Max Henry breaks down how AI is moving from software that advises to physical systems that actually do warehouse work. Computer vision now triggers actions, robot fleets are scaling fast, autonomous trucks handle some routes, and humanoid robots could retrofit existing facilities, though most still face safety and reliability questions.
What happens when AI steps out of the dashboard and into the real world? For years, supply chain AI lived in software, analyzing data to recommend decisions to humans. Now it's taking physical form. It starts with computer vision. Cameras aren't just passively monitoring anymore. They're actively triggering operational action. On the warehouse floor, indoor mobile robots are already scaling rapidly. But orchestrating these fleets safely alongside humans remains a major integration barrier. Outside the facility walls, autonomous vehicles and drones are taking over transport, but for now, they're only proving themselves in highly controlled environments. The longest-term frontier is humanoids. They offer huge potential for existing unmodified facilities, but their reliability, safety, and economics are still completely unproven. These technologies sit at vastly different levels of maturity. The first phase of AI changed how supply chains make decisions. The next phase may change who or what actually performs the work. Are you preparing for AI that advises your operation or AI that operates it?
