Bristol Myers Squibb stands out as the lone American manufacturer recognized for innovation by the World Economic Forum this year. The company's Devens, Massachusetts facility uses AI to monitor variables in cancer drug production, significantly improving efficiency in a process where tiny variations can cause drug shortages.

The AI implementation has boosted drug production volume at the facility by about 40%, helping stabilize manufacturing of Orencia, a treatment for autoimmune conditions. Previously, scientists struggled with inconsistent batch results, but now the system analyzes past batches to recommend adjustments for oxygen levels and pH balance.

American manufacturers lag behind global counterparts in AI adoption, with only 14 of 223 Global Lighthouse Network factories since 2018 located in the U.S. compared to 99 in China. As BMS cuts $2 billion in costs ahead of patent expirations, the company aims to reduce drug development time from nine to six years through AI-driven innovation.