Siemens, Naver Urge Firms to Scale Industrial AI
Siemens and Naver CEOs told a Seoul audience that companies must move beyond AI pilot projects into measurable operations.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
Live Poll
Do you think AI will make your job more secure or less secure?
Siemens CEO Roland Busch and Naver CEO Choi Soo-yeon urged companies to move beyond AI pilot projects during an industrial AI session at APK 2026 in Seoul. Choi said businesses must organize data from paper records, employee computers and departmental systems into AI-usable formats.
Why it matters
Many organizations have tested AI tools without translating them into productivity gains, and the speakers argued that generating reports with AI does not automatically raise output. Their remarks point to data readiness and interoperability as the main obstacles to scaling industrial AI across regions.
An audience poll found 41 percent of respondents identified data sharing and interoperability as the top barrier to scaling industrial AI across regions. A Japanese automaker's deployment of Siemens technology across 10,000 machines reportedly achieved a payback period of less than three months, though the sample size behind the poll and the payback methodology were not disclosed.
The players
Roland Busch
Busch is the chief executive of Siemens, the German industrial technology company that supplies automation and AI systems to manufacturers worldwide.
Choi Soo-yeon
Choi is the chief executive of Naver, South Korea's largest internet platform company, which operates search, commerce and robotics businesses.
The details
Busch and Choi spoke at a session moderated by journalist Jennifer Moon, where Busch said customer data could be used to train industrial AI models without necessarily leaving company premises. Choi said AI adoption has so far focused largely on office work and that companies should measure whether AI reduces waiting times, improves efficiency or eliminates repetitive tasks. Naver has operated more than 200 delivery robots at its 1784 headquarters for over four years.
Timeline
Saturday: Busch and Choi spoke at the industrial AI session at APK 2026 in Seoul.
Over the past four years: Naver operated its delivery robots at the 1784 headquarters.
The Tech Race
Naver's more than 200 delivery robots at its 1784 headquarters, operating for over four years, provide a concrete example of AI deployed beyond the pilot stage. The speakers' argument that AI so far has focused largely on office work suggests a race to apply the technology to physical, industrial operations.
Companies deploying AI will need to measure concrete outcomes such as reduced waiting times and fewer repetitive tasks rather than relying on report generation alone. Employees in repetitive, rules-based jobs face displacement risk, as the speakers projected that such roles will be most affected.
The takeaway
Organizations should audit their data, from paper records to departmental systems, before expecting AI to produce productivity gains. Tracking whether a tool actually cuts delays or repetitive work is a practical test of its value.
Further reading
For broader context on how businesses are putting artificial intelligence into practice, explore our coverage of AI tools and adoption.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Korea Herald.
Live Poll
Do you think AI will make your job more secure or less secure?
