Europe can compete in robotics and physical AI, top chipmaker CEOs say
SMH•CEOs of Infineon, STMicroelectronics and NXP said Europe is well positioned to compete in robotics and physical AI, drawing on its automotive and industrial strengths. STMicroelectronics has agreed to introduce humanoid robots from Oversonic into its factories, with the first installed at a plant in Malta.
1. Europe’s industry strengths
The CEOs of Infineon, STMicroelectronics and NXP said Europe can compete with the US and Asia in robotics and “physical AI,” as artificial intelligence moves into vehicles, robots and industrial machinery. They said the region’s automotive and industrial technology strengths could support development of systems that operate safely and reliably in the real world.
2. Factory trials underway
STMicroelectronics CEO Jean-Marc Chery said physical AI would require close cooperation between chipmakers and customers, including training robots in simulated environments before deployment. STMicroelectronics has agreed to introduce humanoid robots from Italy’s Oversonic into its factories, and the first is already installed at a semiconductor plant in Malta. Factory trials remain more common than widespread use.
3. Safety in physical AI
Infineon CEO Jochen Hanebeck called industrial or physical AI a “must win for Europe.” NXP CEO Rafael Sotomayor said Europe’s strengths could help develop safe, reliable systems as AI moves from making recommendations to taking physical action, where mistakes can have irreversible consequences.
