As manufacturers increasingly leverage robotics and artificial intelligence to improve production efficiency, alleviate labor shortages, and ensure product quality consistency, the industrial automation sector is poised for a transformative year. Oliver Selby, Sales Director at FANUC UK, outlined three key trends that he believes will shape the landscape of industrial robotics in 2026.
AI-Driven Robots Accelerate Deployment and Human-Robot Collaboration
Selby stated that AI is making robots smarter, safer, and significantly shortening deployment cycles. He explained, “AI is transforming industrial automation through voice-controlled operation, adaptive motion, and virtual commissioning using digital twins.”
Selby emphasized that one of the biggest advantages of this technology is efficiency improvement. With AI-assisted code generation technology, non-professionals can program robots using natural language, reducing the workload of engineers and enabling faster ROI. He added, “It also enables manufacturers to retrofit existing production lines without extensive modifications.”
AI is also expanding the application boundaries of human-robot collaboration. Robots equipped with AI-powered voice control systems can interpret voice commands and autonomously generate the necessary code to complete tasks. Integrated vision systems further enhance the safety of human-robot collaboration; this system can detect obstacles in real time and replan movement paths, ensuring safety when robots work alongside human employees.
Intelligent and scalable automation solutions address labor and cost challenges.
The flexibility of automation technology is also continuously improving. Selby stated that intelligent and scalable robot solutions help manufacturers flexibly adjust system configurations according to changing business needs, reducing operational risks without affecting product quality and equipment reliability.
Miniaturized, highly flexible automation systems are helping manufacturers address labor shortage challenges, especially suitable for repetitive tasks such as sorting, handling, and palletizing. Simplified teaching methods, AI-powered voice control technology, and the application of technologies such as visual recognition and force sensing make the deployment of automated equipment faster and easier than ever before.
Selby also pointed out the shift in the logic of evaluating corporate return on investment. He said, Manufacturers are increasingly considering total cost of ownership—maintenance, downtime, and energy consumption—rather than just upfront purchase price." These intelligent systems make automation more accessible, cost-effective, and suitable for businesses of all sizes.
Open Ecosystems and Industry Collaboration Empower Technological Innovation
Finally, Selby emphasized the increasingly important role of open platforms and industry collaboration. FANUC is collaborating with technology leaders such as NVIDIA to drive the commercialization of AI solutions; simultaneously, FANUC provides support for the open-source robot operating system ROS 2, which supports development using the Python programming language.
“Open platforms lower the barrier to entry and allow developers, researchers, and companies to build AI-driven robotics applications on proven industrial hardware,” Selby says. He highlights the educational impact: ROS 2 and Python are widely taught in universities, and their use in industrial equipment helps young engineers apply familiar skills directly in manufacturing environments.
This type of open ecosystem also provides fertile ground for technological innovation. Companies can leverage FANUC's hardware and NVIDIA's advanced simulation technology architecture, combined with their own software advantages, to customize and expand AI-enhanced robotic solutions.
Selby predicts that, facing continued labor shortages, ever-increasing demands for productivity, and industry demands for safer working environments, AI-driven, scalable robotics that supports human-robot collaboration will become a core component of smart manufacturing factories by 2026.
