Industrial AI insights: Paul Butterworth discusses scaling impacts

In Short:
– The Melbourne event showcases AI applications in industries like manufacturing and transport, with insights from Paul Butterworth.
– IFS collaborates with partners to scale technology in Australia, addressing labor shortages by transferring knowledge to new workers.

At IFS Connect Australia & New Zealand 2026 in Melbourne, Paul Butterworth of IFS said industrial AI has moved beyond pilots and is now being deployed at scale across Australia’s key industries.

He highlighted how manufacturing, aerospace and energy organisations are embedding AI into live operations, from factory floors to airline hangars, to improve efficiency and support real-time decision-making within existing enterprise systems.

A major focus was the rise of “digital workers”, designed to augment rather than replace staff, helping teams automate repetitive tasks while focusing on higher-value work.

Butterworth also pointed to Australia’s ageing workforce and skills shortages as key drivers accelerating AI adoption, making scalable solutions essential for maintaining productivity across industry.

He noted that partnerships with organisations like Telstra and Qantas are helping integrate AI into core operations, while improving knowledge transfer from experienced workers to new employees through connected systems.

The “connected worker” model was also central to his message, with mobile tools now delivering real-time data and instructions directly to frontline teams, reshaping how industrial work is performed.

Overall, Butterworth framed this moment as a clear shift: industrial AI is no longer emerging, it is already scaling across Australia’s industrial landscape.