Caterpillar launches Cat AI Assistant to transform equipment operations

Caterpillar Inc. introduces Cat AI Assistant, an AI-driven digital client designed to help customers turn data into action and improve productivity, efficiency, and safety across worksites. The solution was unveiled at CES 2026, held 6–9 January 2026 in Las Vegas.  www.caterpillar.com Caterpillar has announced the launch of Cat AI Assistant, a new Industrial AI solution that enables customers to interact with Caterpillar equipment and digital applications through a unified, conversational interface. The assistant is designed to simplify how customers buy, maintain, manage, and operate equipment—whether from corporate offices, dealer locations, or remote jobsites. Unifying data, AI, and equipment Cat AI Assistant consolidates Caterpillar’s portfolio of digital applications and extensive equipment knowledge into a single experience. Built on Caterpillar’s Helios data platform—which manages more than 16 petabytes of data—the assistant operates across the company’s entire knowledge base to deliver personalized insights and recommendations. By combining data and AI with heavy equipment operations, the solution aims to support faster, more informed decision-making and reduce unplanned downtime. Role-based support across the worksite For fleet owners and managers, Cat AI Assistant acts as a continuous monitoring and insight layer over their equipment fleets, helping convert unplanned incidents into scheduled maintenance and aligning recommendations with evolving business needs. For technicians, the assistant provides hands-free access to thousands of service manuals via voice commands. It can surface the relevant repair procedures, highlight common issues, and suggest required parts, reducing time spent searching documentation and improving repair efficiency. For machine operators, Cat AI Assistant connects the entire workday—from machine startup to shift handoff—by delivering in-cab guidance without requiring screen changes or interruptions. Running at the edge on the NVIDIA Jetson Thor platform, the system supports speech recognition and advanced AI models and can assist operators with machine direction and operational coaching. Addressing skills gaps and jobsite complexity As industries face ongoing skills shortages and increasing jobsite complexity, Caterpillar positions Cat AI Assistant as a tool to help less experienced operators improve performance more quickly, while enabling dealers to deliver more tailored, data-driven support to customers. Availability and demonstrations Caterpillar plans to deploy the off-board version of Cat AI Assistant in the first quarter of 2026. In-cab applications are currently in the final stages of validation, with a focus on enhancing operator safety and efficiency. Caterpillar demonstrated these capabilities on the main stage at CES 2026 (6–9 January 2026), highlighting the role of Industrial AI in shaping the future of work on heavy equipment sites. www.caterpillar.com Powered by Induportals Media Publishing