Why read those endless reports from McKinsey and their ilk when you can relax on the couch and watch AI-themed science fiction movies? As long as you don’t get distracted by all the killer robots, you can learn a lot about the why and how of applying AI to manufacturing. In this second edition of Lounge & Learn we dive into a classic of the Robot Slasher genre. The Terminator (1984), where hindsight is 20/20.
This ultimate killer robot movie is one of the most profitable films ever. Coincidence?
But at its core, the film is less about machine intelligence and more about human stupidity. What was the government thinking when it gave control of the defense department to a system called Skynet? It only seems logical that Skynet would then achieve superintelligence, induce a global nuclear war, and enslave the human race with the help of a robot army. But yes, hindsight is always 20/20.
Where Skynet Meets Spreadsheets
However, on another level, this overly caffeinated slasher movie, where a robot chases a very resourceful human female through time, is, in fact, a masterclass in proactive system diagnostics. As masterfully played by Arnie (aka Arnold Schwarzenegger), the T-800 robot’s ability to instantly assess its condition mirrors the ultimate goal of modern predictive maintenance: continuously monitoring equipment health, predicting potential failures before they occur, analyzing performance data in real-time, and recommending precise maintenance interventions.
“Ready to terminate inefficiency.”
While Arnie’s character was busy saying things like, “I’ll be back,” modern manufacturing AI is saying, “I’ll make your production line run smoother than a freshly WD-40ed robot. And I’ll do it before lunch – a break I don’t take anyway.”
Fun fact: the film references a “neural net” concept that forms the means for today’s machine learning algorithms, which now power predictive maintenance and process optimization in manufacturing – and for which Geoffrey Hinton just won a Nobel Prize in 2024.
How Settling Into Your Couch Can Fast-Track Your Industry 4.0 Journey
For manufacturers, science fiction movies aren’t just escapist entertainment. From interactive machines to predictive technologies, many films offer a surprisingly accurate roadmap for digital transformation. So, buckle up! We’re about to take a wild ride.
Welcome to the series ‘Lounge & Learn’!
Read Part 1: ‘Watching 2001 and Blade Runner For Industry 4.0 Insights‘
Nope, Not Taking Over World, Just Production Metrics
Of course, the whole killer robot trope does not align with what’s happening now in factories, where the AI systems are more like efficient, slightly nerdy production assistants who are really, really good at their job – think more Kindergarten Kop than Terminator. They are certainly not out to take over the world – just production metrics.
The film perhaps also has another buried message: the Industry 4.0 revolution isn’t coming – it’s already here, and it’s ready to terminate inefficiency.
Read more from the ‘Lounge & Learn’ series!
Or reach out to learn more about getting the future in-house today.
