This weekly update covers exciting developments in manufacturing and AI that are changing how factories work around the world. The biggest story is about physical AI and robots that can now make decisions on their own, something experts call the ChatGPT moment for robotics. At a major tech event called CES 2026, companies like NVIDIA announced powerful new technology that lets machines think and act in the real world, not just on computers.

One of the most important innovations is agent-based AI for factories. These are artificial intelligence systems that can make smart decisions about what to make, when to make it, and how to use machines and supplies. Instead of people telling the factory exactly what to do all day, AI agents can figure things out on their own and make changes when needed. This helps factories run faster and smarter.

Companies around the world are already testing these new systems. For example, one factory in China reduced how long it takes to make things by 78%, while another factory in India grew its production by 25% using AI and smart decision-making systems. A company called ADLINK even won an award for their AI Agent Factory that boosted production by 20%.

Big tech companies are investing billions of dollars in making these systems even better. This shows that AI agents in manufacturing are not just experiments anymore—they are real technology that companies are using right now to make better products faster and cheaper. The next few years will be exciting as more factories around the world start using these intelligent systems to help workers and make manufacturing smarter.