U.S. industrial companies are accelerating investment in modernization as artificial intelligence becomes more accessible, according to Dot Ai CEO Ed Nabrotzky. Faced with economic uncertainty and trade policy shifts, firms are prioritizing technologies that boost visibility and cost competitiveness, moving from reactive to data-driven operations.

The push is partly driven by President Donald Trump's import tariffs, which are forcing a rethink of domestic sourcing and workflows. Nabrotzky notes AI helps make these shifts viable by improving efficiency, shortening cycle times, and surfacing risks earlier through in-process data analysis and proactive management.

Dot Ai, which provides logistics tools, went public last year and is now speeding up its platform's data collection and agentic workflows. Partnerships, like one with sensor startup Wiliot, aim to embed intelligence into factories and warehouses, positioning the company as a partner during this industrial transition.