In a recent feature by the Hartford Business Journal, Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology Chief Technology Officer Amy Thompson shared insights on how artificial intelligence, cybersecurity requirements, and workforce pressures are converging for manufacturers in the year ahead.
Thompson described a shift toward human-centric automation, where AI and robotics are designed to work alongside employees — improving safety, decision-making, and productivity. She also pointed to the rise of agentic AI, with systems capable of operating autonomously and adapting in real time, such as robots navigating changing shop floors without predefined instructions.
As digital tools expand, so do risks. Thompson noted that defense and aerospace suppliers must strengthen protections to meet new Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) 2.0 requirements.
Kirti Patel, Connecticut’s Chief Manufacturing Officer, emphasized continued partnerships with schools and training providers to address tight labor markets, adding that
“a productivity-first mindset will accelerate the adoption of automation and advanced technologies to augment the skills of current and new employees and partially address the workforce shortage.”
Kirti Patel, Connecticut Chief Manufacturing Officer
Together, these trends highlight the need to pair technology adoption with workforce readiness.
Read the full Hartford Business Journal article →
