Physical AI is Human-Centric and Ready to Solve Real-World Problems
Smarter sensing is the key to unlocking the potential of physical AI in addressing global infrastructure and workforce challenges.
As the physical world becomes more unpredictable, critical systems such as infrastructure, supply chains, and public services will need to respond faster and with greater intelligence.
At Ontech Group, we believe physical AI will drive this transformation, both replacing and empowering human work. We foresee a future where physical AI helps manage ever more complex environments with greater safety, efficiency, and built-in privacy.
To get there, the intelligence that underpins these systems must evolve. Physical AI, powered by a step change in sensing capabilities, will become a new intelligence layer driving system transformation.
A Broader Narrative for Physical AI
Ontech Group focuses on practical uses of physical AI, including those that support a more sustainable and resilient future.
Often, physical AI is equated with developments in robotics, but this represents just part of the opportunity. As noted by Arthur D. Little, a leading name in management consulting, physical AI is about how AI systems interact with the real world by sensing their environment, processing information, and taking action through physical devices. Unlike traditional robotics, which follow fixed rules, physical AI can adapt and learn in real time by working with more flexible, multimodal systems.
Many systems we rely on are under growing pressure as infrastructure ages and environmental events become more severe. At the same time, we are introducing more machines and automated systems into public and industrial settings, where human safety and security are paramount.
This is where physical AI adds enormous value. It delivers clearer, often real-time data that supports more precise monitoring, management and control of complex systems. It supports early detection, prevents escalation, and does so with fewer resources.
From Automation to Human Augmentation
In sectors facing labour gaps and an ageing workforce, physical AI offers a practical solution to persistent automation roadblocks. In energy infrastructure for example, scheduled preventive maintenance is expensive and time-consuming. But physical AI can enable real-time insight from local sensors processing data on-site. This helps operators shift from reactive to predictive maintenance.
In healthcare, routine physical checks on patient wellbeing are essential but resource-limited. Patients can experience discomfort, distress, or even danger between scheduled rounds. Continuous monitoring using physical AI enables immediate detection and response to issues such as falls, abnormal movement, or poor vital signs.
At Ontech Group, we enable smart sensing systems that continuously collect and interpret data in near real-time to deliver timely, actionable insights. Our technology is scalable, designed with privacy at its core, and is designed for systems that both replace and augment human effort.
Making Use of a Trillion-Sensor World
According to a recent Arthur D. Little article, physical AI must operate with “embedded, decentralised computational power running on the device itself,” as systems often need to “respond immediately without latency.” This shift toward edge computing enables real-time action and reduces dependence on cloud access or central servers.
AdLittle also notes that these systems need to be small, energy-efficient, and able to process different types of data, all while maintaining safety, privacy, and performance across mobile or remote settings.
Physical AI can address this by embedding intelligence at the edge, within its use-context, and delivering clear, real-time insight. Achieving this intelligence demands sensors with features such as low energy consumption, privacy controls and real-time processing.
Ontech CEMF ®
Here, Ontech’s Controlled Electromagnetic Field (CEMF) technology is already playing a key role in a number of new products and applications, particularly as it enables near real-time data processing on-site, while using minimal power use and ensuring full privacy.
Ontech CEMF® enables technology works without cameras or intrusive tools. It detects movement and many other physical changes in its detection zone while protecting privacy. This makes it ideal for sensitive spaces such as healthcare and has led to the creation of a new health monitor.
Ontech CEMF® does not depend on cloud access or constant network connectivity to provide instant, context-aware feedback. This edge capability helps detect critical issues and initiate responses without delay.
Through sustained R&D efforts, Ontech technology will support innovative sensing solutions that transform human-machine interaction across industries including security, healthcare, infrastructure, and smart cities.
