Why should Manufacturers be thinking about AI, Bots & the Singularity? (and less dramatic, but more imminent... the next killer manufacturing app)

For a while now, I've been intrigued by the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) on manufacturing and decision-support systems. Sure, we are beginning to see the glimmers of opportunity in predictive and prescriptive analytics, but most of this applies to high-value assets like massive turbines, and has not yet reached everyday manufacturing. The reality is most manufacturers are still running their operations with problems in basic process visibility, working with islands of information and using many of the same tools they've used for decades to run their business. Some have implemented process automation or even manufacturing execution systems, but every environment is somewhat unique and in large part disconnected. The fact that equipment runs for decades means "if it ain't broke" still applies, and the demand for crazy new technologies like cloud, hadoop, or artificial intelligence brings mostly bored looks or even outright scorn from plant managers incentivized to reduce risk and maintain output on the brownfield equipment they have.