Industrial economy and artificial intelligence: real situation and development directions

Abstract

The industrial sector remains a cornerstone of economic development, and the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) promises a transformative “fourth” and emerging “fifth” industrial revolution by enabling predictive decision‑making, real‑time optimization, and the convergence of cyber‑physical systems, Internet of Things, and AI‑based analytics in smart factories. Despite numerous pilot successes, the widespread adoption of AI in industry is hindered by fragmented systems integration, uneven data quality and management, and limited trust in “black‑box” algorithms, as well as a lack of unified frameworks to observe and coordinate AI and digitalization efforts across diverse industrial contexts. This study aims to clarify AI’s capabilities and developmental trajectories in the industrial economy by systematically evaluating its applications, strategic directions, and improvement stages.  It was found that the integration of AI and digitalization yields significant productivity gains, particularly in predictive maintenance, supply chain optimization, and automated quality control. However, heterogeneity of platforms, data‑governance challenges, and operator skepticism persist. Sectoral analyses reveal advanced uptake in discrete manufacturing (automotive, electronics) versus slower adoption in metallurgy and chemicals due to legacy systems and safety concerns. To accelerate a just and resilient transition, coordinated public‑private R&D investment but also human‑capital development. We also believe that future research should focus on scalable cyber‑physical AI architectures, energy‑efficient algorithms, defensive AI for cybersecurity, and governance models that balance innovation with ethical, legal, and social safeguards. This unified perspective supports stakeholders in designing strategic action plans, regulatory policies, and rapid intervention protocols, thereby maximizing AI’s transformative potential in industrial economies.