THE STATE OF CONNECTED OPERATIONS Smarter, Faster, Safer: The AI Revolution in Physical Operations

Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have ushered in a new era of transformative technology, as well as frenzied speculation about how AI will revolutionize the world. Though much of the public discourse has centered around generative AI, applications of AI within the world of physical operations are often overlooked. Leaders of the organizations that power the global economy-across industries including manufacturing, construction, utilities, state and local government, and more-are looking to cut through the noise and understand how AI can help them in practical ways. Given that these industries drive more than 40% of the global gross domestic product (GDP), even incremental AI-driven improvements to safety, efficiency, and employee productivity stand to revolutionize the global economy and improve the livelihood of millions of workers. This report explores findings from a survey of more than 1,500 physical operations leaders across 21 industries in 7 countries, revealing how AI is already revolutionizing how these organizations operate—and how they are on the cusp of an unprecedented period of transformation.