Story perspectives

U.S. Firms Shift to Adaptive AI Automation, Eclipse Reports

7/17/2026

Summary

Story summary

Eclipse Automation executives say U.S. firms are shifting from static to adaptive AI automation.
Mike Fisher, President of Eclipse Automation, says companies now focus on long-term resilience.
Steve Mai, CEO of Eclipse Automation, notes adaptability rivals cost efficiency in manufacturing.
Marc Fuentes, Vice President at Eclipse Automation, warns that rigid automation risks business agility.
Experts say AI-powered robots must pair high-level perception with real-time motion control and safety-certified hardware.

History

Historical Context

In spring 1961, General Motors installed the Unimate, a hydraulically powered arm created by George Devol and Joseph Engelberger, at its Ewing Township plant, replacing three shifts of workers handling 20-40 lb red-hot die-cast parts. The robot logged 100,000 operating hours over ten years, spurring automotive rivals and Japan’s robot boom, a legacy that today drives AI-enabled automation investments.

1 of 2

Story summary

Eclipse Automation executives say U.S. firms are shifting from static to adaptive AI automation.
Mike Fisher, President of Eclipse Automation, says companies now focus on long-term resilience.
Steve Mai, CEO of Eclipse Automation, notes adaptability rivals cost efficiency in manufacturing.
Marc Fuentes, Vice President at Eclipse Automation, warns that rigid automation risks business agility.
Experts say AI-powered robots must pair high-level perception with real-time motion control and safety-certified hardware.

1 / 2