Honeywell to develop AI-enabled multimodal intelligent agent

By Staff Report September 24, 2024 2:36 pm

Honeywell is developing an AI-enabled multimodal intelligent agent for its mobile devices, powered by Qualcomm Technologies. The agent will allow workers and customers in distribution and retail industries to interact naturally with their handheld devices through voice, pictures, and barcodes. 

Honeywell announced that it is working to develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled multimodal intelligent agent for Honeywell mobile devices powered by Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. The agent will allow workers and customers in the distribution centre and retail industries to interact naturally with their handheld devices through voice, pictures, and barcodes. 

This AI-powered solution is built to function as a digital resource for the modern labour force and designed to enable a stretched workforce to quickly tap into answers and outcomes, helping result in time savings, greater accuracy, and interactive results. The design and development of the Multi-Modal Intelligent Agent also supports Honeywell’s alignment of its portfolio to three compelling megatrends, including automation.

Workers will be able to enter data into the technology and then receive practical answers to queries like, “Do we have the gluten-free variant of this product in stock?” or “Where can I find this particular item in the store?” Depending on the question, users will receive responses in the form of an image, video, spoken response, text answer, or a combination of several modalities. This functionality is designed to enable workers to more efficiently complete their work while simultaneously navigating other ongoing tasks, such as assisting customers in a retail setting or performing multi-step workflows in a distribution center. The solution will be available to users through a software development kit that can integrate with an organisation’s existing applications and systems.

“Utilising our strengths in on-device generative AI, high-performance, and low-power computing, this collaboration with Honeywell underscores our commitment to pioneering innovative solutions that will propel the expansion of the connected intelligent edge,” said Nakul Duggal, group general manager of automotive, industrial, embedded IoT, and cloud computing at Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “Honeywell’s new multi-modal intelligent agent represents a significant step forward in utilising advanced edge AI to streamline operations and elevate customer interactions across industries. This initiative enables us to drive digital transformation, enhancing how businesses interact with their environments through intelligent and responsive technology.”

Jason Urso, Honeywell Industrial Automation chief technology officer, said, “By pairing Honeywell’s easy-to-use mobile devices and intelligent software with Qualcomm Technologies’ industry-leading edge AI processors, Honeywell is creating solutions to make workers’ jobs easier while also helping businesses produce the stellar experience they want for their customers. With AI, Honeywell is amplifying what’s possible for businesses with mobile workers today.”

The Multi-Modal Intelligent Agent is expected to be available in early 2025.