Physical AI: when robotics shifts from "coding" to "training" — Panel discussion at Tech For Industry Show 2026 (Paris Expo Porte de Versailles), featuring NVIDIA, Exotec, Michelin and Dassault Systèmes.
Of 550 warehouse and factory managers surveyed, 63% believe tomorrow's industry will be run or supported by AI, and 38% have already started. Around this trend, four players answer five key questions.
First: what is physical AI? A robot's ability to perceive, reason and adapt its behavior to its environment — moving from coding a robot to training it. Then the barriers to scaling: data access, simulation, expert shortage, 24/7 robustness, safety, cost and hybrid skills. Then the players who have succeeded (Pegatron, Amazon, Exotec), the ecosystem (co-development, hardware + software value chain) and European sovereignty.
Key debate: humanoids (an R&D flagship) versus more immediate varied form factors (AGV, AMR, picking). Shared message: "simulation isn't cheating, it's preparing," and you must start now.
