The Next AI Race Will Be Won on the Factory Floor

Ah yes, another summit, another 'race.' Launchpad Build AI has gathered senior leaders in Edinburgh to discuss AI's 'next phase' on the factory floor. Because nothing says urgent action like a bunch of executives in a nice conference room nodding at slides about 'advanced manufacturing.' The real race, of course, is how fast they can replace the workforce without making it look too obvious.

The summit's host, Launchpad Build AI, presumably named after the moment someone realises building actual factories is hard work. The senior leaders will no doubt produce a statement full of noble intentions about 'upskilling' and 'human-machine collaboration,' while their companies quietly accelerate automation. Unlikely—they're probably too busy updating their CVs.

So here we are: a 'race' to the factory floor, where the finish line is a workforce trimmed to the bone. The next phase? Robots building robots, and senior leaders convening to congratulate themselves. At least the tea in Edinburgh will be decent. Cheers.

But seriously, the summit's focus on 'robotics and advanced manufacturing' signals a clear trajectory: fewer humans, more machines. The questions nobody is asking at this summit: who gets left behind, and what do we do with them? The answer, as ever, is 'not our problem.'