Finnish smartphone company, Nokia, has introduced “MX Workmate,” an AI-powered tool which leverages generative AI large language models (LLMs) to generate messages and provide real-time alerts and recommendations to industrial workers, including warnings about faulty machinery and suggestions to improve factory output.
Nokia already supplies 4G and 5G technology for in-house communications and data connectivity from machine sensors in industrial settings, and MX Workmate builds upon those services, enhancing them with advanced AI capabilities to generate human-like text. Nokia’s Head of Enterprise Solutions Marketing, Stephane Daeuble, says the tool can provide early warnings about machine failures, recommend actions for repairs, propose solutions to improve production quality and rates, and assist in managing accidents at factories.
Daeuble also explained that MX Workmate serves as an assistant to help workers make sense of the vast amounts of data generated in industrial environments. With many manufacturers currently facing challenges due to a shortage of qualified staff in data work, MX Workmate could be a solution.
While generative AI has gained popularity, particularly with tools like ChatGPT, Nokia ensures that its AI tool complies with operational technology (OT) regulations. However, Daeuble acknowledged that it may take time for companies to fully trust this “forward-looking” technology, which requires thorough testing and fine-tuning to adapt across various industries.
Despite ongoing research to address AI-related challenges such as hallucination, Daeuble stressed the importance of accuracy, clarity, and traceability in the tool’s functionality. Initial safeguards, such as human validation of AI-generated prompts, will be implemented to ensure reliability.
Nokia plans to showcase the initial versions of MX Workmate at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona later this month. Full implementation may take time, however, with Daeuble estimating around a year to a year and a half.
