Caterpillar and Nvidia expand partnership to bring physical AI to construction and mining equipment

Caterpillar taps Nvidia to bring AI to its construction equipment | TechCrunch

Caterpillar is diving deeper into incorporating AI and automation into its fleet of construction machinery through a partnership with semiconductor giant Nvidia. The construction equipment giant is piloting an AI assistive system in its mid-size Cat 306 CR Mini Excavator. Dubbed "Cat AI," the system was built using Nvidia's Jetson Thor physical AI platform, and is being demoed at CES on Wednesday. Brandon Hootman, vice president of data and AI at Caterpillar, told TechCrunch that Cat AI was built on a fleet of AI agents and can help answer a machine operator's questions, allow them to access resources, offer safety tips, and schedule services. One of the biggest benefits of bringing this tech into these machines is the data that these systems collect and send back out. "Our customers don't live in front of a laptop day in and day out; they live in the dirt," Hootman said. "The ability to get the insights and take the action that they need while they're doing the work is very important to them." Caterpillar is also piloting digital twins of construction sites using Nvidia's Omniverse library of simulation resources to test scheduling scenarios and better calculate how much building material a project will need. Hootman said Caterpillar's machines send roughly 2,000 messages back to the company every second. This data will help them build these simulations. The company already has fully autonomous vehicles in the mining sector, and Hootman said that these pilot programs are a great next step as the company looks to bring more automation to its portfolio. "The reason that we started here was it was a real challenge of our our customers today that needed to be addressed, and also something that we had some some real momentum on and we felt like we could we could bring to market pretty quickly," Hootman said. "What we also liked is that provided a kind of a technology foundation for us to then build upon." Working with companies like Caterpillar -- a legacy brand that doesn't often intertwine with the tech industry -- seems to fit right into Nvidia's physical AI strategy. Bill Dally, Nvidia's chief scientist, told TechCrunch in 2025 that the chipmaker considers physical AI to be the next frontier for the company and its powerful GPUs. During its CES keynote on Monday, Nvidia laid out plans for its full-stack ecosystem for physical AI, which includes open AI models like the company's Cosmos model family, simulation tools, and developer kits. While some may think physical AI is just for robotics companies, Deepu Talla, the vice president of robotics and edge AI at Nvidia, told TechCrunch the company takes a much broader definition as everyone is building robotics today. "Physical AI is the next wave of AI," Talla said. "Nvidia is pioneering that with computers that train the models, that do the simulation to test the models and deploy the models into the robots, whether [that's] an autonomous car or a Caterpillar machine."

Caterpillar partners with Nvidia to put AI in excavators

Caterpillar partners with Nvidia to integrate AI into its construction machinery, piloting the Cat AI assistive system on the Cat 306 CR Mini Excavator using Nvidia's Jetson Thor platform, with a demonstration at CES on Wednesday. The Cat AI system operates on a fleet of AI agents. Brandon Hootman, vice president of data and AI at Caterpillar, explained its functions to TechCrunch. The system answers questions from machine operators. It provides access to necessary resources. Operators receive safety tips through the interface. The technology also enables scheduling of services directly from the machine. This integration occurs within the mid-size Cat 306 CR Mini Excavator, a model commonly used in construction tasks requiring precision and maneuverability in tight spaces. A primary advantage lies in the data collection capabilities of the Cat AI system. Machines equipped with this technology gather operational data and transmit it back to Caterpillar. This process delivers real-time insights to operators active in field environments. Hootman emphasized the practical context of operators' work conditions. He stated, "Our customers don't live in front of a laptop day in and day out; they live in the dirt." He continued, "The ability to get the insights and take the action that they need while they're doing the work is very important to them." Such data flow supports immediate decision-making during construction activities without requiring operators to leave their equipment. Caterpillar extends its AI initiatives through pilots of digital twins for construction sites. These digital replicas utilize Nvidia's Omniverse library of simulation resources. The simulations test various scheduling scenarios for projects. They also calculate precise requirements for building materials. Hootman noted the volume of data generated by Caterpillar's machines. Each machine sends roughly 2,000 messages per second to the company. This continuous stream of data populates and refines the digital twin simulations, enhancing accuracy in project planning and resource allocation. Caterpillar maintains fully autonomous vehicles within its mining sector operations. Hootman described the current pilots as a progression in automation efforts. These programs advance the integration of autonomous features across Caterpillar's broader equipment portfolio, building on established mining applications to construction machinery. Nvidia positions physical AI as central to its strategy, aligning with partnerships like the one with Caterpillar. Bill Dally, Nvidia's chief scientist, addressed this focus in a 2025 TechCrunch interview. He stated that the chipmaker considers physical AI the next frontier for the company and its powerful GPUs. This direction emphasizes applications beyond traditional computing into machinery and robotics. During Nvidia's CES keynote on Monday, the company detailed its full-stack ecosystem for physical AI. Components include open AI models from the Cosmos model family. The ecosystem incorporates simulation tools for model development and testing. It provides developer kits to facilitate deployment. These elements support comprehensive physical AI implementation across industries. Deepu Talla, Nvidia's vice president of robotics and edge AI, broadened the scope of physical AI in discussions with TechCrunch. He rejected a narrow view limited to robotics companies. Talla asserted, "Physical AI is the next wave of AI." He elaborated, "Nvidia is pioneering that with computers that train the models, that do the simulation to test the models and deploy the models into the robots, whether that's an autonomous car or a Caterpillar machine." This approach encompasses diverse applications, from vehicles to heavy construction equipment.

