AI Alliances Will Increasingly Target OT

New and expanding partnerships are increasingly targeting the convergence of IT and OT, as system integrators (SIs) align with OEMs, manufacturing ISVs and silicon providers. This momentum is driven by the strong growth potential in high-tech manufacturing, where solutions that improve accuracy, efficiency and safety can be deployed on-site without reliance on rack-scale compute systems in neoclouds or Tier 1 clouds. As a result, while AI has long operated at the edge, these partnerships will accelerate both the sophistication of AI-driven use cases and the pace of solution framework development.

A host of use cases are ripe for disruption in OT

NVIDIA AI platforms, including NIM Agent Blueprints and NVIDIA Omniverse, lay a foundation on which partners can build. Partnerships representing a blend of IT and OT capabilities — including NVIDIA, SIs, manufacturing-centric ISVs and OEMs — will bring together new capabilities.
 

SIs are a key piece of the puzzle to bridge IT and OT. Although NVIDIA provides a platform, the complexity exceeds what most IT teams can manage. The SI also must act as a bridge between IT and OT technologies, skill sets and cultures. Expanding partnerships with industrial automation leaders such as Siemens is central to this.
 

As constraints around the ability to quickly build out AI factories become clearer, edge workloads will be an AI opportunity relatively unencumbered by these restrictions.
 

High-tech manufacturing represents a strong opportunity for AI adoption globally. Within the U.S., edge AI will be positioned as a focal point for the era of modern manufacturing.
 

In addition to the GPU-enabled edge servers available in the market, NVIDIA’s upcoming launches of RTX AI server and IGX Thor edge computer, which do not require liquid cooling, will accelerate interest in AI use cases on premises and at the edge.
 

Other silicon providers, namely Qualcomm, will launch products designed for manufacturing and robotics in 2026. However, a strong software platform from which SI partners can build on is a necessity for success.
 

TBR expects other industry verticals, including pharma and biotech, will replicate these partnership approaches.
 

 

Explore more 2026 predictions for alliances and partnerships by downloading our special report 2026 Will be a Pivotal Year as AI Momentum Drives Deeper Ecosystem Alliances.