The CORPEX team had the opportunity to attend the MBOT AI Forum 2025, a gathering focused on transforming how businesses use artificial intelligence to improve operations, decision making and long-term competitiveness. The event brought together industry experts, technology strategists, academics and business leaders, each offering actionable insights into how organizations can navigate the rapid acceleration of AI.

As a company deeply involved in Industry 4.0, manufacturing automation and applied AI systems, we viewed this forum as an important touchpoint for the future of industrial innovation.

Opening Keynote: Why AI Adoption Cannot Wait

Speaker: Samuel Collins, Director of Technical Product Management, Bell AI Fabric

Samuel Collins delivered a clear, structured overview of why AI has moved far beyond experimentation. He distinguished between predictive AI, generative AI and agentic AI, outlining how each category influences business performance. His message was direct: organizations that delay adoption risk losing operational efficiency, workforce capability and competitive position.

For industrial sectors, Collins emphasized the need for readiness, leadership alignment and responsible implementation. His framework echoed many of the realities we see when integrating AI into manufacturing and machine-vision systems.

AI in Action: Practical Wins for SMEs

Speaker: Ben Molfetta, Co-Founder, Core Online Marketing

Ben Molfetta brought a practical perspective to the forum, demonstrating how small and mid-sized businesses are adopting AI to improve workflows, reporting, marketing and customer operations. His examples from agentic AI deployments showed how companies can reduce manual work, automate repetitive processes and free employees to focus on higher-value tasks.

Molfetta’s methodology of developing detailed workflows, prioritizing attainable wins and building internal capability aligns strongly with CORPEX’s approach to Industry 4.0 transformation. His emphasis on structured, scalable implementation resonated with many organizations in attendance.

Panel Discussion: The Human Side of AI Adoption

Panelists:
• Sean McGuinness, Tompkins Canada
• Keerthana Mahadevan, Founder and Chief Strategist, Segmentide
• Raluca Lazar, Director of Continuous and Professional Learning, Sheridan College
Moderator:
• Aby Alameddine, President and Co-Founder, Core Online Marketing

The panel offered grounded insights into the cultural, operational and workforce challenges surrounding AI adoption. Sean McGuinness shared the perspective of a manufacturing leader implementing AI within a high-volume, SKU-dense industrial environment. His emphasis on curiosity, team engagement and bottom-up adoption reflected a modern, practical leadership approach.

Keerthana Mahadevan centered the conversation on digital ecosystems and strategy alignment, explaining why AI must serve business goals rather than drive them. She emphasized customer experience, data readiness and cross-functional adoption as key success factors.

From the education perspective, Raluca Lazar discussed how continuing education programs at Sheridan are preparing organizations to upskill teams through micro credentials and AI-focused professional development. She highlighted the importance of training employees on both fundamentals and ethical use.

Together, the panel reinforced that AI transformation is as much a human journey as a technological one.

Keynote on Creativity and Capability: AI as an Equalizer

Speaker: Rob Williams, AI Consultant, Chief AI Officer and Founder, Soft House Advisory

Rob Williams delivered an energetic session exploring AI as a capability multiplier. His examples showed how people without coding backgrounds can now build applications. Furthermore, automate workflows and speed up creative projects using modern generative and agentic tools.

The core message was simple: AI expands what people can achieve. Organizations that build internal capability today will benefit as these tools mature. Williams also highlighted the value of experimentation and unlocking unrealized potential. This approach fits perfectly with the innovation mindset CORPEX promotes across industrial and technical environments.

Cybersecurity and AI Risk: What Businesses Must Prepare For

Speaker: Francis Syms, Associate Dean, Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology, Humber College

Francis Syms delivered a crucial perspective on cybersecurity, misinformation, deepfakes and data exposure. As AI systems scale, he outlined the growing importance of governance, digital literacy and controls around unsanctioned AI use.

He highlighted how threat actors can now automate attacks, generate convincing phishing messages and exploit unsecured systems at unprecedented speed. Moreover, his guidance on data protection, monitoring and responsible implementation is essential for companies using AI in operational settings, especially within industrial and manufacturing environments.

What This Means for CORPEX and the Industry

For CORPEX, the MBOT AI Forum reinforced several key points:

• AI is now a core operational capability, not a future technology
• Industrial companies, manufacturers and technical organizations benefit most when they begin with focused, high-impact applications
• Workforce alignment and structured change management determine whether AI initiatives succeed
• Cybersecurity, privacy and governance must be integrated into every AI project
• Building internal capability is more valuable than outsourcing AI entirely

As a company specializing in machine vision, AI systems and Industry 4.0 automation, we see a clear path ahead: accessible, practical AI tools will increasingly support manufacturing performance, process efficiency and quality assurance.

CORPEX will continue collaborating across industry and education to accelerate safe and effective AI deployment in real-world industrial environments.