WI Harper sees AI lowering industrial automation costs, expanding investment opportunities
XLI•WI Harper says AI is lowering industrial automation costs and expanding viable applications. Global industrial robot installations rose 11% to approximately 603,000 units in 2025, with China accounting for 59%.
1. Robotics adoption expands
Global industrial robot installations reached approximately 603,000 units in 2025, up 11%, while the operating base exceeded five million. China accounted for approximately 354,000 installations, or 59% of the total.
2. Software investment thesis
WI Harper says software compatible with existing equipment could improve utilization without replacing entire workcells, offering startups a potentially capital-efficient route to growth. It says investment returns depend on reusable deployments, lower support costs and pricing power, while access to AI models alone offers limited competitive protection.
