Apple Concludes Smart Manufacturing Forum, Accelerates Support for Shift to Physical AI
IT DAILY ·
✦ AI Summary
Apple held the "2026 Smart Manufacturing Forum" with Pohang University of Science and Technology, North Gyeongsang Province and Pohang City.
The forum was held on the 16th and 17th at the POSCO International Hall and Apple Manufacturing R&D Support Center, and marked its fourth year.
More than 540 attendees and total registrations were the highest on record, while participation from small and midsize companies rose by more than 50% from the previous year.
Apple said on the 27th that it co-hosted the "2026 Smart Manufacturing Forum" with Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), North Gyeongsang Province and Pohang City. The forum was held on the 16th and 17th at the POSCO International Hall and Apple Manufacturing R&D Support Center, marking its fourth year.
The forum was held against the backdrop of a shift in how companies use AI, moving from a generative AI focus to real manufacturing sites such as factories, production equipment and robots. Another highlight was the expanding use of AI in manufacturing, which is moving beyond data analysis and work automation to the stage of actually operating equipment and robots.
In line with that trend, the forum was held under the theme, "The Future of Manufacturing Led by Physical AI and Robotics." Through the forum, Apple began in earnest to support the transition to physical AI.
More than 540 people attended, including representatives from small and midsize companies, large corporations, academia and related organizations. According to Apple, both total attendance and registrations reached all-time highs.
Participation from small and midsize companies in particular rose by more than 50% from the previous year. As a result, this year's forum showed growth in its key agenda, attendance scale and registration results.
Physical AI is a technology that perceives and judges the physical environment through sensors and then carries out actions with robots and machines. In manufacturing settings, it is used for controlling work robots, automating production equipment, inspecting quality and optimizing processes.
This forum featured 13 presentations in total on physical AI, robot automation, AI transformation (AX) in manufacturing processes and eco-friendly manufacturing. The event also discussed the possibilities created by combining manufacturing and robotics.
Featured experts included UCLA robotics professor Dennis Hong, as well as Neuromeka, Simtec and Amkor Technology. They discussed the next stage beyond productivity gains and simple process automation.
Specifically, key discussions centered on ways to analyze data collected at manufacturing sites with AI and to reconnect the results of that analysis to the movements of robots and production equipment. This approach focuses on linking manufacturing data with equipment operations.
The Apple event focused not only on introducing the latest manufacturing technologies, but also on helping actual small manufacturing firms apply AI and smart manufacturing technologies on site. The goal of the event was to support practical adoption by small and midsize manufacturers.
Apple held "Tech Talk with the Accelerator Engineers." The event introduced ESG response strategies and adoption cases from companies supported by Apple's manufacturing R&D support center.
The event also included a session where engineers in smart data, process and quality fields and participating companies discussed technical issues directly.
Apple's Manufacturing R&D Support Center in Pohang is the first manufacturing-only R&D support facility Apple has established anywhere in the world. In 2021, Apple, POSTECH, North Gyeongsang Province and Pohang City announced plans to establish the center, and since the following year it has been operating programs for small and midsize domestic manufacturers.
The center provides manufacturing technology training on smart data, process and quality management, as well as one-on-one expert consulting to solve company-specific technical and process problems. It also offers training and technical support on improving small manufacturers' assembly processes and maintenance systems, training and technical support related to product quality evaluation, and training and technical support on developing machine learning algorithms for use in manufacturing sites. Apple offers these programs free of charge to small and midsize domestic companies and startups.
Apple's Manufacturing R&D Support Center has deployed more than 60 manufacturing and analysis equipment systems inside the center and is supporting small and midsize companies that have difficulty securing expensive equipment on their own. The support covers product analysis and process improvement.
This forum was significant in showing the expanded role of Apple's Manufacturing R&D Support Center. The scope of that expansion has widened from existing smart manufacturing education to physical AI and robot automation.
Neuromeka CEO Park Jong-hoon said he expects the role of physical AI and robots in smart manufacturing implementation to expand. He added that he hopes Pohang will emerge as a hub for physical AI robotic automation and that Apple's Manufacturing R&D Support Center will serve as a central anchor.
Lee Man-seok, deputy director at MSL, said at the event that his company continues to use Apple's Manufacturing R&D Support Center's smart manufacturing training and quality lab analysis services. He said such support helps apply technologies needed on site, and he expects it to help small and midsize manufacturers solve on-site problems and expand opportunities to connect with new technologies.
Source: IT DAILY · Lee Jae-young
Original: https://www.itdaily.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=241842
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Source: IT DAILY
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