Intriguing Applications In Surprising Industries

Daily headlines highlight the many ways companies across industries are leveraging artificial intelligence—the “brain” behind modern technology tools. Now, innovators are exploring new ways to combine AI’s learning, analytical and decision-making capabilities with robotics, effectively adding a “body” that can execute next steps and perform physical tasks, both autonomously and with human oversight.

Together, AI and robotics can streamline tasks, boost productivity and enable businesses across industries to develop new products and services to better serve the public. Below, members of Forbes Technology Council detail some of the intriguing and even surprising ways combining AI and robotics could lead to smarter processes, safer workplaces and enhanced experiences for professionals and consumers alike.

1. Automation Of Complex Financial Processes

The fintech industry could see revolutionary changes through AI and robotics by automating complex financial processes. AI can analyze vast amounts of financial data to predict market trends, detect fraud and personalize customer services. Robotics can streamline operations like loan processing and wealth management, reducing human error, increasing efficiency and enhancing decision-making. – Deepak Gupta, Cars24 Financial Services

2. Industrial Manufacturing

The industrial manufacturing, aerospace and telecommunications industries will be revolutionized by AI-powered robotics platforms that automate complex tasks, improve efficiency and enhance safety. Imagine robots with transformer-based predictions for humanistic behavior, ML-enhanced perception and predictive maintenance capabilities. They can contribute to higher production rates, reduced waste and improved product quality. – Benjamin Lyon, Aptiv

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3. High-Risk Construction Work

In my view, the construction industry is poised for a remarkable shift. AI-driven robots can handle repetitive or high-risk tasks—like bricklaying or welding—more efficiently and safely. Combined with real-time data analysis, this tech promises faster builds, reduced errors and, ultimately, smarter infrastructure. – Maksym Mashnytskyi

4. Work In Hazardous Environments

AI and robotics can play a big role in hazardous environments, such as nuclear power stations, contaminated sites or areas with high radiation or extreme temperatures. In these environments, you need faster reflexes and greater dexterity than can be achieved through remote human control. Using AI-driven autonomous platforms, you can set high-level mission targets and parameters. – Adam Sandman, Inflectra Corporation

5. Healthcare Back-Office Operations And Patient Care

The healthcare industry, with its high volume of transactional data and repetitive processes that impact both back-office operations and patient care, is an ideal candidate for AI and robotics. Leveraging intelligent agents can drive significant efficiencies, ensure regulatory compliance and revolutionize patient care. – Ann Blakely, Baker Tilly

6. Automated Shopping And Delivery

The emergence of AI shopping agents is poised to revolutionize the e-commerce landscape. However, as automated shopping and delivery gain adoption, there will be new layers of fraud risk and compliance concerns. Undoubtedly, bad actors will seek to exploit these AI agents to create synthetic buyer identities, manipulate transactions and automate fraudulent purchases at scale. – Rochelle Blease, G2 Risk Solutions

7. Safety And Emergency Response

AI and robotics can revolutionize emergency response and public safety. AI can detect threats, but detection isn’t enough. A response is needed. Robotics can intervene in critical moments, deploying medical aid or taking protective actions before law enforcement arrives. In the next decade, AI will evolve from passive monitoring to active intervention, creating safer public environments. – Dmitry Sokolowski, VOLT AI

8. Retail Stocking And Service Work

AI-controlled robots could revolutionize retail, optimizing everything from warehouses to store shelves. They can streamline operations, increase efficiency and speed up processes. Imagine ordering cheese at a supermarket: It could be cut, weighed and packaged entirely by a robot. With seamless communication between robots, fully automated retail stores could become a reality. – Darko Pavic, Fiscal Solutions

9. Legal Work

The legal industry would greatly benefit from agentic bots to help firms manage a variety of functions, including compliance, data protection, ethics, client risk management and globalization with new legal models. Being able to orchestrate information across the legal enterprise is a must. The rise of the symbiotic-connected lawyer is now! – Mike Kiersey, Workato

10. Precision Farming

AI and robotics are revolutionizing agriculture through precision farming and automation. AI systems analyze satellite imagery and sensor data to optimize irrigation, soil health and pest control. Robotics automates tasks such as planting, weeding and harvesting. Autonomous tractors and drones enhance labor productivity and reduce resource waste, enabling sustainable, data-driven farming. – Vandana Rana, Walmart Global Tech

11. Repetitive Restaurant Work

Restaurants are on the edge of an AI and robotics revolution. From fully automated kitchens to AI-driven ordering and inventory, the industry is shifting fast. Robotics can handle repetitive tasks like flipping burgers, while AI optimizes labor, predicts demand and personalizes guest experiences. The result? Faster service, lower costs and a better customer experience—without losing the human touch. – Savneet Singh, PAR

12. Infrastructure Security

Critical infrastructure security will be revolutionized by AI and robotics, enabling autonomous threat detection, AI-driven cyber-physical monitoring and self-healing networks. AI-powered systems will predict, detect and neutralize cyberthreats in real time, securing power grids, pipelines and industrial control systems from AI-driven and post-quantum cyberattacks—a national security imperative. – Jason Nathaniel Ader, Qryptonic, Inc.

13. Semiconductor Manufacturing

The semiconductor manufacturing industry is primed for revolution through AI-powered robotics. “Cognitive factories” will emerge where robots dynamically optimize production in real time, using machine learning to improve yield rates and predict failures. This convergence could break through current physical limitations in chip fabrication, accelerating technological progress across all sectors. – Meghana Puvvadi, NVIDIA

14. Piloting Autonomous Flying Vehicles

The transportation industry could see transformative changes with the integration of AI and robotics, particularly in terms of flying cars. AI-based navigation, autonomous flying controls and real-time traffic control could make urban air mobility a reality, easing traffic and reducing travel times substantially. – Tarun Eldho Alias, Neem Inc.

15. Precision Military Strategy And Action

Defense will be revolutionized by AI-driven autonomous drone swarms for precision warfare, cyber-physical systems for real-time threat interception, and quantum AI for strategic decision-making. AI-powered underwater drones will reshape naval dominance, while brain-machine interfaces, although futuristic, can enable direct neural control of robotic units, redefining modern combat operations. – Amitkumar Shrivastava, Fujitsu

16. Environmental Conservation

AI-powered drones are transforming environmental conservation by improving wildlife monitoring, forest management and pollution detection. They track endangered species, detect illegal logging and accurately identify oil spills. With hyperspectral cameras, these drones efficiently assess plant health, monitor biodiversity and track climate change impacts. – Pradeep Kumar Muthukamatchi, Microsoft

17. Logistics Operations

The integration of AI and robotics into the supply chain is poised to transform it into a highly efficient, transparent and flexible ecosystem. From intelligent warehousing and real-time tracking to autonomous delivery systems and predictive analytics, these technologies promise to streamline operations, reduce costs and improve customer satisfaction. – Joydeb Mandal, Accenture

18. Wildfire Prevention And Containment

The recent LA wildfires highlight the need for AI and robotics-driven wildfire prevention and containment. Autonomous aerial and ground vehicles—equipped with thermal, Lidar and hyperspectral sensors—can use machine learning models to detect ignition risks. When a fire starts, AI-coordinated robotic suppression units can be instantly deployed to contain it. – Xingjian “XJ” Zhang, Apex.AI