Kawasaki Robotics is preparing to show off a new generation of factory automation at Automate 2026, the robotics trade show held in Chicago.
According to Yahoo Finance, the company will unveil what it calls a "dexterous physical AI" robot platform alongside a set of advanced automation technologies. The term "physical AI" refers to artificial intelligence that controls machines acting in the real world, rather than software that only generates text or images on a screen.
Automation.com reports that Kawasaki Robotics will debut several of these technologies at the event, demonstrating how robotics, AI, machine learning, vision systems and real-time control work together. In plain terms, that means robots designed to see their surroundings, make decisions and adjust their movements on the fly, with an emphasis on "dexterity" — the fine, hands-on manipulation that has long been difficult for industrial machines.
The sources do not provide detailed specifications, pricing or availability for the platform. What is clear is the framing: Kawasaki is positioning the announcement around the combination of physical robotics and modern AI, a pairing that much of the industry now treats as the next frontier for automation.
Why it matters: factory robots have traditionally excelled at repetitive, pre-programmed tasks but struggled with the kind of adaptable, fine-handed work people do easily — and a major manufacturer leaning into "dexterous physical AI" signals how quickly automation is moving toward machines that can handle messier, less predictable jobs.