- 350 AI proposals submitted across ABB’s China and global teams as part of AI Hackathon
- Accelerator including ABB ecosystem of start-ups, commercial partners and academic institutions collaborated to select top 20 finalist proposals for implementation, part of ABB’s customer-led approach to imbedding AI in solutions globally and in China
Themed “Outrun with AI”, ABB hosted its flagship AI innovation event - ABB Accelerator in China - from May 26 to 30 at ABB’s Robotics Mega Factory in Shanghai and remotely, with more than 6,000 participants including employees, customers and partners across China and globally. The event featured an AI hackathon that generated 350 proposals, collaborative AI Boost learning sessions alongside thought leadership panels with experts from nearly 50 partner companies and ABB divisions, plus product Showcase sessions presenting over 40 AI-enabled solutions, all underscoring the transformative power of AI.
“We are no longer talking about the future of AI - we are living it. At ABB, we take a customer driven approach to developing AI solutions - working closely with our customers to create innovations that solve real problems and deliver tangible results.” said Sami Atiya, President of ABB Robotics and Discrete Automation Business Area and Member of ABB Group Executive Committee.
“A significant driver of our innovation is our eco-system of start-ups, commercial partners, and academic institutions. Our Accelerator program in China this week is a great example of what we can achieve together. We are working closely with our partners to serve our customers in China.”
Part of the ABB Accelerator program, ABB’s AI Hackathon, included 350 AI proposals and use cases from teams across China and globally, focusing on technologies including machine learning, deep learning, Natural Language Processing, computer vision, and reinforcement learning. Finalists chosen in ABB’s "Best of the Best" competition demonstrated how they use AI to create value in efficiency improvement, cost saving, revenue generation and sustainability.
The ABB Accelerator included support from nearly 50 partner companies including Microsoft, China Telecom, Foxconn, Infosys, Salesforce, Lianwei and Cardinal Operations, while experts from various ABB divisions shared their insights and engaged in thought-provoking discussions at the AI Boost and Thought Leadership panels.
The ABB Accelerator’s Product Showcaseincluded 40 AI-powered solutions across ABB, from production automation to green manufacturing. For example, AI-enhanced computer vision is revolutionizing quality control and object recognition, enabling faster and more accurate inspections while augmenting human skills. AI’s predictive power is also evident in data-driven predictive maintenance and smart energy management applications, enhancing business resilience, efficiency, and sustainability.
Globally, ABB has more than 250 AI projects in its global pipeline, spanning both analytical and generative AI. These include internal projects that optimize workflows and enhance efficiency, and external projects that are developed in close collaboration with customers to drive product innovation and unlock new value.
In China, ABB’s AI solutions are delivering real value across different industries. For instance,
- At ABB’s Xiamen Hub, AI-powered prediction and real-time control optimizes a 100,000-square- meter rooftop solar system, meeting about 50% of the site’s annual electricity needs and cutting CO₂ emissions by 13,400 tons yearly.
- For Xinjiang Tianfu Energy, ABB is providing an intelligent solution for upgrading its heating network, leveraging AI algorithms and big data from over 2,000 drives to analyze energy consumption and provide early warnings.
- ABB deployed smart manufacturing solution for Qingdao Special Steel’s new high-speed wire rod mills, integrating four operations rooms into one centralized center. AI image recognition system provides abnormal-production status warnings interlocking with digital control logics.
- ABB powers the KCY 500-petaflop Cloud Data Center, one of China’s most powerful data centers, with high-performance switchgear, breakers and software. The digital functionality reduces its operational energy use and optimizes its Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE).
Innovation thrives when ideas are scaled through shared purpose. ABB’s AI Accelerators are part of its customer-led innovation culture with a “test, learn and scale” approach, encouraging experimentation and collaboration. By embedding AI into operations and offerings, ABB is committed to creating greater value for businesses and societies, helping industries outrun - leaner and cleaner.
ABB is a global technology leader in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. By connecting its engineering and digitalization expertise, ABB helps industries run at high performance, while becoming more efficient, productive and sustainable so they outperform. At ABB, we call this ‘Engineered to Outrun’. The company has over 140 years of history and around 110,000 employees worldwide. ABB’s shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ABBN) and Nasdaq Stockholm (ABB). www.abb.com
