The world is on the cusp of the next great evolution in manufacturing, as technology advances at an unprecedented pace and opportunities become boundless. With software-defined automation (SDA), embedded AI, robotics, and advanced analytics, intelligent autonomous systems represent the future of manufacturing. Our reporter, Abigail Saltmarsh, has just returned from Rockwell Automation’s annual event, Automation Fair 2025, with valuable insights on how AI is shaping the manufacturing landscape.