Nvidia Teams Up With Dow's 2025 Champion To Build The Next Era Of AI Machines - Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT)

The annual CES conference in January often highlights new products and innovations from technology giants and startups. NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) has gotten plenty of attention for its own new products, but a partnership with industrial giant Caterpillar Inc (NYSE:CAT) could also get investors talking. Caterpillar stock is trading near recent highs. What's the outlook for CAT shares? Nvidia, Caterpillar Partner on AI Machines When it comes to growth from AI-related products, Caterpillar doesn't want to be left behind. The company announced an expanded collaboration with Nvidia on Wednesday that will see the companies work together on AI-powered solutions for machines, job sites, factories, and supply chains. Caterpillar said the collaboration will "drive innovation" for the company. "As AI moves beyond data to reshape the physical world, it is unlocking new opportunities for innovation - from job sites and factory floors to offices," Caterpillar CEO Joe Creed said. Creed said the company is focused on deploying advanced technology across all aspects of the business and all its machines. "Our collaboration with NVIDIA is accelerating that progress like never before." Caterpillar will use the Nvidia Jetson Thor platform, which allows for real-time AI inference on construction, mining and power equipment. The company said the collaboration will allow Caterpillar to be ready for AI-assisted and autonomous operations. Caterpillar said the new features include personalized insights for customers, real-time coaching, AI-driven recommendations, computer vision and a "digital nervous system for customers' jobsites." Caterpillar debuted the Cat AI Assistant at CES 2026, where Creed and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang both gave separate keynotes about their respective businesses. Huang praised the collaboration with Caterpillar in a press release. "For a century, Caterpillar has built the industrial machines that shaped the world," Huang said. "In the age of AI, NVIDIA and Caterpillar are partnering across the full spectrum - from autonomous construction fleets to the AI data centers powering the next industrial revolution." AI Growth Is Important For Industrials Caterpillar is far from the first industrial company to put a new emphasis on AI-related products and growth. Farm equipment manufacturer Deere & Co has been working on new AI products and has been praised by analysts for its technology advancements. Nvidia is one of the top AI companies in the world and the collaboration with Caterpillar could quickly put a spotlight on the industrial giant. Caterpillar's presence at CES was about showing off technology and AI enhancements and the new Nvidia collaboration likely elevates the company's standing in the eyes of analysts and investors. The keys will be if customers utilize the AI products and buy new Caterpillar products and if investors see the company as more of a play on technology. Technology companies often get higher valuations than industrial companies. With Caterpillar at the crossroads of industrials and AI, the company could see another strong year. Caterpillar was the top performing stock in the Dow Jones Industrial Average in 2025 with a return of 59.5%. Caterpillar Stock Price Action Caterpillar stock trades at $599.18 on Thursday versus a 52-week trading range of $267.30 to $627.50. Caterpillar stock is up 66% over the past year. Photo: Michael Vi / Shutterstock CATCaterpillar Inc$606.991.76%OverviewNVDANVIDIA Corp$184.84-2.26%Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

Caterpillar Teams with Nvidia to Revolutionize Heavy Industry with Physical Ai and Robotics

Caterpillar Inc. announced an expanded collaboration with NVIDIA to drive innovation across industries through next-generation, AI-enhanced customer solutions and manufacturing systems. This engagement will transform how work gets done for Caterpillar's customers, dealers and employees. Equipping Machines for the AI Generation: Caterpillar is investing to equip its assets for an AI-enabled future. The NVIDIA Jetson Thor platform enables real-time AI inference on Cat construction, mining and power equipment, laying the foundation for next-generation autonomy and intelligent in-cab experiences. These upgrades will ensure assets are ready for AI-assisted and potentially autonomous operations. For example: In-cab AI features: An intelligent operator assistant providing customers with personalized insights to help them lead with confidence and win with speed, as well as real-time coaching, productivity tips and safety alerts for operators. Autonomy at scale: Construction and mining machines equipped with AI-driven recommendations, capable of processing billions of data points in milliseconds to navigate complex, variable jobsite conditions. A new level of machine intelligence: Cat fleets powered by AI, machine learning, computer vision and edge computing that process sensor data in real time and serve as a digital nervous system for customers' jobsites. At CES 2026, Caterpillar debuted the Cat AI Assistant, a proactive partner embedded in Cat digital and onboard products that helps customers take confident action. The Cat AI Assistant, which was built using NVIDIA Riva open speech models that deliver leading accuracy and lifelike voices, will answer questions and provide personalized recommendations on equipment, parts, maintenance and more. In cab, it will use voice activation to enable settings, guide troubleshooting and connect users to the right resources across Cat apps and websites. It uses Caterpillar's own trusted data stored on the Helios unified data platform, so customers get reliable, context-rich information to make daily work easier. Transforming Manufacturing and Supply Chain Operations: To meet evolving industry needs, Caterpillar is using its NVIDIA AI Factory to transform manufacturing and supply and to create safer, leaner, more resilient production systems. Caterpillar's manufacturing digital data platform takes advantage of this accelerated AI infrastructure and NVIDIA AI libraries to automate and accelerate important manufacturing processes, including forecasting and scheduling. Caterpillar is also building physically accurate digital twins of its factories on NVIDIA Omniverse libraries and OpenUSD. With these digital twins, Caterpillar teams can design, simulate and optimize layouts and production processes before building in the real world. In collaboration with NVIDIA, Caterpillar is creating an AI-driven ecosystem that transforms machines, jobsites, factories and supply chains -- changing how the world builds, moves and powers progress and setting a new standard for the future of industrial innovation.