"You Can't Cut Yourself to Glory"- KUKA CEO Christoph Schell on Germany's Crisis,China & Physical AI

In this talk

1. 2:23

   KUKA bridges engineering and AI

   Schell describes KUKA as both a mechanical engineering company and a physical AI business. Its platform is meant to support conventional, predictable automation as well as systems that can act more autonomously.

2. 8:57

   Germany needs to renew its innovation habits

   Schell argues that Europe fell behind in areas such as batteries and vehicle computing, and says Germany’s industrial slowdown reflects a deeper innovation problem. He calls for more risk-taking, faster changes to education, and greater emphasis on software and AI alongside engineering. He says cutting staff alone cannot restore competitiveness; companies need to create new products.

3. 19:34

   KUKA is shifting toward global growth

   Schell says KUKA is moving resources toward the markets where customers are growing, while investing in R&D and aiming for profitable growth. China is a priority because it is the world’s largest automation market; success there depends on rapid innovation, customer commitment, and proximity. He says the company must also adapt its approach to each region, including local development and manufacturing in India.

4. 40:52

   Industrial data can support physical AI

   Schell sees an opportunity for Germany to contribute to physical AI through both mechanical engineering and AI. He proposes bringing together data from robots, grippers, and production lines to build contextual models and digital twins, while noting that companies often hesitate to share data. For early-career professionals, he recommends combining a core discipline with skills in software, data, or AI.