Rockwell Automation launches FactoryTalk Conductor, which is an AI scheduling platform for industrial automation.

This new software connects AI proxies, skills, and workflows to various stages of the automated lifecycle.

Milwaukee, October 21, 2026 / PRNewswire / -- Rockwell Automation, Inc. (New York Stock Exchange ticker: ROK) As a global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation, the company is introducing FactoryTalk ® Conductor ™, a new AI orchestration platform designed to drive work processes throughout the entire lifecycle of industrial automation, laying the foundation for AI workflow management from system design to operation and maintenance. The software will be officially unveiled to the public in Boston on Automation Fair ® in 2026, and attendees will have the opportunity to experience it in advance before its commercialization is scheduled for the first quarter of 2027.

According to the "2026 Intelligent Manufacturing Status Report" published by Rockwell Automation, one-third of production operations are already running with the assistance of AI, and this trend is expected to accelerate in the coming years. As manufacturers transition from AI trials to larger-scale deployments, they need practical solutions to connect technology, workflows, and expertise. FactoryTalk Conductor integrates AI into the entire engineering environment through a unified platform to meet this demand.

VP Craig Resnick stated: "In the next phase of industrial AI, more emphasis will be placed on orchestration rather than individual co-pilot tools. Manufacturers need to have the AI technology to coordinate tasks between software systems, engineering tools, and operational data. FactoryTalk Conductor reflects the industry's trend towards agent-based automation by integrating AI agents, workflows, and industrial expertise into a unified environment."

FactoryTalk Conductor allows users to initiate engineering tasks through natural language. This solution intelligently connects the software, AI functions, and workflows required to complete these tasks. Upon release, this platform will be integrated into Studio 5000 Logix Designer ®, Logix Echo ™, Emulate3D ®, and FactoryTalk ® Optix ™, covering the main workflows of design, development, simulation, and testing. Rockwell Automation subsequently plans to integrate it into more products, including FactoryTalk ® Design Studio ™, FactoryTalk ® Historian Plex ®, and Fiix ®, in order to extend the workflows driven by AI to more stages of the industrial automation lifecycle.

Rockwell Automation, the Senior Vice President of Software and Control, stated: "What makes FactoryTalk Conductor unique is its combination of AI orchestration with recognized industrial expertise. Customers can rely on agents and skills verified by Rockwell Automation to create capabilities tailored to their own businesses, and they can integrate AI with all their software, data, and services. This provides a scalable foundation for accelerating engineering efforts while meeting the standards required in industrial environments."

The main advantages include:

• Meet the enterprise's requirements for AI and governance, enabling them to use both the AI services hosted in FactoryTalk Hub and to connect with small or large language models of their choice, including locally hosted open-weight models. Such models can reduce the ongoing costs associated with consumption based on token.
• Accelerate the engineering workflow throughout the entire automation lifecycle by coordinating activities in design, development, testing, and verification environments.
• By overriding the AI workflow of solutions such as Studio, Logix Designer, Logix Echo, Emulate3D, FactoryTalk Optix, and other Rockwell Automation, the complexity between different software applications is reduced.
• Leveraging the integration developed with Rockwell Automation, software, data, and services are connected in industrial operations, enabling a more confident and reliable application of AI.
• Proven automated professional capabilities through Rockwell Automation-verified proxies and skill extensions, helping teams to accelerate their work with features tailored for industrial applications.

Manufacturers participating in Automation Fair in 2026 will be able to watch demonstrations of FactoryTalk Conductor in multiple exhibition areas, including Technology & Services Showcase, Industry Pavillion, and Innovations, as well as attend specialized technical conferences.

For more information about FactoryTalk Conductor and Automation Fair, please visit www.rockwellautomation.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is FactoryTalk Conductor?

FactoryTalk Conductor is an orchestration platform based on AI, which can connect to AI proxies, skills, workflows, and automation software, helping engineers to accelerate system design, development, and testing activities through natural language interaction and recognized industrial expertise.

What is the difference between the co-pilot of FactoryTalk Conductor and AI?

Traditional AI co-pilots mainly assist users in completing individual tasks, whereas FactoryTalk Conductor coordinates the collaboration between multiple AI agents, workflows, and software tools within the engineering process. This enables it to automate more complex, multi-step activities that involve different applications, data sources, and teams.

When will FactoryTalk Conductor be available?

FactoryTalk Conductor will be previewed at the 2026 Automation Fair to be held in Boston, and is expected to be launched in the first quarter of 2027.

Which BJW KEEP 00001 products can be used with?

FactoryTalk Conductor is designed to work in conjunction with an increasing number of Rockwell Automation software solutions. At the time of release, it will support Studio 5000, Logix Designer ®, Logix Echo ™, Emulate3D ®, and FactoryTalk ® Optix ™. Subsequently, FactoryTalk ®, Design Studio ™, FactoryTalk ®, Historian, Plex ®, Fiix ®, and other solutions will also be added.

Can customers create and deploy their own AI proxies and skills?

Yes. In addition to the proxies and skills that have been verified by Rockwell Automation, customers can also create and deploy their own proxies and skills to meet corporate standards, industry requirements, and the needs of specific engineering workflows.

About Rockwell Automation

Rockwell Automation, Inc. (New York Stock Exchange ticker: ROK) is a global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation. The company combines employees' imagination with their technical potential to expand the boundaries of what's possible, driving the world towards greater productivity and sustainability. Rockwell Automation is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and employs nearly 26,000 people, serving customers in over 100 countries and regions. For information on how the company promotes the implementation of The Connected Enterprise ® in industrial enterprises, visit www.rockwellautomation.com.