Industrial companies play a crucial role in our daily lives, whether it’s the airplanes we fly, the medical devices we use or the sensors that manage the air conditioning in our offices. But there’s a looming talent shortage and skills gap in the industrial sector, which could soon create massive challenges for businesses and economies worldwide.

With an entire generation of workers retiring and — in many cases — no one coming behind them, industrial companies are under tremendous pressure. They are asking how they can maintain the same level of expertise with their current talent, and searching for the best tools to do the work and transition the knowledge between generations. This is essential to keep industrial systems (and the world at large) running every day.

Enter Honeywell. The longtime industrial partner and technology leader for the industrial sector is collaborating with Google Cloud to further help solve the skills and labor shortages. With Vertex AI, Honeywell is helping industrial assets work harder, people work smarter and processes run more efficiently. As Suresh Venkatarayalu, Honeywell’s CTO and President of Honeywell Connected Enterprise, puts it, “We’re moving from automation to autonomy. Our goal is to equip companies with AI agents that assist workers in real time — on factory floors and in the field. With AI running both in the cloud and at the edge, we’re making sure that systems work smarter and more efficiently.”

Industrial AI agents that act like workplace ‘coaches’

For years, Honeywell has been collecting industrial data through Honeywell Forge, a digital platform that draws on designs, manuals, and real-world performance of Honeywell’s global install base (such as how products have behaved in different environments, where issues have occurred, and how to resolve them). Now, Honeywell is using Vertex AI and Google’s large language models (LLMs) to build AI agents, like workplace “coaches,” that make this trove of data more accessible and easier to understand.

These AI-powered tools will also help automate tasks for engineers, warehouse workers, and technicians for Honeywell and its customers. For example, AI agents can troubleshoot equipment, suggest design improvements, and offer preventative maintenance insights, such as, “How did this unit perform last night?” or “Why is my system making this sound?”

Edge AI tools to help devices monitor and process data

Honeywell’s devices are used worldwide in a range of settings — from data centers to hospitals to refineries to warehouses. Internet access can often be challenging, especially in remote locations. To solve this, Honeywell is exploring how to use Gemini Nano to provide AI services at the edge of the network — right on devices like scanners, sensors and controllers — so they can operate autonomously, even when they aren’t connected to the internet.

Gemini’s multimodal capabilities enable understanding of text, code, images, videos and audio, allowing Honeywell devices to process various data types, from scanning to voice-based guided workflow.

With Google AI-powered agents, Honeywell is helping bridge the skills gap and ensure the future of the industrial sector. The first solutions built with Google Cloud AI will be available to Honeywell’s customers in 2025. You can find out more information and see future updates on our website.