Future of industrial automation is in people and AI-driven precision

The Hague (Netherlands): The industrial automation sector is entering a new age where artificial intelligence (AI) and human expertise converge, said Honeywell Process Solutions CEO Jim Masso.Speaking at the Honeywell Users Group (HUG) 2025 Europe Conference in The Hague on Tuesday where the spotlight has been industrial automation and AI, Masso traced the company’s legacy from the development of the world’s first distributed control system (DCS) five decades ago to the present era of connected digital ecosystems and said: “The original goal of automation, achieving deterministic outcomes, remains unchanged even as AI transforms the landscape.

”Honeywell’s next frontier, Masso noted, lies in digital cognition and closed-loop AI systems capable of “seeing, thinking, acting, and learning.” These technologies, built on the company’s Honeywell Forge platform and its Digital Prime ecosystem, aim to combine deep domain expertise with data-driven intelligence to enhance predictability, safety, and performance in critical operations. “The future of automation is about assets that are more connected, more software-aided, and capable of driving optimal outcomes,” he said.

Honeywell’s AI-powered platform , the Experion Cognition system, enables facilities to move toward autonomy while maintaining human oversight.

Cyber security challenges

Masso cautioned that cybersecurity challenges are evolving as rapidly as automation itself. He stressed the need for domain-specific security platforms tightly integrated with operational technology (OT) systems to ensure resilience as industrial networks become more connected.

“Cybersecurity must advance at the same pace as automation,” he said.While technology headlines often focus on AI and autonomy, Masso emphasized that people remain the most important component of industrial transformation. Drawing from a recent AI roundtable, he noted that projects are 2.5 times more successful when leadership (the CEO) fully supports adoption, but cautioned that the real change happens on the plant floor.

“What’s encouraging is that operators themselves are getting excited about new capabilities,” he said, citing a chemical refinery where young operators with just two days of experience were already managing an AI-enabled plant using Honeywell’s Forge-based systems.Marking a major milestone, Masso announced the launch of Honeywell’s Autonomy X, a new initiative designed to accelerate AI adoption and autonomous control systems across industries such as energy, chemicals, mining, and life sciences.(This correspondent is in The Hague at the invitation of Honeywell Process Solutions)