The Gen AI Paradox. In manufacturing, a strange gap has opened up: Generative AI is a top priority—but rarely deployed. It’s sitting on roadmaps, not shop floors. And yet, early adopters are slashing downtime, boosting productivity, and outpacing the rest. The opportunity? Still wide open. For manufacturers ready to move, this “high priority, low adoption” tech could quietly become their most valuable edge. Where Manufacturers Are Today Manufacturers aren’t ignoring Gen AI—they’re circling it, preparing for it, investing around it. …

In 2025, data has become the manufacturing sector’s most strategic asset—separating those who lead from those who lag.  AI investment has grown from around $2.2 billion in 2022 to nearly $9.5 billion in 2025. That kind of 5x jump shows how serious manufacturers are about using data to drive automation, performance, and profitability. Over 92% of manufacturers say they’re planning to increase AI investments this year. But here’s the catch: only 1% have reached true data maturity. Source: Deloitte 2025 …