EY’s launch of a physical artificial intelligence (AI) platform and dedicated laboratory on Wednesday with a major assist from NVIDIA Corp. signals a major push into robotics and automation.
The new platform – which uses NVIDIA’s Omniverse libraries, Isaac, and AI Enterprise software – offers organizations a structured framework for implementing AI systems that operate through robots, drones, and smart-edge devices. The initiative aims to bridge the gap between AI experimentation and enterprise-scale deployment, EY said.
A linchpin of the rollout is EY.ai Lab in Alpharetta, Ga., the organization’s first facility fully dedicated to physical AI. The lab provides an immersive environment where organizations can prototype, test, and deploy scalable AI solutions using cutting-edge robotics, sensors, and simulation capabilities.
John Fanelli, vice president of enterprise AI software at NVIDIA, noted that enterprises are increasingly adopting robotics to address demographic shifts and enhance workplace safety. He described the EY.ai Lab as helping organizations “simulate, optimize and safely deploy robotics applications at enterprise scale.”
“Physical AI is transforming how businesses across sectors operate and help create value, from enhanced automation and greater efficiency to significantly helping reduce operational costs,” Raj Sharma, EY’s global managing partner for growth and innovation, said in a statement. He emphasized that the platform combines EY’s industry expertise with NVIDIA’s AI infrastructure to help clients move responsibly from experimentation to enterprise deployment.
The platform focuses on three core elements: generating synthetic data to simulate scenarios for physical AI; creating digital twins using Omniverse libraries for real-time insights and performance monitoring; and implementing guardrails to ensure safety, ethics, and compliance across operations.
Digital twin technology lets organizations model, test, and refine physical systems in virtual environments before real-world deployment, reducing risk and accelerating implementation timelines. The platform will serve sectors including industrials, energy, consumer products, and healthcare.
Heading the initiative is Dr. Youngjun Choi, who has nearly 20 years of experience, most recently heading the UPS Robotics AI Lab where he spearheaded projects transforming the company’s operations through advanced robotics and digital twins. He also served as research faculty in Aerospace Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology, focusing on aerial robotics and autonomous systems.
EY Global Chief Innovation Officer Joe Depa stressed the importance of trusted, AI-ready data and proper governance in physical AI deployment.
