Revolutionary Solutions with Industrial AI from Rockwell

The Future of Industrial AI is Shaped by Rockwell

Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), as a leading global company in the field of industrial automation and digital transformation, announced an innovation that brings generative artificial intelligence directly to industrial edges. The company presented an optimized small language model (SLM) for NVIDIA Nemotron Nano integration with FactoryTalk® Design Studio™ and other Rockwell product workflows, marking a significant step in real-time intelligence for industrial teams.

In collaboration with NVIDIA, Rockwell developed an edge-based generative AI capability specifically designed for industrial environments using the open-source Nemotron-Nano-9B-v2 model and NVIDIA NeMo. Nemotron Nano distillation techniques provide the necessary foundation for an SLM that can operate with less space and energy than a traditional data center. By fine-tuning the model with data used by FactoryTalk Design Studio Copilot, Rockwell is creating a solution that showcases new potential for industrial automation professionals.

The model is designed to be used in design, development, production, and maintenance workflows and operates seamlessly on HMI panels, devices, desktop IDEs, and server or private cloud environments. Supporting both edge and isolated deployments, it offers better reasoning, predictability, and response capabilities compared to other SLMs.

Early assessments indicate that this model stands out in the SLM space with features like new reasoning, parallel processing, and significant performance leaps. Results emphasize that the model provides a strong fit for industrial edge scenarios where instant response, data security, and offline operation requirements are critical.

Rockwell Automation FactoryTalk Design Studio business manager Tony Carrara stated, "Industrial automation demands AI that works reliably in secure environments at the edge. By fine-tuning the NVIDIA Nemotron model with FactoryTalk Design Studio data, we are producing deployable solutions that accelerate customer workflows without compromising predictability or control."

Joey Conway, senior director of generative AI software at NVIDIA, remarked, "Small language models like NVIDIA Nemotron Nano bring real-time intelligence to where decisions are made - from factory floors to energy grids. Businesses using Rockwell FactoryTalk Design Studio with NVIDIA Nemotron Nano are deploying AI in space and energy-constrained environments, boosting efficiency."

This innovation will be showcased at Automation Fair 2025, which will be held in Chicago from November 17-20, 2025, where Rockwell will demonstrate how edge-based generative AI is shaping the future of industrial operations.