Tech Talk Webinar – The “ChatGPT Moment” for Advanced Manufacturing?
Title: The “ChatGPT Moment” for Advanced Manufacturing?
Speakers: Denis Dowling and Cathal Hoare
Abstract:
There is continuing growth in the adoption of digital technologies within the manufacturing sector,including the use of machine learning, to identify processing anomalies and forpredictive maintenance. More recently there is growing interest in the use ofArtificial Intelligence (AI) as a tool to enhance manufacturing processing efficiency,as well as to improving decision-making. To-date however, the level of integration of AI into manufacturing has been relatively low. Recent Developments in AI however may change this, with Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang calling it the “Next ChatGPT Moment”. This is related to the use of Physical AI approaches,which allow robots to perceive, reason, and adapt their actions in real time,rather than relying solely on rigid, pre-programmed instructions. Strategic Alliances are also being formed such as that between Nvidia and the pharmaceutical manufacturer Eli Lilly, resulting in the world’s most powerful AI Factory for drug discovery. It is using AI approaches to help identify, optimise, and validate new molecular candidates. This presentation will provide an overview of these developments in AI, while outlining some of the difficulties associated with the wider adoption of AI in manufacturing.
The presentation will also include examples of research carried out by the Research Ireland funded I-FormCentre on the use of digital technologies to enhance manufacturing process efficiency. The printing of metallic parts using additive manufacturing is used as an exemplar technology around which many of the Centre’s digital tools are being developed. An example is a Recommender system, which provides operator support based on a combination of in-process monitoring data, along with data from previous part runs. Despite the approximately 450 MB of data generated from each print layer, the developed system has been successfully demonstrated to generate operator recommendations on process remedial action, within 6 seconds after each print layer is laid down.
Dennis Dowling’s biography:
Prof. Denis Dowling directs the Research Ireland funded I-Form Advanced Manufacturing Centre, which is headquartered at University College Dublin (UCD). Currently the I-Form’s Centre has 45 academics along with 100 PhD and postdoctoral researchers, from 9 educational institutions across Ireland. The research focuses on materials processing, as well as the integration of digital technologies into manufacturing. This impacts on both manufacturing process efficiencies and sustainability. Denis has published over 230 peer reviewed journal papers. Prior to taking up an academic position, he worked on both company development and innovation activities with the industry development agency Enterprise Ireland.
Cathal Hoare’s Biography:
Cathal Hoare is a Research Fellow in the Data Management and Analytics area of I-Form and is based in the University of Limerick. Cathal is a graduate of Computer Science at University College Cork. He has worked for several companies, including multinationals and start-ups, working on data management solutions in domains ranging from telecoms to commercial analytics. On returning to academia, he has worked on both SFI and Horizon 2020 funded projects, working to build both data integration and high volume high velocity data management solutions. His work in I-Form focuses on the development of the I-Form Recommender System. The I-Form Recommender System provides near real-time advice on how to ameliorate developing anomalies in additive manufacturing (AM) processes and other forms of advanced manufacturing.
Date: 11 AM Irish time Thursday 12th February 2026
Title: The “ChatGPT Moment” for Advanced Manufacturing?