Rockwell Automation Introduces FactoryTalk Conductor, an AI-Native Orchestration Platform for Industrial Automation

Rockwell Automation (NYSE: ROK) introduced FactoryTalk Conductor, an AI orchestration platform designed to coordinate work across industrial automation software.

Rhea-AI Summary

Rockwell Automation (NYSE: ROK) introduced FactoryTalk Conductor, an AI orchestration platform designed to coordinate work across industrial automation software.

The company plans commercial availability in the first quarter of 2027, following a public preview at Automation Fair 2026 in Boston. The platform is designed to connect AI agents, software and workflows so users can initiate engineering tasks through natural language. At launch, supported products will include Studio 5000 Logix Designer, Logix Echo, Emulate3D and FactoryTalk Optix.

Rockwell Automation plans further integrations with FactoryTalk Design Studio, FactoryTalk Historian, Plex and Fiix. Customers can create their own AI agents and skills alongside Rockwell-verified capabilities, and choose FactoryTalk Hub-hosted AI services or connect preferred language models, including locally hosted models.

Key Figures

Planned commercial availability: First quarter of 2027

Planned commercial availability

First quarter of 2027

FactoryTalk Conductor

Key Terms

large language models, open-weight models

2 terms

large language models technical

"connect their preferred large or small language models"

Large language models are advanced AI systems trained on vast amounts of text to understand and generate human-like writing, like a very fast reader and writer that learns patterns in words and sentences. They matter to investors because they can change how companies operate—automating customer service, speeding analysis, cutting costs, creating new products—and they introduce risks around accuracy, security and regulation that can affect a firm’s revenue and reputation.

open-weight models technical

"including locally hosted open-weight models"

Open-weight models are machine-learning systems whose internal parameters (the numeric “weights” that determine how inputs are turned into outputs) are publicly available for inspection, modification, and reuse. For investors, that transparency makes it easier to audit performance claims, assess risks and biases, and accelerate product development—think of it as a recipe where every ingredient and measurement is shown, so anyone can test, tweak, or reproduce the result.

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New software connects AI agents, skills and workflows across the automation lifecycle

MILWAUKEE, Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), the world's largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, today announced the introduction of FactoryTalk® Conductor™, a new AI-native orchestration platform designed to coordinate AI-powered work across the industrial automation lifecycle, creating a foundation for AI-enabled workflows from system design through operation and maintenance. The software will make its public debut at Automation Fair® 2026 in Boston, where attendees will receive an exclusive first look ahead of its planned commercial availability in the first quarter of 2027.

According to Rockwell Automation's 2026 State of Smart Manufacturing Report, one-third of manufacturing operations are already AI-augmented, with adoption expected to accelerate in the years ahead. As manufacturers move from AI experimentation to broader deployment, they need practical ways to connect technology, workflows and expertise. FactoryTalk Conductor is designed to meet that need through a single platform that brings AI together across engineering environments.

"The next phase of industrial AI will be defined by orchestration rather than individual copilots," said Craig Resnick, Vice President, ARC Advisory Group. "Manufacturers need AI technologies that can coordinate tasks across software systems, engineering tools and operational data. FactoryTalk Conductor reflects the industry's evolution toward agentic automation by bringing AI agents, workflows and industrial expertise together in a unified environment."

FactoryTalk Conductor enables users to initiate engineering tasks using natural language and intelligently connects the software, AI capabilities and workflows needed to complete them. At launch, the platform will integrate with Studio 5000 Logix Designer®, Logix Echo™, Emulate3D® and FactoryTalk® Optix™, providing coverage across key design, development, simulation and testing workflows. Additional integrations across Rockwell Automation's software portfolio, including FactoryTalk® Design Studio™, FactoryTalk® Historian, Plex® and Fiix®, are planned to follow, expanding AI-powered workflows across the industrial automation lifecycle.

"What makes FactoryTalk Conductor unique is the combination of AI orchestration and trusted industrial expertise," said Matheus Bulho, senior vice president, software & control, Rockwell Automation. "Customers can leverage Rockwell Automation-verified agents and skills, create capabilities tailored to their business, and connect AI across software, data and services. This creates a scalable foundation for accelerating engineering work while maintaining the standards required in industrial environments."

Key benefits include:

• Supporting enterprise AI and governance requirements, giving organizations the flexibility to leverage FactoryTalk Hub-hosted AI services or connect their preferred large or small language models, including locally hosted open-weight models that can help reduce ongoing token consumption costs.
• Accelerating engineering workflows across the automation lifecycle by coordinating activities across design, development, testing and verification environments.
• Reducing complexity across software applications by enabling AI-powered workflows that span Studio 5000 Logix Designer, Logix Echo, Emulate3D, FactoryTalk Optix and other Rockwell Automation solutions.
• Applying AI with greater confidence and reliability through Rockwell Automation-developed integrations that connect software, data and services across industrial operations.
• Extending trusted automation expertise through Rockwell Automation-verified agents and skills, helping teams accelerate work with capabilities purpose-built for industrial applications.

Manufacturers attending Automation Fair 2026 will be able to experience FactoryTalk Conductor demonstrations across multiple show floor experiences, including Technology & Services Showcase, Industry Pavillion, Innovations, as well as dedicated technical sessions.

Additional information about FactoryTalk Conductor and Automation Fair can be found at www.rockwellautomation.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is FactoryTalk Conductor?
FactoryTalk Conductor is an AI-native orchestration platform that connects AI agents, skills, workflows and automation software to help engineers accelerate system design, development and testing activities through natural language interactions and trusted industrial expertise.

How is FactoryTalk Conductor different from an AI copilot?
While traditional AI copilots assist with individual tasks, FactoryTalk Conductor enables multiple AI agents, workflows and software tools to work together across engineering processes. This enables broader automation of complex, multi-step activities that span applications, data sources and teams.

When will FactoryTalk Conductor be available?
FactoryTalk Conductor will be previewed at Automation Fair 2026 in Boston and is expected to be commercially available in the first quarter of 2027.

What Rockwell Automation products can FactoryTalk Conductor work with?
FactoryTalk Conductor is designed to work across a growing portfolio of Rockwell Automation software. At launch, it will support Studio 5000 Logix Designer®, Logix Echo™, Emulate3D® and FactoryTalk® Optix™, with additional integrations planned for FactoryTalk® Design Studio™, FactoryTalk® Historian, Plex®, Fiix® and other solutions over time.

Can customers create and deploy their own AI agents and skills?
Yes. In addition to Rockwell Automation-verified agents and skills, customers can create and deploy their own agents and skills to support company standards, industry requirements and unique engineering workflows

About Rockwell Automation

Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), is a global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation. We connect the imaginations of people with the potential of technology to expand what is humanly possible, making the world more productive and more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rockwell Automation employs approximately 26,000 problem solvers dedicated to our customers in more than 100 countries. To learn more about how we are bringing the Connected Enterprise® to life across industrial enterprises, visit www.rockwellautomation.com.

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SOURCE Rockwell Automation, Inc.

FAQ

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When will Rockwell Automation's FactoryTalk Conductor be commercially available?

Rockwell Automation expects FactoryTalk Conductor to be commercially available in the first quarter of 2027. The platform will first be previewed at Automation Fair 2026 in Boston.

What is Rockwell Automation's FactoryTalk Conductor designed to do?

FactoryTalk Conductor is designed to coordinate AI agents, workflows and automation software across engineering processes. Rather than assisting only with individual tasks, it connects tools for multi-step activities spanning applications and data sources.