FANUC, Google Cloud AI reads drawings for zero-teaching welding

FANUC has been pushing into what it calls "physical AI," which connects AI to robots' real-world motion. In December 2025, at the International Robot Exhibition, it showed a physical AI system built on an open platform. The AI welding agent is part of that effort, extending the approach into arc welding.

Arc welding itself is widely used across manufacturing, from automobile and truck parts to construction materials and shipbuilding. The work of setting welding conditions and teaching robots has traditionally fallen to experienced operators. FANUC says such skilled workers are in short supply not just in Japan but globally, which is the gap this agent is meant to address.

By having AI handle everything from recognizing drawings to setting conditions and generating robot motion, FANUC aims to cut the setup and teaching work that comes with introducing robots on the factory floor. The outcome is likely to hinge on how well the generated settings and motions perform in actual production, and on whether manufacturers already using the CRX robot take up the subscription option.