Intrinsic, an Alphabet company that makes AI robotics software, and Foxconn, the world’s largest electronics manufacturer, have launched a multi-phased joint venture designed to build the intelligent, flexible and scalable “factory of the future”.
By combining the strengths of Intrinsic’s AI platform and Foxconn’s Smart Manufacturing platform, this new partnership aims to develop and deploy adaptive, intelligent robotics solutions across Foxconn facilities in the US, unlocking new levels of flexibility and productivity in manufacturing.
“In working with Intrinsic, we are able to tap their deep expertise in AI-driven robotics,” said Young Liu, chairman and CEO of Foxconn. “This synergy complements our global manufacturing leadership, enabling us to collaboratively unlock the factory of the future.”
Manufacturers have long relied on either manual production or rigid, hard-coded automation systems that are costly, complex, and difficult to adapt.
As a result, robots are typically limited to predictable, predetermined high-volume tasks, unable to handle process variability or optimize using data, making it hard for manufacturers to respond quickly to shifts in design, demand, or supply chain.
Intrinsic and Foxconn’s new joint venture will focus on building adaptive and reusable automation solutions and bringing AI-enabled robotics solutions to the factory floor, ranging from individual tasks to production lines, to orchestrating at the factory level.
The teams will also develop and test robotics solutions for use across a wide variety of common manufacturing tasks, from assembly to inspection and logistics – targeting some of manufacturing’s toughest, most valuable challenges – tasks once considered too complex or costly to automate.
“Together we’re working to bring the value of AI into the physical world,” said Wendy Tan White, CEO of Intrinsic.
“By marrying Intrinsic’s expertise in AI-driven robotics software with Foxconn’s deep expertise with worldwide production, world-class facilities, and vision for the future of manufacturing, we will accelerate the adoption of AI where it is most needed and valuable today.
“The partnership with Foxconn provides an incredible opportunity to scale these solutions broadly.”
Dr Zhe Shi, chief digital officer of Foxconn, said: “Intrinsic has led the way when it comes to building an AI-integrated platform and AI-enabled robotic capabilities that can scale.
“In working together, we’ll be able to ensure Foxconn’s Smart Manufacturing platform will enable intelligent automation fully across our factories, from data management to robotics, AI, and digital twins.
“This partnership will help revolutionize our factory operations, making them even more flexible, adaptable, skill-based, and scalable. From individual tasks at the robot level, to full production lines and plant management, we’re excited to be building the factory of the future together.”
Initially this collaboration will cover a range of critical use cases across assembly, inspection, machine tending and logistics applications.
Intrinsic Flowstate, a web-based developer experience for building and deploying advanced robotics, will provide a will provide a common tool for Foxconn and Intrinsic teams to leverage industry-leading AI capabilities, such as the Intrinsic Vision Model (IVM) as they become viable for industrial application, to automate newly possible solutions in electronics assembly.
This partnership marks a significant milestone in the journey toward the intelligent factory of the future and bringing more usable, scalable robotics solutions to manufacturing.
