AI Takes Over Factory Decisions, Black Lake CEO Says
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Black Lake Technologies Founder and CEO Yuxiang Zhou spoke at the Fortune Leaders Forum 2026 in Macau. He said artificial intelligence is moving into the decision layer of manufacturing.
Zhou explained that AI is no longer just a tool for monitoring machines or collecting data. It is now helping factories make real decisions on the production floor.
This shift means AI systems can suggest or even make choices about scheduling, quality control, and resource use. Zhou called this the "decision layer" — the part of manufacturing where human judgment was once required.
He added that this change could make factories faster and more efficient. But it also raises questions about how much control humans should give to machines.
Black Lake Technologies is a company that builds AI software for industrial use. Zhou's comments signal that the next wave of factory automation is already underway.