Wisconsin business leaders see AI’s potential. Are companies ready?

This is an excerpt from an article. To view full article, click here

Experts say workforce will need to be retrained to use artificial intelligence to improve productivity

Alex Peters, automation engineering manager for Green Bay furniture manufacturer KI, programs a computer on one of the company’s machines. He says artificial intelligence could enhance the company’s machines by monitoring outputs and checking for anomalies. Joe Schulz/WPR

When Alex Peters walks through manufacturer KI’s Green Bay plant, he sees a lot of potential for how artificial intelligence could enhance the company’s machines.

The northeast Wisconsin company produces furniture for offices and schools. KI manufactured its first product, a metal folding chair, in 1941, and moved to Wisconsin from Illinois four years later.

As the company’s automation engineering manager, Peters helps plan how the company will implement technology in its facility to increase productivity and plant safety — including artificial intelligence, also known as AI.

“For automated systems on the plant floor, I can see AI being a powerful tool, just monitoring machine conditions,” he said. “The AI can be monitoring the inputs and outputs of the system. And if it detects an anomaly — something like a sensor is failing — it could reach out and let somebody know.”

View Full Article