: A new approach to security
Safety has always been an essential part of cobots, but with their use in more dynamic and less controlled environments, the traditional approach to safety must also evolve. The safety measures taken will always depend on the application and use case, and although cobots are designed to work closely with humans, additional safety features are required if the cobot is to work at high speed or handle sharp objects, for example. In factories, safety is often ensured by fences and strict protocols. However, these methods are impractical in environments where cobots and humans work closely together in unpredictable scenarios.

In the future, robot safety will focus on adaptive technologies that can respond to variability. For example, with real-time sensor data and advanced algorithms, cobots will be able to instantly recognize and respond to human movement to ensure safety without compromising efficiency. This is a significant step towards making collaborative robotics usable for a wide range of applications.

#5: Standardized turnkey solutions
Although the concept is not new, the importance of standardized, turnkey solutions will increase this year. These solutions, which simplify the automation process with pre-configured systems, will become indispensable for companies that want to integrate cobots quickly and efficiently.

Their major advantage is that the complexity often associated with automation, such as time-consuming adjustments and lengthy setup processes, is eliminated. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in particular have easy access to automation. This allows them to compete with larger companies without having to bear the high costs of customized automation systems.

My forecast is that by the end of 2025, more than a third of the cobots in use will be part of such standardized solutions. Their scalability and cost-effectiveness will ensure widespread adoption across all industries, from manufacturing to logistics. As companies look for practical and affordable ways to increase efficiency, standardized solutions will be a cornerstone of the next phase of automation.

Shaping the future of automation

Robotics will therefore undergo a significant transformation in 2025. From the increasing maturity of artificial intelligence to the use of cobots in ever more dynamic environments, this year marks a turning point. At the same time, robotics will continue to tackle key global challenges: Skills shortages, strengthening supply chain resilience and the need for productivity gains.

Advanced technologies such as physical AI and standardized solutions not only make automation more accessible, but also more effective. They are changing entire industries and everyday life. Companies that harness these innovations can fully exploit the potential of robotics - creating a future that is safer, more efficient and more collaborative.

Anders Billesø Beck, Vice President of Technology at Universal Robots